2050—An Energetic Odyssey: Understanding 'Techniques of Futuring' in the transition towards renewable energy. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hajer, Maarten A.; Pelzer, Peter
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 44(2018)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Energy transition -- Off shore wind -- Politics as performance -- Technique of Futuring; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2018.01.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract: After the Paris agreement on climate change (2015) climate change politics is no longer about raising awareness but about shaping the sustainability transition itself. It requires us to rethink the role of scientific knowledge, shifting from a tradition of "expected futures" to an approach focusing on "desirable futures" and ways to get there. We argue the sustainability transitions scholarship tends to see constructions of the future (visions, scenarios, predictions etc.) as explanans (that what explains) while constructions of the future are rarely seen as explanandum (that what should be explained). The article introduces the concept of 'Techniques of Futuring' defined as practices bringing together actors around one or more imagined futures and through which actors come to share particular orientations for action, to get a grip on the actual acts of 'futuring'. The empirical focus is on '2050—An Energetic Odyssey', a process centred around an elaborate multimedia installation, introducing large scale exploitation of the North Sea for harvesting off shore wind energy taking place in 2015 and 2016. We examine the Odyssey as example of a Technique of Futuring. We conclude with a reflection what the Odyssey teaches us about effective Techniques of Futuring to further the sustainability transition.