Policy network creation as a driver of energy-efficient industry

Abstract

Purpose This paper studies a Swedish municipality that wants to go beyond its own operations, involving the local industry in saving energy to improve the environment. The paper aims to analyse the experiences and practical implications of using policy networks for implementing energy-efficiency measures in private industrial companies. Design/methodology/approach The researchers closely followed a Swedish municipality and its work to engage the local industry in energy-efficiency activities. Participatory observations of meetings and workshops and semi-structured interviews with involved actors were conducted. Findings The study examines a Swedish municipality that has started addressing energy efficiency in local businesses by creating a network involving 60 companies. This network was tested in relation to four hypotheses on how policy networks develop. The study finds that the network has too broad a problem definition, which does not help unify the involved actors. The companies’ involvement is based on passive participation in which they are receivers of information. The network has been unable to use a social control mechanism because there have been few company-to-company meetings. In conclusion, for a network to be an efficient policy tool, its structure is as important as the ideas for action and clear goals. Research limitations/implications This case study of one Swedish municipality allows for analytical but not statistical generalization. Originality/value The paper uniquely calls for reflection on whether municipalities and local authorities have enough competence to drive industrial energy efficiency.

Defining corporate energy policy and strategy to achieve carbon emissions reduction targets via energy management in non-energy intensive multi-site manufacturing organisations

“…The latter face barriers such as not having a common 'energy' language (Finnerty et al, 2017) and passive participation. These barriers prevent the generation of a common problem statement (Palm and Backman, 2017) thus failing to implement effective policies.…”

The role of local governments in governing sustainable consumption and sharing cities

“…This is done by creating a network of companies with the declared aim of reducing energy consumption in these companies. The networks usually involve around ten companies, but there are also examples of 60 companies coming together to improve energy efficiency (Palm and Backman, 2017b).…”

Reshaping the Policy Arena: How the Agro-Export Policy Network Propelled Brazil within Global Agricultural Governance

“…Within a structure of centre–periphery, the significance of actors who obtain centrality through the management of linkages between members is frequently highlighted (Benson, 1975, p. 230; Atkinson and Coleman, 1989, p. 51; Wang, 2013, p. 317). This has been termed ‘core agency’, where the coordinating function enhances network efficiency (Provan and Milward, 1995, p. 13), or as a ‘meta-governors’ that both assumes initiative and responsibility for planning and mediation (Palm and Backman, 2017, p. 145). We thereby scrutinize the internal workings of the agro-export policy network, viewed as a specific configuration of actors, as well as the functional relations between them, in order to account for the changes in the network's structure throughout the time periods analyzed.…”