Experiments in climate governance – A systematic review of research on energy and built environment transitions

Dave Huitema,Paula Kivimaa,Andrew Jordan,Mikael Hildén,Jens Newig

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.01.027

Abstract

Experimentation has been proposed as a key way in which governance drives sustainability transitions, notably by creating space for innovative solutions to emerge. In seeking to bring greater coherence to the literatures on climate and sustainability governance experiments, this article reports on a systematic review of articles published between 2009 and 2015. Based on these results a new definition and typology of climate governance experiments is suggested. The typology distinguishes between the various purposes experiments can have, including niche creation, market creation, spatial development, and societal problem solving. It deepens the understanding of the diversity in experimenting by highlighting the salient features of different types of governance experiments. It can therefore guide future research to generate more cumulative research findings contributing to a better understanding of the role and outcomes of experiments in societal transitions. The findings also suggest that real transitions towards low-carbon and climate-resilient societies will require a systematic deliberate combination of different types of experiments.

Highlights

Experimental approaches to governance have recently received increasing attention in the academic literature
In the literature on sustainability transitions, experimentation is a key theme, with experiments often seen as a way of establishing niches, i.e. fringe spaces for emerging technologies or alternatives to current methods of governance (e.g. Schot and Geels, 2008; Berkhout et al, 2010; Frantzeskaki et al, 2012)
One example is the Finnish Government Programme of 2015 that aspires to create a ‘culture of experimentation’ to strengthen policy development with extensive trials and several smaller experiments, systematic experimentation and a legal basis to facilitate the arrangement of experiments (Government Programme, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Experimental approaches to governance have recently received increasing attention in the academic literature. Experimentation can challenge the status quo and enable the exploration of governance innovations, technologies and services in a temporary space (Sanderson, 2002; Berkhout et al, 2010; Heilmann, 2008). In the literature on sustainability transitions, experimentation is a key theme, with experiments often seen as a way of establishing niches, i.e. fringe spaces for emerging technologies or alternatives to current methods of governance Schot and Geels, 2008; Berkhout et al, 2010; Frantzeskaki et al, 2012) In the literature on sustainability transitions, experimentation is a key theme, with experiments often seen as a way of establishing niches, i.e. fringe spaces for emerging technologies or alternatives to current methods of governance (e.g. Schot and Geels, 2008; Berkhout et al, 2010; Frantzeskaki et al, 2012)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion