Pathways, risks, and uncertainties 253
issues. The absence of an overarching target and concrete implementation
strategy has led to uncertainties in their low- carbon transitions. There is also a
lack of agreement across local, regional, and national- level institutions, which
all have different interests and prevents the co- ordination of policies. Likewise,
in Switzerland, cantons and federal governing bodies interpret the national
energy strategy differently, specifically with respect to objectives for energy efficiency, energy supply, support for investments, and environmental protection.
The challenge in the Swiss context is that there is no common space to harmonise the differences across governance levels, creating risks in the policy
implementation process.
In Indonesia there have been challenges with implementing biogas
programmes due to the conflicting priorities and motivations at the national
and sub- national governmental levels. Consequently, there was no streamlined
approach to monitor the progress of biogas programmes across different
government institutions and implementing agencies. Monitoring is essential for
assessing the outcomes of biogas installations and to identify barriers including
technical difficulties in the operations of the digester. As a result of this lack of
monitoring and support many biogas installations were abandoned, a negative
consequence of the renewable energy programme.
The charcoal sector in Kenya also suffers from weak enforcement of the
formal permitting system set up to promote the sustainable production, transport, and use of charcoal. Most charcoal circulates in the informal sector and
corruption is widespread. Transporters and wholesalers are compelled to pay
bribes to traffic police, who do not fully understand the formal permitting
systems. Some Kenyan counties have set their own regulations with local charcoal producer associations and transporter associations, and there are still
uncertainties around whether local initiatives are more effective than national
initiatives.
Energy efficiency certification policies in China’s building sector have
been less successful than anticipated, even though the growth of green buildings has been fuelled by policies and targets set by the Chinese government.
One of the main challenges identified by government stakeholders is the
immature green certification implementation process, along with weak monitoring and enforcement of policies in the operation of new buildings.
Additionally, industry players in the construction market are not taking a
lead as there are no policy incentives to encourage their involvement with
the certification scheme.
The Spanish case explicitly highlights how a low- carbon energy transition is
by no means a linear process but is characterised by both failures and successes.
The particular design of the chapter highlights the need for policy learning,
which is an inherent part of the policy process and implicitly important for all
cases.
issues. The absence of an overarching target and concrete implementation
strategy has led to uncertainties in their low- carbon transitions. There is also a
lack of agreement across local, regional, and national- level institutions, which
all have different interests and prevents the co- ordination of policies. Likewise,
in Switzerland, cantons and federal governing bodies interpret the national
energy strategy differently, specifically with respect to objectives for energy efficiency, energy supply, support for investments, and environmental protection.
The challenge in the Swiss context is that there is no common space to harmonise the differences across governance levels, creating risks in the policy
implementation process.
In Indonesia there have been challenges with implementing biogas
programmes due to the conflicting priorities and motivations at the national
and sub- national governmental levels. Consequently, there was no streamlined
approach to monitor the progress of biogas programmes across different
government institutions and implementing agencies. Monitoring is essential for
assessing the outcomes of biogas installations and to identify barriers including
technical difficulties in the operations of the digester. As a result of this lack of
monitoring and support many biogas installations were abandoned, a negative
consequence of the renewable energy programme.
The charcoal sector in Kenya also suffers from weak enforcement of the
formal permitting system set up to promote the sustainable production, transport, and use of charcoal. Most charcoal circulates in the informal sector and
corruption is widespread. Transporters and wholesalers are compelled to pay
bribes to traffic police, who do not fully understand the formal permitting
systems. Some Kenyan counties have set their own regulations with local charcoal producer associations and transporter associations, and there are still
uncertainties around whether local initiatives are more effective than national
initiatives.
Energy efficiency certification policies in China’s building sector have
been less successful than anticipated, even though the growth of green buildings has been fuelled by policies and targets set by the Chinese government.
One of the main challenges identified by government stakeholders is the
immature green certification implementation process, along with weak monitoring and enforcement of policies in the operation of new buildings.
Additionally, industry players in the construction market are not taking a
lead as there are no policy incentives to encourage their involvement with
the certification scheme.
The Spanish case explicitly highlights how a low- carbon energy transition is
by no means a linear process but is characterised by both failures and successes.
The particular design of the chapter highlights the need for policy learning,
which is an inherent part of the policy process and implicitly important for all
cases.