Paper short abstract:

With the case of wind-farm planning in Denmark this research strives to explore existing ethical dilemmas played out in the policy field of friction between state ambitions for sustainability and local life-words.

Paper long abstract:

The academic meta-'stuff' of this conference paper is inspired by applied research on the social/planning dimensions of the Danish experience with wind-farm construction and development. While national policies target sustainability in many cases the broader public still hesitate to accept the construction of existing green technological infrastructure (Jolivet & Heiskanen 2010; Bergek 2010). Like wind-turbines.

One could argue that we are dealing with the utilitarian principle of the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Børsen & Danborg 2015; 87) when speaking of wind-farm development. But this does not diminish the real grievance felt by local populations in such a context. In this conflict lies an inherent ethical dilemma: Issues of different levels of power and questions of individual and local autonomy (ibid.) are at stake.

With the case of wind-farm planning in Denmark the research ambition here is to illuminate existing ethical dilemmas played out in this policy field of friction between clashing value-sets and norms (Recke 2011) reflecting the conflicting scales of national political ideals and local life-worlds. This research does not question the moral imperative to act (Rawson 2013; 3) regarding the increasingly accepted realities of climate change - or the immediate chosen government route for that change . But it will underscore the need for an applied philosophical approach to such inherent dilemmas in policy decisions.