Search Results (50)

Transition to renewable energy leads to assumed economic diversification; however, the institutional risks for hydrocarbon-dependent economies remain high. This paper identifies the conditions under which transitioning economies enter a novel dependency during the renewable transition. Our analysis combines the Multi-Level Perspective with Historical Institutionalism to explore Azerbaijan’s 30-year trajectory across the oil, gas, and emerging renewable phases, serving as an illustrative case. Evidence from the literature and expert interviews illustrates that renewable investments are channelled through hydrocarbon-era institutional practices, enclave-style contracting, centralised decision-making, and reliance on foreign technology providers. These conditions constrain domestic niche formation and limit opportunities for local capability development. As a result, renewables become embedded within the existing institutional architecture rather than displacing it, serving primarily to substitute hydrocarbons as an export commodity rather than to catalyse diversification. The paper conceptualises this trajectory as a possible renewable dependence: a pathway in which renewable energy is integrated into an export-oriented, state-dominated political economy without altering its core institutional logic. The identified configurations are common across hydrocarbon economies in Central Asia and MENA, offering transferable insights into when and why renewable transitions risk reproducing, rather than transforming, established development models. Full article

The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of resources and a significant contributor to environmental degradation in Europe, accounting for 50% of natural resource use, 34% of waste generation, and 5–12% of greenhouse gas emissions. In response to growing environmental pressures and regulatory demands, the sector needs to adopt sustainable material alternatives. This study examines the potential adoption of rice straw ash in the European construction sector. The research applies a PRISMA-based systematic literature review, integrated with the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework, PESTLE, and SWOT analyses to provide a comprehensive assessment of the socio-technical dynamics influencing its adoption. The findings identify barriers including the absence of standards, fragmented supply chains, and inconsistent material quality. However, it highlights strategic opportunities such as the declining availability of conventional SCMs, alignment with the EU’s regulations and circular economy principles, and growing public awareness of sustainable materials. The study concludes that advancing the transition to RSA will require regulatory support, the development of standards, and coordinated collaboration among stakeholders to achieve large-scale implementation. By integrating multi-dimensional transition factors, this research contributes actionable insights for advancing sustainable material adoption. Full article

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has become a crucial technology for rapid prototyping and enhancing the efficiency of producing lighter components. Despite these advantages, many challenges remain. We examine how mineral-rich developing countries can upgrade in the metal AM global value chain (GVC). We do so by applying the theory of GVCs and the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework to the metal powder segment. We investigate how Kazakhstan can link itself to the metal AM GVC by cooperating with China. Our case studies are based on 20 interviews with metal AM industry experts and scholars from Kazakhstan, China, and Europe. Using the MLP framework, we identify eight drivers that have enabled China to become prominent in the global metal AM industry. In addition, we identify eight barriers restricting Kazakhstan’s upgrading. For Kazakhstan to begin producing metal powders for AM, we suggest that its government start by implementing three policies, based on China’s experience: improve education and training systems, with a focus on advanced metallurgy; target AM industry segments in which cost, not quality, is a primary focus; and adopt international standards for metal AM-related activities. Our findings offer important lessons for other mineral-rich developing countries that may be more relevant than experiences from developed nations. Full article

The E-7 nations face significant challenges in harmonizing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption with sustainable economic and environmental goals. While AI holds transformative potential to revolutionize energy structures, modernize infrastructure, broaden financial inclusion, and reduce carbon emissions, its effective integration is frequently hindered by policy inertia, economic limitations, and long-standing institutional barriers. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP), this study employs the method of moments quantile regression (MMQREG) on panel data from 2004 to 2024 to investigate the determinants of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, focusing on the roles of energy structure (ES), infrastructure (INFRA), financial inclusion (FI), economic growth (GDP), patent activity (Tpatent), population (TP), and carbon emissions (CE) across E-7 nations. The study findings reveal that economic growth and energy structure play a significant role in driving AI adoption, while inadequacies in infrastructure and limited financial inclusion significantly hinder AI progress. Additionally, the analysis reveals a positive relationship between AI adoption and CO₂ emissions, where early stages of technology uptake lead to increased emissions, but sustained integration eventually results in efficiency gains that help to reduce them. These findings underscore the need for E-7 nations to adopt targeted policies that modernize digital and physical infrastructure, broaden financial access, and expedite the transition to sustainable energy systems. This study offers actionable insights for policymakers to align digital innovation with sustainable development goals. Full article

