Growing Grassroots Innovations: Exploring the Role of Community-Based Initiatives in Governing Sustainable Energy Transitions

SAGE Publications - Tập 30 Số 3 - Trang 381-400 - 2012
Gill Seyfang1, Alex Haxeltine1
1Science, Society and Sustainability (3S) Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England

Tóm tắt

The challenges of sustainable development (and climate change and peak oil, in particular) demand system-wide transformations in sociotechnical systems of provision. An academic literature around coevolutionary innovation for sustainability has recently emerged as an attempt to understand the dynamics and directions of such sociotechnical transformations, which are termed ‘sustainability transitions’. This literature has previously focused on market-based technological innovations. Here we apply it to a new context of civil-society-based social innovation and examine the role of community-based initiatives in a transition to a low-carbon sustainable economy in the UK. We present new empirical research from a study of the UK's Transition Towns movement (a ‘grassroots innovation’) and assess its attempts to grow and influence wider societal sociotechnical systems. By applying strategic niche management theory to this civil society context, we deliver theoretically informed practical recommendations for this movement to diffuse beyond its niche: to foster deeper engagement with resourceful regime actors; to manage expectations more realistically by delivering tangible opportunities for action and participation; and to embrace a community-based, action-oriented model of social change (in preference to a cognitive theory of behaviour change). Furthermore, our study indicates areas where theory can be refined to better explain the growth and broader impacts of grassroots innovations—namely, through a fuller appreciation of the importance of internal niche processes, by understanding the important role of identity and group formation, and by resolving how social practices change in grassroots innovations.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Brangwyn B, 2008, Transition Initiatives Primer: Version 26

Church C, 2002, The Quiet Revolution

Curry A, 2005, Intelligent Future Infrastructure: The Scenarios Towards 2055

Defra, 2010, Food 2030: How We Get There

Douthwaite R, 1996, Short Circuit: Strengthening Local Economies for Security in an Unstable World

FEASTA, 2006, Energy Scenarios Ireland

10.1002/eet.496

10.4337/9781845424596

10.1016/j.techfore.2004.08.014

10.1016/j.respol.2010.01.022

10.1080/09537320600777143

10.1016/j.respol.2007.01.003

10.1016/S0921-8009(98)00110-4

10.4324/9780203856598

10.1068/c0607j

Hargreaves T, 2011, “Sustainability transitions from the bottom up: Civil society, the multi-level perspective and practice theory”

Heinberg R, 2004, Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-carbon World

10.7551/mitpress/1206.001.0001

10.7551/mitpress/9780262012645.001.0001

Hielscher S, 2011, “Community innovation for sustainable energy”

Government H M, 2009, The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan

Hopkins R, 2008, The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience

Hopkins R, 2009, Who We Are and What We Do

10.1787/weo-2008-en

Jackson T, 2007, The Earthscan Reader In Sustainable Consumption, 367

10.4324/9781849774338

10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.09.017

10.1080/09537329808524310

10.1080/13504500709469709

Loorbach D, 2007, Transition Management: New Mode of Governance for Sustainable Development

10.1016/j.futures.2009.11.009

10.3152/030234207X190540

10.1068/c0797j

10.1016/j.respol.2009.01.011

10.1068/a43534

ONS, 2002, Labour Force Survey

ONS, 2009, Social Trends 39, 2009

10.1504/IJTM.2010.033128

Rip A, 1998, Human Choices and Climate Change. Volume 2: Resources and Technology, 327

10.1016/S0921-8009(98)00107-4

10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.05.015

10.1108/14636680110803003

10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00086-1

10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.07.010

10.1080/09537320802292651

10.1016/j.jrurstud.2006.01.003

10.1057/9780230234505

10.1080/09644010701419121

Seyfang G, 2010, “Energy and communities in transition: Towards a new research agenda on agency and civil society in sustainability transitions”

10.4337/9781845423568.00014

10.1016/j.respol.2010.01.019

10.1068/c0514j

10.1080/09537320701403334

Smith A, 2012, Governing the Energy Transition: Reality, Illusion, or Necessity, 180

10.1016/j.respol.2005.07.005

10.1016/j.respol.2010.01.023

Sorrell S, 2009, Global Oil Depletion: An Assessment of the Evidence for a Near-term Peak in Global Oil Production

Spratt S, 2009, The Great Transition

Transition Network, 2009, The Transition Network Identity: Usage Manual

10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.08.016

UKERC, 2009, “Making the transition to a secure and low-carbon energy system: Synthesis report”

10.1080/09537325.2011.585035

WSSD, 2002, Plan of Implementation World Summit on Sustainable Development

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

SAGE Publications

Tập 30 Số 3

381-400

Thông tin tác giả