[Title] Where are we going, and how are we going to get there?
Understanding the socio-political context of our future energy systems
[Speaker] Dr. Leslie Mabon
Lecturer in Sociology, School of Applied Social Studies
Robert Gordon University
Scotland
[Date & Time]Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4:00 p.m.
[Place]Meeting room, 2F, I²CNER Bldg.1,Ito campus, Kyushu University
[Abstract]In this session I discuss how we can understand the socio-political context into which technologies required to transition to a carbon-neutral future will be deployed. Envisioning the energy systems of the future requires consideration not only of technological viability, but also of the kind of society into which new technologies will be deployed with regard to policy landscape and societal acceptance. I explore these issues through empirical research undertaken around carbon dioxide capture and storage in both Scotland and Japan, and around marine radioactive contamination post-Fukushima nuclear accident. Focusing on the underpinning wider lessons that may be learned and applied to other energy technologies, I address three broad themes: risk governance; decision-making; and scenario building. The introduction of new and unfamiliar energy technologies to society may be perceived as risky by not only citizens but also stakeholders and policymakers, hence there is a need for risk governance - understanding what drives perceptions of risks and developing policy that manages these differing risk perceptions. The complexity of governing future energy systems reinforces the necessity of decision-making aids and processes that take into account a range of different perspectives on the viability (economic, political, societal) or otherwise of specific technologies. Lastly and bringing all of the above together, I offer some thoughts onto how policy and economic initiatives and societal values may be built into technological forecasts in order to conduct more robust scenario building for energy futures.