With environmental challenges intensifying, a fundamental understanding and sustainable management of ongoing transition processes are crucial. Biological evolution provides valuable lessons on how to adapt and thrive under changing conditions. By studying its key principles, we identified analogies between biological evolution and technological transitions in terms of both the Multi-Level Perceptive and the path dependency model. The comparative study also revealed that, despite contrasting time scales, the generation-based and version-based developments are comparable. In addition, interesting similarities were found in the increase and decrease of variety and between fitness and consistency. The lessons learned from biology include “Give it a try”, “Do not close for reconstruction”, and “Keep older versions in the innovation process”. Based on this comparison, we aim to gain insights for a better understanding of how to manage technology transitions and to derive concrete indicators for assessing and monitoring them. In doing so, we can provide action-oriented guidance for developing more sustainable technological solutions for major ongoing transitions, such as the energy transition. Full article

Community energy initiatives (CEIs) have the potential to accelerate energy transitions, but their scalability depends heavily on the alignment of policies across various governance levels. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the multi-level policy instrument mix (PIM) supporting CEIs in the Netherlands, using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to conceptualize CEIs as niche innovations within the broader energy regime. Our findings reveal that while national, regional, and local policies in the Netherlands align with overarching decarbonization and community involvement goals, significant misalignments persist. Specifically, the 50 percent local ownership ambition is inconsistently enforced, and grid infrastructure bottlenecks continue to hinder project implementation. These gaps underscore the need for improved coordination and clear role definitions across governance levels. In contrast, well-aligned policy instruments (such as coherent subsidy schemes and regional plans under the national Climate Act) have played a tangible role in supporting the growth of CEIs. This multi-level analysis contributes valuable insights not only for the Netherlands but also for countries seeking to integrate CEIs into their energy strategies. We conclude that a cohesive policy framework—combining top-down targets, bottom-up empowerment, and cross-level collaboration—is essential to empower communities and accelerate a just energy transition. Full article

This study examines the policy and technological dynamics shaping China’s road transport sector’s transition to low-carbon sustainability, focusing on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs). As the world’s second-largest carbon emitter, China faces significant challenges in reducing its fossil fuel dependency in road transport, which accounts for diverse emissions and energy security risks. The present work, using a dual tech multi-level perspective (DTMLP) framework integrating multi-level perspective (MLP) and an advocacy coalition framework (ACF), analyzes the interplay of landscape pressures (global carbon constraints), regime dynamics (policy–market interactions), and niche innovations (BEV/FCEV competition). The results reveal BEVs’ dominance in light-duty markets, achieving remarkable operational emission reductions but facing lifecycle carbon lock-ins from battery production and coal-dependent power grids. HFCEVs demonstrate potential for heavy-duty decarbonization but struggle with gray hydrogen reliance and infrastructure gaps. Policy evolution highlights shifting governance from subsidies to market-driven mechanisms, alongside regional disparities in implementation. This study proposes a three-phase roadmap: structural optimization (2025–2030), technological adaptation (2030–2045), and hydrogen–electric system integration (post-2045), emphasizing material innovation, renewable energy alignment, and multi-level governance. Our findings underscore the necessity of coordinated policy–technology synergies, grid decarbonization, and circular economy strategies, to overcome institutional inertia and achieve China’s ‘Dual Carbon’ targets. This work provides actionable insights for global sustainable transport transitions amid competing technological pathways and geopolitical resource constraints. Full article

