Pathways, risks, and uncertainties 255
In Greece, the overarching policy strategy for energy efficiency is in place
but there is a lack of detailed economic incentives, subsidies, and tax exemptions. These policy instruments depend on political will and the government’s
financial capacity. The economic recession and other pressing socio- economic
issues have impacted the government’s financial capacity to push forward
energy efficiency initiatives and provide longer- term stability and support.
Political instability in recent years, including snap elections and the inability
to form single- party governments, has side- lined climate change policy and
action on the political agenda due to more pressing socio- economic
challenges.
Policy mixes and their implementation, monitoring, and enforcement processes require careful consideration in a low- carbon transition pathway.
While policies may initially help to overcome financial barriers, they may not
be successful in the longer run due to poor implementation, weak monitoring, and poor enforcement. On the other hand, even if all of these policies
and policy processes are set in place, politics may unravel the carefully
chosen policy support package for a low- carbon pathway. Politics can be
unpredictable and is itself an implementation risk, thus additional support for
low- carbon technologies may be needed from societal stakeholders who may
(in)directly influence politics. While the societal dimension can be an
enabler in a pathway, it can also imply risks, such as resistance to lowemission technology options. This in itself adds another level of complexity
as discussed in the next section.
Societal impact on technologies: technologies’ impact on
society
A third critical determinant of the success of a pathway is whether it meets and
resonates with people’s needs and priorities. While a technological and economic focus can indicate the technical potential and economic affordability of a
low- carbon pathway, understanding societal priorities and concerns is a key
determinant of the realistic potential for expanding a low- carbon technology.
The narratives in this book show several examples of this, including negative
impacts, for example concerns about job losses and resistance to solar parks, to
more positive support for technologies as an enabler for people to personally
contribute to addressing the climate problem.
The examples of societal impact on the deployment of low- carbon technologies vary from individual household behaviours to wider societal acceptance at
the (sub)national level. Additionally, the impact of technologies and policies
on people has been frequently highlighted as both a barrier and consequential
risk for transition pathways. Policies intended to support low- carbon technologies often have positive environmental impact; yet policies can also lead to societal injustice if the higher cost of the technologies are borne by the most
disadvantaged in society.
In Greece, the overarching policy strategy for energy efficiency is in place
but there is a lack of detailed economic incentives, subsidies, and tax exemptions. These policy instruments depend on political will and the government’s
financial capacity. The economic recession and other pressing socio- economic
issues have impacted the government’s financial capacity to push forward
energy efficiency initiatives and provide longer- term stability and support.
Political instability in recent years, including snap elections and the inability
to form single- party governments, has side- lined climate change policy and
action on the political agenda due to more pressing socio- economic
challenges.
Policy mixes and their implementation, monitoring, and enforcement processes require careful consideration in a low- carbon transition pathway.
While policies may initially help to overcome financial barriers, they may not
be successful in the longer run due to poor implementation, weak monitoring, and poor enforcement. On the other hand, even if all of these policies
and policy processes are set in place, politics may unravel the carefully
chosen policy support package for a low- carbon pathway. Politics can be
unpredictable and is itself an implementation risk, thus additional support for
low- carbon technologies may be needed from societal stakeholders who may
(in)directly influence politics. While the societal dimension can be an
enabler in a pathway, it can also imply risks, such as resistance to lowemission technology options. This in itself adds another level of complexity
as discussed in the next section.
Societal impact on technologies: technologies’ impact on
society
A third critical determinant of the success of a pathway is whether it meets and
resonates with people’s needs and priorities. While a technological and economic focus can indicate the technical potential and economic affordability of a
low- carbon pathway, understanding societal priorities and concerns is a key
determinant of the realistic potential for expanding a low- carbon technology.
The narratives in this book show several examples of this, including negative
impacts, for example concerns about job losses and resistance to solar parks, to
more positive support for technologies as an enabler for people to personally
contribute to addressing the climate problem.
The examples of societal impact on the deployment of low- carbon technologies vary from individual household behaviours to wider societal acceptance at
the (sub)national level. Additionally, the impact of technologies and policies
on people has been frequently highlighted as both a barrier and consequential
risk for transition pathways. Policies intended to support low- carbon technologies often have positive environmental impact; yet policies can also lead to societal injustice if the higher cost of the technologies are borne by the most
disadvantaged in society.