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Reflections on IPCC process and ‘strengthened global response’ (chapter 4)
Professor Frank GeelsSustainable Consumption Institute
Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
The University of Manchester
General struggle between academic communities
‘Traditional’ IPCC sciences Social science(s)Topic orientation
Understand the problem (and some solutions)
Solution oriented: “transitions”, “transformations”
Philosophy of science
Positivist (model-based, quantitative)
Positivist, interpretivist, critical realist
Substantive focus
Physical climate and techno-economics
Techno-economic, socio-cultural, political, conflict
Rhetorical labelling
“objective”, “sound science”, “un-biased”, “reliability statements”
“normative”, “prescriptive”, “subjective”
Chapter 4: Strengthening the global response (+ implementation)
• Text formulated in abstract ‘managerial’ terms: options, deployment, systems, structures, levers of change
• Tendency to assess techno-economic dimensions: costs, benefits, finance, price/performance
Challenge to also ensure attention is paid to:• Actors: business, consumers, policymakers, cities, civil society• Motivations: interests, beliefs, identities, social networks, • Change processes: learning, capabilities, resources,
meanings/discourses, social acceptance, power, politics, resistance.
Challenge 1: Broaden beyond rational choice ontology
Challenge 2: Scales/levels• Understandable tendency to focus on global level (‘old’
focus on international negotiations/targets) ‘Average’ dynamics look slow + gradual
• But this risks ignoring the many real-world activities, efforts at other levels: countries, sectors, cities, local projects
Examples of fast and non-linear change
• Need for multi-scalar understanding and how the levels relate
Need for stronger policies to accelerate change
• Innovation policies to nurture solutions (broadly understood)
• Environmental policies (regulations, taxes, subsidies) to change markets and selection environment [much resistance]
• Development policies (finance, capability building, institutional capacity)
Stronger political willStrong policies require political will, which is shaped by• International pressure (agreements, targets and ‘deals’)• Pressure from civil society, public discourse (‘legitimacy’, social
acceptance• Pressure from business coalitions (new entrants and willing
incumbents)• Working exemplars ‘on the ground’ (to overcome ‘scepticism’)• Positive discourse (co-benefits, green growth, jobs, quality of
life)• ‘Bottom-up’ pressure (cities, communities, green entrepreneurs)
Social sciences can offer relevant insights, which will hopefully find a place into special report (????)