History's contributions to energy research and policy

Does the sun shine in the High North? Vested interests as a barrier to solar energy deployment in Finland

“…Historically, advocates of wind and solar energy have viewed these technologies as elements of a utopian society, making established energy companies view them as radical inventions, and hastening a poor reception [22]. This kind of utopian thinking has, for its part, also cast a shadow over the path of solar energy in Finland.…”

The political economy of China's energy and climate paradox

“…The communication thus touches on a number of key themes for the journal and the field at large, including socio-political economy [1][2][3], energy governance [4][5][6][7][8], energy transitions [9][10][11], and externalities [12,13].…”

Towards Water Sensitive Cities in the Colorado River Basin: A Comparative Historical Analysis to Inform Future Urban Water Sustainability Transitions

“…Comparative historical analysis, in contrast to methods like statistical inference, starts from the premise that the specifics and degree of variability in each case should be explored before assuming generalizations can be drawn between cases [36]. Comparative historical analyses have made substantial contributions to environmental policy, including providing the opportunity to gain a systematic understanding of the past, linking culture, society and technology, to inform future natural resource policy and governance efforts [5]. Most scholars agree that historical analyses involve empirical data in some format [5].…”

“…Comparative historical analyses have made substantial contributions to environmental policy, including providing the opportunity to gain a systematic understanding of the past, linking culture, society and technology, to inform future natural resource policy and governance efforts [5]. Most scholars agree that historical analyses involve empirical data in some format [5]. As the amount of existing research on the Colorado River Basin is large, we relied on existing in-depth research that incorporated both primary and secondary sources, similar to other approaches in historical energy transitions (e.g., [37]).…”

“…Our goal is to interpret the historical context to identify patterns. Such an understanding may provide insights related to (1) catalysts and unintended consequences of past events and (2) practical considerations (such as timing and stakeholders involved) [5]. This information may be relevant to scientists, managers, and policy makers who develop strategies for transitioning sites towards more sustainable, water sensitive areas.…”