The Transition to Renewable Energy Systems - On the Way to a Comprehensive Transition Concept

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

In recent decades, humanity has entered an era where human beings have themselves begun to massively impact the global ecological framework conditions for their social existence and economic activities ("Anthropocene"). Only by way of a "Great Transformation" (WBGU) does it seem feasible that in 2050 welfare within planetary boundaries can be guaranteed for nine billion people. Such a complex and comprehensive transition requires more than mere technological change. What is needed is an integrated change process across economic, institutional, and cultural levels. The ability to grasp this type of multi-dimensional change can be described as "Transformative Literacy." Up to now, such a "Transformative Literacy" is being established only partly in politics, economics, and society. This chapter attempts to provide insights into such a comprehensive understanding of change processes and to address its central dimensions. The German energy transition serves as an illustrative case of such a comprehensive change process. In an outlook, this chapter illustrates three discursive dogmas within the sustainability debate and assesses them against the background of the presented framework and in the context of the ongoing energy transition.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTransition to Renewable Energy Systems
EditorsDetlef Stolten, Viktor Scherer
Number of pages18
PublisherWiley Blackwell Japan
Publication date01.01.2013
Pages119-136
ISBN (print)9783527332397
ISBN (electronic)9783527673872
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2013
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. All rights reserved.