6
THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF
GREEN TRANSFORMATIONS
Feedback effects and institutional
context
1
Matthew Lockwood
Introduction
Why do green transformations in some countries appear to have more momentum
than in others? As other contributions in this book make clear, there are multiple
interpretations of what transformations to more sustainable economies and societies
might look like. However, even with relatively limited and mainstream conceptual -
izations, such as decarbonization of the economy or the growth of renewable energy,
there are large variations between countries in how far they have progressed over
the last two decades.
Whatever form green transformations take, some basic features of their
political dynamics will be common to all. There are some fairly obvious factors
that help determine where such transformations are more likely to start – for
example, the absence of a powerful coal lobby (Steves and Teytelboym, 2013) or
a more green-minded population (Harrison and Sundstrom, 2010). However,
sustainable trans formations are likely to take some time – for example, at least two
or three decades for decarbonizing energy systems and economies. A key corollary
of this is that successful transformations not only require instigation, but also have
to be politically sustained for long periods. Coalitions need to be created around
a number of different objectives (see Schmitz, Newell, this book), but they also
have to be kept together and expanded over time. Eventually, as the costs of more
sustainable technol ogies and processes come down, green transformations should
become economically self-sustaining, led effectively by a new green demand
paradigm (Perez, 2013). However, until that stage is reached, public policy is needed
to lead the transformation. Such policy will tend to be highly political because
it effectively involves a process of creating and managing rents to pay for the
development of greener products and processes (Schmitz et al., 2013).
DOI: 10.4324/9781315747378-6
THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF
GREEN TRANSFORMATIONS
Feedback effects and institutional
context
1
Matthew Lockwood
Introduction
Why do green transformations in some countries appear to have more momentum
than in others? As other contributions in this book make clear, there are multiple
interpretations of what transformations to more sustainable economies and societies
might look like. However, even with relatively limited and mainstream conceptual -
izations, such as decarbonization of the economy or the growth of renewable energy,
there are large variations between countries in how far they have progressed over
the last two decades.
Whatever form green transformations take, some basic features of their
political dynamics will be common to all. There are some fairly obvious factors
that help determine where such transformations are more likely to start – for
example, the absence of a powerful coal lobby (Steves and Teytelboym, 2013) or
a more green-minded population (Harrison and Sundstrom, 2010). However,
sustainable trans formations are likely to take some time – for example, at least two
or three decades for decarbonizing energy systems and economies. A key corollary
of this is that successful transformations not only require instigation, but also have
to be politically sustained for long periods. Coalitions need to be created around
a number of different objectives (see Schmitz, Newell, this book), but they also
have to be kept together and expanded over time. Eventually, as the costs of more
sustainable technol ogies and processes come down, green transformations should
become economically self-sustaining, led effectively by a new green demand
paradigm (Perez, 2013). However, until that stage is reached, public policy is needed
to lead the transformation. Such policy will tend to be highly political because
it effectively involves a process of creating and managing rents to pay for the
development of greener products and processes (Schmitz et al., 2013).
DOI: 10.4324/9781315747378-6