Enabling Environments for Sustainable Energy Transitions: The Diffusion of Technology, Innovation and Investment in Low-Carbon Societies

Abstract

A sustainability transition requires innovations, investment and learning to support transformation processes in different fields, including new technologies, products and infrastructures, as well as new social rules, norms and interactions. Greening the economy rests on the rapid and effective dissemination of climate-friendly technolo-gies, and in particular of renewable and efficient energy systems. Substantial financial support and smart gov-ernance are required in this process in order to develop the economic, sociopolitical and technological capaci-ties of all countries. Within this progression, the international diffusion of know-how, technologies and investments requires enabling environments to build up local production capacities and demand for low-carbon goods. Further, business, governmental and non-governmental actors rely on social learning to establish coop-eration at multiple levels in order to adapt technologies to local contexts within national and global frameworks and to support the transformation towards low-carbon societies. Various mechanisms are analysed and dis-cussed.