Households account for 20–40% of carbon emissions in urban areas, making them critical to achieving urban sustainability. Integrating smart technologies in households offers a promising pathway to enhance energy efficiency, mitigate climate change, and support the transition from Smart Cities to Sustainable Smart Cities (SSCs). However, achieving this transition requires not only technological adoption but also behavioural shifts that influence energy consumption—a gap in existing studies. This study examines how household engagement with smart technologies impacts behavioural change and systemic sustainability transitions. Using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework enriched with System Thinking through Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs), qualitative data were collected via 11 household interviews exhibiting varying engagement levels. The findings revealed three household-regime dynamics: proactive households driving systemic change through innovation, moderately engaged households contributing to regime stability with financial incentives fostering gradual adoption, and resistant households reinforcing existing structures due to privacy concerns. By extending the MLP framework to incorporate behavioural and social dimensions, the study provided insights into how micro-level behaviours influence macro-level transitions, challenging techno-centric narratives. The findings underscore the need for policies that enhance awareness, address privacy concerns, and provide tailored incentives to catalyse smart technology adoption and energy efficiency, fostering a more inclusive and effective pathway toward sustainable urban futures. Full article

Regenerative tourism has emerged as a critical evolution from traditional approaches to sustainable tourism, which have proven insufficient to address contemporary environmental, social, and economic challenges. This study examines the case of ‘Aves de la Sierra’ in Huelva, Spain, a pioneering initiative that integrates ecosystem regeneration and community revitalisation as the core of its regenerative tourism proposal. Through the analytical theoretical framework of the Multi-Level Change Perspective (MLP) and transformative innovation, it analyses how local communities consolidate themselves as niches of innovation in regenerative tourism, autonomously managing their resources and narrative. The results of this action research process reveal a number of findings that can serve as a starting point for the dynamisation and development of other regenerative tourism experiences. These include the need for public policies aimed at strengthening these innovation niches through collaborative networks, organisational learning, and adequate funding. This article also contributes to narrowing the gap between theory and experience in regenerative tourism. Full article

While transitioning to clean energy technologies offers countries economic advantages, the risk of “low carbon leakage” arises if production shifts to more favorable locations. We conducted a scenario analysis to examine potential shifts in production and trade patterns of clean energy technologies. Our novel empirical approach combines the global macroeconometric model GINFORS-E with a newly developed gravity trade model and integrates a socio-political analysis based on a Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework, innovatively augmented by quantifiable indicators. The MLP-analysis defines the expansion paths of clean energy technologies in an alternative scenario, allowing us to incorporate political and social dynamics into our analysis. The baseline scenario is based on announced pledges. For established technologies like photovoltaics, we observe minimal shifts in global trade shares as production capacities approach their limits, signaling market saturation. Conversely, emerging technologies like hydrogen electrolyzers display greater shifts, highlighting potential for market disruption and increased risk of low carbon leakage. While adopting clean technologies in individual countries lead to sector-specific changes, broader macroeconomic impacts appear constrained by existing market structures and path dependencies. Sensitivity analyses suggest that component-specific price changes influence trade and production. Expanding our approach to additional technologies and countries remains challenging due to data limitations. Full article

Evaluating the effectiveness of China’s energy transition policies and formulating scientific policy optimization paths are essential for advancing China’s energy transition and global carbon reduction. This paper quantitatively evaluates China’s 22 key energy transition policies during the 14th Five-Year Plan period via text excavation, the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), and the PMC index model. The research results show that the overall design of China’s energy transition policy is reasonable. Only two policies are graded as acceptable, while the rest of the policies are graded as good or higher. In addition, landscape policy, regime policy, and niche policy have a decreasing influence on energy transition projects in China. This research summarizes three common shortcomings in China’s energy transition policy: (1) the lack of explicit policy incentives and constraints; (2) the inadequate authority of policy releasers; and (3) the limited coverage of the policy focus. Full article

