Decarbonising electricity

Decarbonising electricity: a comparison in socio-ecological relations

This Project investigates how legitimacy for renewable energy can be won or lost. It focuses on regions that are undergoing ‘energy transition’ in Germany, India and Australia, conducting in-depth studies of changing socio-ecological relations, theorising through comparative analysis, and creating new data on the socio-cultural forces for (and against) emission reduction.

Since the 2015 UN Paris Agreement, most of the world's governments are committed to 'nationally-determined' targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonisation of electricity and the shift to renewables is critical to meeting these targets. To achieve this, renewable energy must have the widest social legitimacy.

The Project analyses what can be done by governments, corporations and civil society to enhance the transition to renewable energy. Its social science frame delivers a strong policy focus, securing impact. Its findings are grounded in the comparative study of regions that are making a transition to renewable power. It advances practical understanding of changing ‘socio-ecological’ relations under decarbonisation, helping policy-makers chart more effective emissions-reduction strategies.

Chief and partner investigators:
A/Prof. James Goodman, Prof. Linda Connor (USyd), A/Prof. Devleena Ghosh, A/Prof. Tom Morton, Dr Jonathan Marshall, A/Prof. Stuart Rosewarne (USyd), Dr Gareth Bryant (USyd), Dr Rebecca Pearse (ANU), Prof. Dipesh Chakrabarty (UChicago), Prof. Ortwin Renn (IIASS, Potsdam), Dr Katja Müller (Martin-Luther Uni of Halle-Wittenberg.)

Funding organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC).