Sustainability Transitions and Energy Governance

Sustainability transitions and energy governance examine the profound transformation of socio-technical systems that deliver energy services. At the core lies the study of how innovations in technology, policy and practice co-evolve with institutional arrangements, market structures and cultural norms. A socio-technical transition involves a multi-layered process in which niche innovations emerge, align with incumbent regimes and respond to landscape pressures, such as climate change imperatives or shifts in consumer expectations. Effective governance seeks to coordinate actors across public, private and civil society spheres to steer these transitions toward decarbonisation, resilience and equity. Key instruments include policy mixes that combine regulatory, economic and informational tools to enable novel solutions while managing the decline of unsustainable infrastructures. Contemporary research places emphasis on reflexive governance, in which learning, experimentation and stakeholder participation shape adaptive pathways. This field addresses questions of timing, sequencing and scale, recognising that different world regions confront distinct social, political and economic contexts. The global significance of this research lies in its capacity to inform just transition strategies, guide industrial restructuring and foster inclusive decision-making, thereby aligning energy systems with the broader aims of sustainable development.

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Sustainability Transitions and Energy Governance publication trend

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Technical terms

Socio-technical transitions: Multi-level processes by which societies shift from one dominant socio-technical system to another, involving interactions among technology, policy, markets and culture.

Multi-Level Perspective (MLP): Analytical framework that distinguishes niche, regime and landscape levels to explain the dynamics of innovation and system change.

Policy mix: Deliberate combination of regulatory, economic and informational policy instruments designed to promote innovation and manage the decline of incumbent systems.

Participatory modelling: Collaborative approach to scenario development in which stakeholders contribute to model structure, assumptions and interpretation.

Tipping point: Critical juncture at which incremental changes in technology or behaviour trigger rapid and self-reinforcing transitions in a socio-technical system.

Energy governance: Institutional arrangements, decision-making rules and actor networks that shape the planning, provision and regulation of energy systems.

References

1. A socio-technical transition perspective on positive tipping points in climate change mitigation: Analysing seven interacting feedback loops in offshore wind and electric vehicles acceleration. Technological Forecasting and Social Change (2023).
2. A review of participatory modelling techniques for energy transition scenarios. Advances in Applied Energy (2025).
3. Policy mixes for sustainability transitions: An extended concept and framework for analysis. Research Policy (2016).
4. Creative destruction or mere niche support? Innovation policy mixes for sustainability transitions. Research Policy (2016).