Advancing Energy Policy: Lessons on the integration of Social Sciences and Humanities

Abstract

This open access book advocates for the Social Sciences and Humanities to be more involved in energy policymaking. It forms part of the European platform for energy-related Social Sciences and Humanities’ activities, and works on the premise that crossing disciplines is essential. All of its contributions are highly interdisciplinary, with each chapter grounded in at least three different Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines. These varying perspectives come together to cover an array of issues relevant to the energy transition, including: energy poverty, justice, political ecology, governance, behaviours, imaginaries, systems approaches, modelling, as well as the particular challenges faced by interdisciplinary work. As a whole, the book presents new ideas for future energy policy, particularly at the European level. It is a valuable resource for energy researchers interested in interdisciplinary and society-relevant perspectives. Those working outside the Social Sciences and Humanities will find this book an accessible way of learning more about how these subjects can constructively contribute to energy policy.

Chapters:

  1. Mobilising the Energy-Related Social Sciences and Humanities (pgs. 1-11) - C. Foulds & R. Robison
  2. Plugging the Gap Between Energy Policy and the Lived Experience of Energy Poverty: Five Principles for a Multidisciplinary Approach (pgs. 15-29) - L. Middlemiss, R. Gillard, V. Pellicer, & K. Straver
  3. Shaping Blue Growth: Social Sciences at the Nexus Between Marine Renewables and Energy Policy (pgs. 31-46) - S. Kerr, L. Watts, R. Brennan, R. Howell, M. Graziano, A. O’Hagan, D.van der Horst, S. Weir, G. Wright, & B. Wynne
  4. Looking for Perspectives! EU Energy Policy in Context (pgs. 47-59) - A. Åberg, J. Höffken, & S. Lidström
  5. Achieving Data Synergy: The Socio-Technical Process of Handling Data (pgs. 63-81) - S. Higginson, M. Topouzi, C. Andrade-Cabrera, C. O’Dwyer, S. Darby, & D. Finn
  6. Building Governance and Energy Efficiency: Mapping the Interdisciplinary Challenge (pgs. 83-96) - F. McCarthy, S. Bright, & T. Fawcett
  7. Crossing Borders: Social Sciences and Humanities Perspectives on European Energy Systems Integration (pgs. 97-110) - A. Silvast, R. Bolton, V. Lagendijk, & K. Szulecki
  8. A Complementary Understanding of Residential Energy Demand, Consumption and Services (pgs. 111-127) -  R. Hiteva, M. Ives, M. Weijnen, & I. Nikolic
  9. Imaginaries and Practices: Learning from ‘ENERGISE’ About the Integration of Social Sciences with the EU Energy Union (pgs. 131-144) - A. Genus, F. Fahy, G. Goggins, M. Iskandarova, & S. Laakso
  10. Challenges Ahead: Understanding, Assessing, Anticipating and Governing Foreseeable Societal Tensions to Support Accelerated Low-Carbon Transitions in Europe (pgs. 145-161) - B. Turnheim, J. Wesseling, B. Truffer, H. Rohracher, L. Carvalho, & C. Binder
  11. Towards a Political Ecology of EU Energy Policy (pgs. 163-175) - G. Bridge, S. Barca, B. Özkaynak, E. Turhan, & R. Wyeth