Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland
An improved understanding of the geographical unevenness of the global energy transition is important. The concept of ‘sociotechnical imaginaries’ has been used extensively for understanding how desired technology futures are envisioned and differentially articulated in various contexts. Supplementi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Moravian Geographical Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2021-0008 |
| _version_ | 1818585541692620800 |
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| author | Benediktsson Karl |
| author_facet | Benediktsson Karl |
| author_sort | Benediktsson Karl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An improved understanding of the geographical unevenness of the global energy transition is important. The concept of ‘sociotechnical imaginaries’ has been used extensively for understanding how desired technology futures are envisioned and differentially articulated in various contexts. Supplementing this, the concept of ‘nature imaginaries’ is proposed in this article, to specifically address collective moral visions of human/nature relations that underwrite discourses and actions by various actors. Nature plays an active role in both types of imaginaries. Their complex interactions play a part in how energy transitions unfold. The article uses this framework for a description of the energy situation in Iceland, and its largely successful transition towards renewable energy through the development of hydropower and geothermal resources. Particular sociotechnical and nature imaginaries, sometimes opposed to each other, are discernible. The article argues that the analysis of conflicting imaginaries at work in specific energy transitions might help in identifying leverage points from where it is possible to work in a small way towards a global transition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:38:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63999398d09048188a48ccd8ac12f350 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2199-6202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:38:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Moravian Geographical Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-63999398d09048188a48ccd8ac12f3502022-12-21T22:37:43ZengSciendoMoravian Geographical Reports2199-62022021-06-012928810010.2478/mgr-2021-0008Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in IcelandBenediktsson Karl0Department of Geography and Tourism, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, IcelandAn improved understanding of the geographical unevenness of the global energy transition is important. The concept of ‘sociotechnical imaginaries’ has been used extensively for understanding how desired technology futures are envisioned and differentially articulated in various contexts. Supplementing this, the concept of ‘nature imaginaries’ is proposed in this article, to specifically address collective moral visions of human/nature relations that underwrite discourses and actions by various actors. Nature plays an active role in both types of imaginaries. Their complex interactions play a part in how energy transitions unfold. The article uses this framework for a description of the energy situation in Iceland, and its largely successful transition towards renewable energy through the development of hydropower and geothermal resources. Particular sociotechnical and nature imaginaries, sometimes opposed to each other, are discernible. The article argues that the analysis of conflicting imaginaries at work in specific energy transitions might help in identifying leverage points from where it is possible to work in a small way towards a global transition.https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2021-0008sociotechnical imaginarynature imaginaryenergy transitionrenewable energyenergy landscapeiceland |
| spellingShingle | Benediktsson Karl Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland Moravian Geographical Reports sociotechnical imaginary nature imaginary energy transition renewable energy energy landscape iceland |
| title | Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland |
| title_full | Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland |
| title_fullStr | Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland |
| title_short | Conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition? Nature and renewable energy in Iceland |
| title_sort | conflicting imaginaries in the energy transition nature and renewable energy in iceland |
| topic | sociotechnical imaginary nature imaginary energy transition renewable energy energy landscape iceland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2021-0008 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benediktssonkarl conflictingimaginariesintheenergytransitionnatureandrenewableenergyiniceland |