Multi-Level Governance of Energy Transitions PDF

Multi-level Governance of Energy Transitions Dr. Marie Claire Brisbois Senior Lecturer in Energy Policy Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex November 18, 2024 Contents 1. Energy transitions 2. Multi-level governance of en...

Multi-level Governance of Energy Transitions Dr. Marie Claire Brisbois Senior Lecturer in Energy Policy Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex November 18, 2024 Contents 1. Energy transitions 2. Multi-level governance of energy transitions 3. Cases of energy transition 4. Summary 5. References  What is an energy transition? Structural change in our systems of energy supply and consumption Usually take 30-50 years (based on historical analyses) Involve technical as well as non-technical changes (e.g. social, economic): system change is a multi- level, co-evolutionary process Non-linear and multi-actor processes (Geels 2007) https://www.magnuscmd.com/wp- content/uploads/2017/09/Sonia_Feature-Image-Web.png Why are energy transitions necessary? https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/attribution-studies/index.html  Energy Transitions: An Unfolding Process Energy transitions are progressing, with renewable energy accounting for just under 20% of consumed energy globally, and increasing electrification This is progress, but it’s insufficient, uneven, often unfair, and too slow Current strategies, systems, and dominant ideas are not enough  Beyond the climate crisis Energy transitions make sense for many more reasons than just climate: - renewable energy is much, much cheaper than fossil (or nuclear) sources - air pollution from fossil fuels is responsible for one in five deaths, globally (Vohra et al 2021) - it’s easier (although still complicated) to redistribute the economic benefits of energy generation with renewables  Electrification – a key part of transitions There is a big push toward electrification because: - Renewable energy sources make electricity - Electricity generation and use is more efficient than combustion  Multi-level governance 'Governance’ represents the ways decisions are made and actions taken in any given context (de Loë and Kreutzwiser 2007) Multi-level governance is governance that happens through nested, hierarchical networks and institutions - these institutions can be formal or informal Jänick 2015  Characteristics of ‘good’ governance from UNESCAP (2009) Accountability (and legitimacy) – who is (and should be) responsible for decisions? Transparency – are decision processes, and background information, transparent Responsiveness – can decisions change as situations evolve? Equity and inclusion – are all people and perspectives considered? Effectiveness and efficiency – are decisions made well, with responsible use of resources? Rule of law – do processes follow the low? Participation – are there opportunities for people to engage and influence processes? Consensus orientation – is there an attempt to seek decisions acceptable for the many?  Multi-level governance of energy transitions Multi-level governance shows up in energy transitions in a number of ways: - Paris Agreement targets and nationally determined contributions (NDCs) - Member state efforts under the European Green Deal - National decarbonization efforts across all sectors (e.g. transportation, industrial systems, food, electricity) - Electricity system transitions This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA  The Importance of Effective Governance for Energy Transitions Transitions create disruptive change There are already significant problems with inequality and growing distrust in representative democracy Top-down decision making over climate and energy issues may seem necessary but is fueling pushback (Patterson 2023) Effective governance can help address this  Cases of multi level governance of energy transitions  1. European Green Deal and the Just Transition Mechanism No be continued in the paper discussion after the lecture…  2. Energy Demand Reduction Providing energy now and for the future requires balancing supply and demand in a way that is affordable, reliable and sustainable There is a big focus in both climate mitigation and energy transition debates about substituting supply – but reducing demand is just as important Research estimate that it’s possible reduce demand by 52% in the UK, and 40% globally, by 2050 (Barrett et al 2022; Grubler et al 2018) Barrett et al 2022  Governing Energy Demand Reduction Changing energy demand can’t happen only from the top-down because it requires changes in behaviour, culture and values – it requires multi-level governance - Transportation - Home energy use - Lifestyles and working patterns - Nutrition There are a lot of different people with Barrett et al 2022 responsibility for these decisions  Governing system changes Big systems changes require effective coordination across many actors. For example: Reducing the number of private cars requires: - changes to the need to travel (e.g. by moving services, changing work demands) - development of alternative options (e.g. trains, buses, bike networks, safe walking infrastructure) by responsible actors at different levels - support of cultural change (e.g. shifting car culture  Addressing conflict? Cultural changes are highly contested Effective governance can help to address challenges related to people feeling that they haven’t had a say in decisions However – wider imbalances in power and control over institutions like the media can limit the effectiveness of good governance.  3. Decentralisation of Electricity Systems Modern electricity systems in economically developed countries are usually highly centralized, with centralized governance systems Renewable energy technologies can be more easily decentralized, meaning that many people can own energy assets (and batteries) – this is also helpful because it is cheaper, lower carbon, paid for private finance, etc. Grid infrastructure is complicated and expensive and it’s very difficult to change it quickly – but almost all visions for the future of electricity systems depend on digitalized and at least partly decentralized infrastructure  The challenge of governing decentralization Decentralised energy requires a LOT of coordination to keep from overwhelming the grid, and to maximise its benefits Especially for automated systems, people need to sign up to trust in automation and sharing of their data – this is a problem in systems where there is widespread distrust There is thus a need for electricity governance systems that better address governance requirements of accountability, legitimacy, rule of law, transparency, etc. (Brisbois 2020)  What if we don’t govern effectively? - Backlash or resistance are possible - Sub-optimal designs are likely to develop. For example, decentralized and smart energy assets are currently mostly owned by those who are well educated and relatively well off (Powells and Fell 2019; Berka and Creamer 2018) This is exacerbated in places where energy ownership supports energy security (e.g. in California where there have been frequent wildfires) This invokes questions of justice (studied through ‘energy justice’  Summary Energy transitions are necessary, and are underway – but need to happen faster Effective multi-level governance is required Different governance activities need to be carried out at different levels, but the governance architecture differs depending on the issue area, geography, context, etc. New systems need to be designed according to principles of good governance to be accepted, effective and fair This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA  References Barrett, J., Pye, S., Betts-Davies, S. et al. Energy demand reduction options for meeting national zero-emission targets in the United Kingdom. Nat Energy 7, 726–735 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-022-01057-y Berka, A. L., & Creamer, E. (2018). Taking stock of the local impacts of community owned renewable energy: A review and research agenda. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 82, 3400-3419. Brisbois, M. C. (2020). Decentralised energy, decentralised accountability? Lessons on how to govern decentralised electricity transitions from multi-level natural resource governance. Global Transitions, 2, 16-25. Geels, F. W. (2011). The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental innovation and societal transitions, 1(1), 24-40. Jänicke, M. (2015). Horizontal and vertical reinforcement in global climate governance. Energies, 8(6), 5782-5799. Patterson, J. J. (2023). Backlash to climate policy. Global Environmental Politics, 23(1), 68-90. Powells, G., & Fell, M. J. (2019). Flexibility capital and flexibility justice in smart energy systems. Energy Research & Social Science, 54, 56-59. Vohra, K., Vodonos, A., Schwartz, J., Marais, E. A., Sulprizio, M. P., & Mickley, L. J. (2021). Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem. Environmental research, 195, 110754. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/11/30/17868620/renewable-energy-power-grid-architecture