Intervention points
How to accelerate a transition?
The world that is moulded by the First Deep Transition is in a crisis. What brought us here, cannot bring us forth. While we cannot create a much needed Second Deep Transition, we can create favourable conditions with conscious and targeted efforts for it to emerge.
With that in mind, we have developed a framework of 6 intervention points that:
- provides a comprehensive overview of how to accelerate socio-technical transitions,
- allows possible shortcomings of current policy measures to surface,
- and supports creating multidimensional and multilevel interventions to bring on socio-technical transitions.
1
Stimulating various niche innovations
New ways to get things done: new technologies, business models, laws and regulations, everyday practices, and cultural phenomenons. These interventions (for example, research grants) should be aimed at making sure that there’s plenty of new innovations.
2
Accelerating niches
Generally, innovations aren’t strong enough to bear the harsh conditions of the market economy. Here, we can help these niches to grow by protecting them from these conditions or by combining different niches together. An example of this can be a platform where electric car and self-driving vehicle manufacturers can exchange ideas with those that support the business model of mobility as a service.
3
Destabilizing the current system
Oftentimes, stopping political support for the technologies and other solutions that should be left behind is enough. For example, the United Kingdom is planning to ban the manufacturing of new diesel-powered vehicles starting from 2035.
4
Addressing the repercussions
Radical change often comes with unwanted baggage. With socio-technical transitions, the repercussions can be extensive and challenging to deal with—it’s much better to prevent them. For example, destabilising fossil fuel based energy system raises the question about the people whose livelihood depends on that system. Can we ensure enough new jobs or opportunities for retraining?
5
Coordinating several systems
If there’s going to be a socio-technical transition, we should make sure that all the new solutions work well together and serve the same purpose. Meaning there’s no point in driving an electric car if the electricity powering the vehicle is still fossil-based.
6
Tilting the landscape
Landscape pressure is one of the critical components of making a transition. Thus, it is worth paying attention to it. For example, if we are at the forefront of developing mobility innovations, it’s in our best interest to lobby for more strict environmental requirements in support of sustainable development and our business model.
Systemic change using the intervention points
