Abstract
To counter climate change, societies are under pressure to transform energy and transport sectors. Considering the crucial node position of ports in the intersection between energy and transport systems and their connecting of numerous sectors, markets, and values chains, they have hitherto received surprisingly little attention as potential sites for whole system thinking and deep transition. Their heterogeneity suggests that ports are likely to follow different transition pathways. This study explores two Norwegian frontrunner ports to demonstrate how social processes are part of the fabric that constitutes transition pathways in ports. The transition pathways in the two ports diverge according to how they are shaped by deep learning, resource capacity and the collective action of their wider networks, as well as the specificity of expectations. The study complements existing research on transition pathways by focusing on social processes beyond the niche level and by suggesting inter-process and inter-level dynamics to be decisive for the direction of transition work. Contrary to earlier findings, the paper demonstrates how broad and diversified networks may also represent a challenge to the directionality of transitions work. Ports can, however, promote transition work by aligning expectations to port sustainability with expectations in specific value chains.
Highlights
Societies, sectors, and systems are under pressure to reduce climate emissions and build more sustainable communities
Co-production of visions Prepare for green future Electrification pathway Lack of expectations beyond electrification Sector-specific expectations Collective action with users, owner and environmental organizations Shield/nurture innovations through strategic involvement of network Knowledge and resource diffusion in wide network Collective action in value chains First order leaning in extensive network Second order leaning: role perceptions Second order learning: perceptions of influence
First order learning by doing Second order learning not prominent suggested that the port is moving towards a whole-system transition, where port actors transform their understandings of own roles, which might lead to more radical innovations and system wide acceleration
Summary
Sectors, and systems are under pressure to reduce climate emissions and build more sustainable communities. A well of research has delved into the premises for making such a transition (see Kohler et al, 2019; Sovacool et al, 2020 for recent overviews), focusing on how sociotechnical systems could be nudged, lured or forced onto more or less disruptive pathways towards sustainability. Previous research has studied the port of Rotterdam, focusing on the symbioses between the port and industrial activities in the region (Baas, 2008); the role of partnerships in moving the urban port towards sustainable co-existence with the city (Frantzeskaki et al, 2014); and how transition management may be employed to destabilize the fossil fuel regime of the port (Bosman et al, 2018)
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