Social legitimacy of decarbonisation of energy

Energy policies and the social legitimacy of decarbonisation of energy production

Abstract

In today’s world of climate change discussion, concerns for environmental sustainability, the Paris agreement and advancing renewable energy technologies, the need for decarbonizing our energy is clear. Globally electricity production has a massive contribution to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, especially CO². On the other hand, electricity production has huge potential to rapidly reduce CO² emissions as well. However decarbonizing energy is not just a question of technologies but also profoundly a social and political debate. The social acceptability of renewable energy projects is not to be taken for granted on a national, regional or especially on a local level. This research project will address the disconnection between renewable energy policies and the social context of actual energy development projects. I will be looking into what is happening in local communities and what are the unintended social consequences of renewable energy projects. Furthermore, the aim is to identify the possibilities and implications for increasing social legitimacy of decarbonising energy production.

Meet the researcher – Riikka Heikkinen

Qualifications:  MPhil, BSc (Geography, University of Oulu)

Riikka is originally from Finland and has a background with wind power industry. Before that she worked for a governmental institution mainly supervising environmental impact assessments of large energy projects. During that time Riikka became interested in the social and political aspects of renewable energy and is now undertaking a PhD project to study the social acceptability of renewable energy.

 

Riikka's favourite quote:

Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are.
– Theodore Roosevelt

Email:  riikka.m.heikkinen@student.uts.edu.au
Principal supervisor: Associate Professor James Goodman