Lecture1.2

Question 1

What are sustainability transitions?

Answer 1

• Involve conflicts (innovation and decline, winners and losers)
• Long time-spans
• Interplay of different technologies
• Include technological, political, and organizational dimensions

Question 2

What is an example of a sustainability transition?

Answer 2

• Energy transition: Replacement of fossil fuels and nuclear energy by renewables
• Objectives:
  
  • Address climate change
  • Reduce air pollution
  • Facilitate access to electricity

Question 3

What are the phases of sustainability transitions?

Answer 3

• Pre-development phase:
  
  • Stable situation, no changes
  • Sustainability problems emerge but aren’t addressed
• Take-off phase:
  
  • Renewable energy transition starts (e.g., 1990)
  • Early diffusion of biomass, wind, and solar
  • Established technologies remain stable
• Acceleration phase:
  
  • New technologies grow, established ones decline
  • Challenges arise (e.g., integration of energy sources, battery storage needs)

Question 4

Why is a systems perspective important for sustainability transitions?

Answer 4

• Interdependency:
  
  • Dimensions are interconnected; must be analyzed systematically
• Difficulty:
  
  • Established elements reinforce existing systems, making transitions challenging

Question 5

What is the summary of sustainability transitions?

Answer 5

• Fundamental transformations of sectors for sustainability
• Include several dimensions technology, policy, organizational
• Systemic: Interdependent and difficult
• Address current sustainability challenges

Question 6

Reinforcement of the established system through existing elements -> list them (8 Bsp. Auto)

Answer 6

road infrastrucutre,
fuel infrastrucure
car industry and suppliers,
regulations and policies
culture,symbolic meaning
financial services, leasing
user habits and preferneces,
distribution and service networks