Autore
Magnani, Natalia

Titolo
The Green Energy Transition. Sustainable Development or Ecological Modernization?
Periodico
Sociologica
Anno: 2012 - Volume: 16 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 0

This article contributes to the critical review of the sociological debate on sustainabilityby focusing on the contested relationship between Ecological Modernization (EM) andSustainable Development (SD). In order to do so the article is organized in two main sections.In the first section the key literature arguing against the conflation of EM and SD isanalyzed and crucial differences between the two theoretical paradigms and policy discoursesare highlighted. In the second part, the argument for the distinction between EM and SDis tested against the literature investigating the social implications of the green energy transitionat the local level. In particular, two emerging research streams are considered, namelyresearch on the local effects of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in developingcountries and research on social acceptance of renewable energy facilities by local communitiesin industrialized countries. With regard to this literature major sources of tension betweenEM and SD are highlighted, especially concerning justice, public participation and risk management.Accordingly, the article argues that in the emerging "energy and society" researchfield the conflation between EM and SD is counterproductive for both analytical and policyreasons.



SICI: 1971-8853(2012)16:2<0:TGETSD>2.0.ZU;2-8
Testo completo: http://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.2383/38270
Testo completo alternativo: http://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.2383/38270

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