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- Convenors:
-
Katja Müller
(Merseburg University of Applied Sciences)
James Goodman (University of Technology, Sydney)
Chima Michael Anyadike-Danes (Hochschule Merseburg)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Location:
- 6 College Park (6CP), 01/035
- Sessions:
- Thursday 28 July, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
The panel engages with contemporary energy and climate politics' commoning and decommoning dynamics, unfolding across multiple sectors and fields of social life.
Long Abstract:
Recognition of global dependence on climate stability defines climate as a global common, as a focus and object for policy and governance. With energy responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, climate crisis produces a new global energy commons, embodied in the imperative for fossil fuel phase-out. These climate and energy commons are routinely 'enclosed', for monetisation, commodification and accumulation. From carbon credits to power purchase agreements, climate and energy policyis often directed at de-commonising and marketising for profit. But there is also a persistent commoning imperative, driven by ongoing failure in emissions reduction and expressed in new forms of climate solidarity or in distributed and socially-owned renewable energy. These commoning-decommoning dynamics are central to climate and energy politics. In the present-day context of rapid energy transformations such dynamics are unfolding across multiple sectors and fields of social life. We call for papers centred on such dynamics, across any aspect of contemporary energy and climate politics.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Thursday 28 July, 2022, -Paper short abstract:
Dynamic of commoning-decommoning processes in two cases of establishing nuclear power plant construction in Poland reveals the human-environment relations behind these attempts, and the dynamics of social processes of acceptance of the nuclear power plant project, in the context of climate change.
Paper long abstract:
In the context of climate change (IPCC 2021), the transition from fossil fuel-based energy production to carbon-free sources is particularly important (COP26). Nuclear power is one of the possible solutions to consider as a zero-emission energy source. This presentation compares approaches to energy policy emerging from the policy makers' narratives justifying the construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland - in the case of the '80s’ Żarnowiec power plant and the current attempt - to show the commoning-decommoning change dynamics over the years.
The first nuclear power plant project was initiated in the '80s in the socialist People’s Republic of Poland and was intended to demonstrate the technological capabilities of the Communist regime. However, after the political transformation in Poland in 1989, the Polish authorities decided to stop the construction and abandon the project as unprofitable. Since then, the national policy has shifted to support distributed production. The current government is seeking to revive the idea of building a nuclear power plant in Poland at a similar scale and in the same location. However, its rationale is the need to reduce CO2 emissions and introduce more pro-environmental technologies to balance off and stabilize energy production from distributed renewables (Brook & Bradshaw 2014) in a more sustainable way.
This presentation aims to analyze the change in human-environment relations by evaluating the three stages of polish energy policies as commoning-decommoning dynamics based on discourse analysis of narratives from materials collected in research carried out under the Polish Ministry of Science Grant.
Paper short abstract:
The paper examines local perspectives on coal-fired power closures in Uttar Pradesh, India, using stakeholder mapping, interviews and network analysis.
Paper long abstract:
One of the important ways to mitigate climate change is to significantly cut carbon emissions from energy sector and shift towards renewable energy resources in just/equitable way. In order to achieve this, there is an urgent need to build knowledge about just energy transition, especially from the global south. Existing scholarships has underlined the importance of engaging stakeholders and understanding their perception of climate change mitigation and governance to ensure energy justice. The variety of stakeholders interacting with each other at the local level adds to the complexity of ensuring justice for every stakeholder in the knowledge-building process. Further, knowledge on avoiding job loss while protecting the environment at local levels is yet evolving. We add to the existing literature by mapping local stakeholders (Trade Unions, Governments, Civil Society Organizations, Media Representative, Workers and Company) in two fossil-fuel dependent districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, where there are frequent thermal power plant closures. Using the narratives obtained through semi-structured interviews and local-level stakeholders’ workshops, we apply qualitative network analysis to generate a network map. The map visualises the dominant themes (jobs, environment and health concerns) emerging from their narratives about energy transition and how the stakeholders are connected based on those themes. The methods and findings can help an informed policy making of energy transition at sub-national levels in India and elsewhere.
Paper short abstract:
This paper presents the work in progress of the ethnographic exploration of the dynamic shifts in the sociotechnical imaginaries of the danish green transition in the intersection of energy justice and energy security under threat from an emerging new cold war.
Paper long abstract:
The 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war has sent shockwaves through the western world. The diplomatic crisis between NATO countries and Russia has been a stark reminder that energy policy is fundamentally intertwined with defence policy. As a result, Energy security can no longer be taken for granted for any nation depending on continued fossil fuel imports from the Russian Federation.
The path of the green transition in Denmark has until now primarily been a planning exercise in minimizing threats to continued economic growth. In recent years the continued expansion of land-based wind power has been frustrated by resistance from local citizens. Planners and investors often dismissed local concerns as “NIMBY” effects. The intransigent successes of local protests have sparked an interest in better understanding the sociotechnical dynamics involved for both politicians and in academia.
The geopolitical crisis also extends into the heating sector, where individual household heat sources based on natural gas are being rapidly abandoned in favour of alternative and district heating.
With the future imaginaries of the green energy transition being sent into upheaval by a European geopolitical crisis, all levels of society are adjusting to this new reality. From parliamentarians, to local politician, to entrepreneurs and local citizens. The boundaries of the future energy imaginary is once again up for renegotiation.
This paper presents the work in progress of the ethnographic exploration of the dynamic shifts in the field in question.
Paper short abstract:
The paper investigates Australian climate movement perspectives on the role of private energy capital in securing transitions to renewable energy. It uses interviews and local engagement to shed light on both the limitations and possibilities of movement agendas in securing energy transitions.
Paper long abstract:
Despite decades of privatisation in the electricity sector, ‘legacy’ power from the burning of fossil fuels often remains publicly-owned. In contrast, renewable energy is increasingly in private hands, facilitated by public agencies. Plans for global energy transition, from the International Renewable Energy Agency, now hinge almost exclusively on private capital (IRENA 2021). One study found just 4 per cent of global renewable energy transactions had involved public agencies (ESSU 2021). The capture of renewable ‘resources’ is institutionalised and legitimised, and the power of energy capital is deepened in energy ‘markets’. Questions for energy transition then centre on the capacity to maintain returns for private capital and secure concessions from private players. To what extent do climate movements address or question the role of private capital in energy transitions? What alternatives are presented, if any? The paper reports on a sustained engagement with climate action movement organisations in Australia, drawing on interviews and an early survey of viewpoints, envisaged as the first stage for conceptualising an international comparison of these issues. Results are analysed, posing questions for understanding the potential and limits of models for energy transition promoted by the movement, as defining the present-day policy horizon for energy transitions.