The maritime shipping sector needs to transition towards a low- or zero-emission future to align with the 1.5 °C temperature goal and the recently adopted and revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A significant research gap exists in understanding how socio-economic and socio-political processes can lead to the adoption of alternative marine fuels that will be essential in meeting the aforementioned goals. The aim of this paper is to use a case study of an existing transition to understand how diffusion takes place, specifically how the adoption of liquified natural gas (LNG) in Norway has unfolded and what lessons can be learnt from this process. To answer this question, a combination of semi-structured interviews with key maritime stakeholders and documentary evidence was collected covering the period from 1985 to 2015. The collected data were analysed through a content analysis approach applying the multilevel perspective (MLP) as a heuristic. The qualitative results paint an interesting picture of the changing attitudes towards LNG as a marine fuel in Norway. In the early years, the adoption of LNG was primarily driven by air pollution and political considerations of using Norwegian natural gas, which over time, evolved into a more focused maritime paradigm painted through the lens of the Norwegian maritime industry under wider regulatory developments such as emission control areas (ECAs). By the 2010s, these drivers were superseded by GHG considerations such as methane slip concerns and a less favourable natural gas market leading to a slowdown of LNG adoption. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding future adoption dynamics of alternative zero-emission fuels, particularly in relation to the role of strong technology champions, institutional modification requirements, and starting conditions for a transition. Full article

The complexity and multi-dimensionality of energy transitions are broadly recognised, and insights from transition research increasingly support policy decision making. Sustainability transition scholars have been developing mostly qualitative socio-technical transition (STT) frameworks, and modelling has been argued to be complementary to these frameworks, for example for policy testing. We systematically evaluate five system dynamics (SD) energy models on their representation of key STT characteristics. Our results demonstrate that (i) the evaluated models incorporate most of the core characteristics of STT, and (ii) the policies tested in the models address different levels and aspects of the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework. In light of the increasing emergence of energy (transition) models, we recommend to systematically map models and their tested policy interventions into the MLP framework or other sustainability transition frameworks, creating an overview of tested policies (a “policy navigator”). This navigator supports policy makers and modellers alike, facilitating them to find previously tested policy options and related models for particular policy objectives. Full article

The rise of all types of electric vehicles (xEVs) is reshaping the global automotive sector, marking a new era of electric mobility (eMobility). While existing research predominantly explores the transition towards eMobility from the perspectives of automakers, governments, and users, a notable gap exists regarding the role of internal combustion engine (ICE) component manufacturers. This research aims to examine the transformative journey of the Indonesian automotive industry, specifically focusing on the strategic responses of Indonesian ICE component manufacturers towards eMobility. This study employs a multi-level perspective (MLP) approach through 12 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders representing government bodies, associations, automakers, academia, startups, and ICE component manufacturers. This research sheds light on stakeholders’ perceptions and actions in the transition to eMobility. The findings reveal various factors influencing transition, including current low xEV demand, companies’ perceptions of xEVs, huge investments, changes in the supply chain, technological capabilities, and government policies. This research provides an overview of the strategies for ICE component manufacturers, along with their risks and advantages. This research also recommends two policies for the Indonesian government: a gradual transition and more support for local xEV and component manufacturing. Full article

This research paper investigates the potential of FinTech solutions in promoting sustainable finance in Mongolia, an emerging market economy with a burgeoning FinTech landscape. This study explores how Mongolia leverages FinTech innovations to advance sustainable development goals. Utilizing secondary data sourced from Mongolian government agencies, global financial organizations, academic institutions, market research firms, and industry associations, we conducted an integrated SWOT-MLP analysis of Mongolia’s FinTech industry, which includes the FinTech business models, ecosystem, regulatory frameworks, traditional financial institutions, and stakeholders. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing Mongolia in integrating FinTech into its sustainable finance agenda, and SWOT-based strategies. Full article