256 Jenny Lieu et al.
The influence of socio- economic interests on technological selection
The socio- economic interest to maintain the steel, oil sands, and nuclear power
sectors in Austria, Canada, and the UK demonstrate how the historical development of sectors can be entrenched within society. These sectors become
intertwined with the development of a low- carbon pathway despite the risks
associated with each technology. As a consequence, when a country has a
strongly entrenched socio- economic context, the most feasible way forward can
be improvement of existing technologies: even when they are unattractive from
an environmental (including climate) perspective they can nevertheless be
more realistic from a social perspective.
There is a long- standing tradition of high- quality steel production in Austria.
The sector has close interlinkages with other sectors of the economy, so that
low- carbon measures in steel production may have social implication for other
sectors. The steel sector has long been important for jobs and prosperity and a
transition to a lower- carbon option may cause job losses. However, the sector
also acknowledges that technological innovation, as part of a shift to a lowcarbon pathway, is required if the industry is to survive and thus secure employment in the longer term. A similar situation is seen in Alberta, Canada, where
the Athabasca oil sands are located. The development of the oil production
industry is closely linked to the province’s social and cultural identity, as well as
its long- term economic prospects.
Viewed through the global lens of Paris Agreement targets, supporting the
development of both incumbent sectors in Austria and Canada may prevent a
transition away from carbon- intensive economies as, while their carbon intensity
can be reduced, reaching zero carbon emissions in these sectors is highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, within the (sub)national context, both sectors will continue to be
supported socially and thus politically for the foreseeable future. Reducing emissions in the Austrian steel sector and the Albertan oil sands are viewed as feasible
transitions for the respective local stakeholders; eliminating these high- carbon
sectors altogether is not desirable given the existing social context, and thus not
realistic to consider. Likewise, the UK nuclear power sector is rooted in a history
of nuclear technology for both military and energy production stretching back to
the 1930s. Nuclear energy currently enjoys significant political support in the UK
and is seen as part of the transition to a lower- carbon economy, despite the risks
associated with nuclear waste and the potential for accidents.
Societal acceptance as a driver to support low- carbon technologies
Although the risks associated with scaling up renewable energy technologies are
known, several countries have chosen this pathway to reduce emissions. One
example is Switzerland, which previously made large investments in nuclear
power. The Swiss have opted to close down nuclear power plants due to the
perceived risks of nuclear accidents, as observed by the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear accident of 2011. The conscious decision to move away from nuclear
The influence of socio- economic interests on technological selection
The socio- economic interest to maintain the steel, oil sands, and nuclear power
sectors in Austria, Canada, and the UK demonstrate how the historical development of sectors can be entrenched within society. These sectors become
intertwined with the development of a low- carbon pathway despite the risks
associated with each technology. As a consequence, when a country has a
strongly entrenched socio- economic context, the most feasible way forward can
be improvement of existing technologies: even when they are unattractive from
an environmental (including climate) perspective they can nevertheless be
more realistic from a social perspective.
There is a long- standing tradition of high- quality steel production in Austria.
The sector has close interlinkages with other sectors of the economy, so that
low- carbon measures in steel production may have social implication for other
sectors. The steel sector has long been important for jobs and prosperity and a
transition to a lower- carbon option may cause job losses. However, the sector
also acknowledges that technological innovation, as part of a shift to a lowcarbon pathway, is required if the industry is to survive and thus secure employment in the longer term. A similar situation is seen in Alberta, Canada, where
the Athabasca oil sands are located. The development of the oil production
industry is closely linked to the province’s social and cultural identity, as well as
its long- term economic prospects.
Viewed through the global lens of Paris Agreement targets, supporting the
development of both incumbent sectors in Austria and Canada may prevent a
transition away from carbon- intensive economies as, while their carbon intensity
can be reduced, reaching zero carbon emissions in these sectors is highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, within the (sub)national context, both sectors will continue to be
supported socially and thus politically for the foreseeable future. Reducing emissions in the Austrian steel sector and the Albertan oil sands are viewed as feasible
transitions for the respective local stakeholders; eliminating these high- carbon
sectors altogether is not desirable given the existing social context, and thus not
realistic to consider. Likewise, the UK nuclear power sector is rooted in a history
of nuclear technology for both military and energy production stretching back to
the 1930s. Nuclear energy currently enjoys significant political support in the UK
and is seen as part of the transition to a lower- carbon economy, despite the risks
associated with nuclear waste and the potential for accidents.
Societal acceptance as a driver to support low- carbon technologies
Although the risks associated with scaling up renewable energy technologies are
known, several countries have chosen this pathway to reduce emissions. One
example is Switzerland, which previously made large investments in nuclear
power. The Swiss have opted to close down nuclear power plants due to the
perceived risks of nuclear accidents, as observed by the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear accident of 2011. The conscious decision to move away from nuclear