84. Multiple futures of energy and mobility transitions: visions, imaginaries and contestation
Marianne Ryghaug, Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Tomas Moe Skjølsvold; Gisle Solbu, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Posted: February 28, 2022 Accepted Languages: English/Inglés/Inglês
Techno-optimistic future narratives and imaginaries have become powerful enactments of energy and mobility transitions, often legitimized by a promise of sustainable outcomes. Such futures are cornerstones of innovation and research programs, societal forecasts and climate mitigation scenarios. Attentiveness to opportunities and risks can be crucial for building reflexive capacity for policy making, but too much anticipation can also create a false sense of predictability. This might shift focus from the contemporary politics of transitions, thus closing off discussions about the unpredictable consequences of transitions.
This panel explores tensions between anticipation and openness in futures, by inviting paper presentations that reflect on how imagined futures produce collective understandings, facilitate change, and contribute to the governance of energy and mobility transitions.
Contributions should focus on one or several aspects of futures and ‘futuring’ in energy and mobility transitions. Questions may be related, but not limited to the following topics:
Which tools, methods and practices are used to imagine energy and mobility transitions, and what are the consequences of using these tools?
Which alternative ways of imagining futures may be produced and performed to shape socio-technical innovations and developments within energy and transport?
What typologies of visions, expectations and imaginaries exist and how does different ways of imagining futures relate to incremental versus transformative change?
What roles do publics, users, intermediaries and other actor-groups play in constructing energy and mobility?
