How Incumbent Cultural and Cognitive Path Dependencies Constrain the 'Scenario Cone': Reliance on Carbon Dioxide Removal due to Techno-bias

Isabell Braunger and Christian Hauenstein

Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, 2020, vol. Volume 9, issue Number 1, 137-154

Abstract: Scenario analysis is widely used to assess long-term development necessary to reach climate targets. Mitigation measures in these scenarios concentrate on supply-side technology solutions, while little attention has been paid to demand side solutions. One suite of included technologies are carbon dioxide removal technologies (CDR). Most scenarios rely heavily on CDR to limit global warming to 1.5-2°C. Yet, the reliance on CDR is highly controversial, as most CDR technologies remain unproven to date and dramatic adverse side effects seem likely. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we assess why the selection of prominently represented scenarios is narrowed down on such a confined, CDR dependent scenario cone. After critically assessing CDR, based on existing techno-economic literature, we perform a theoretical analysis of the underlying scientific processes and then transfer the resulting insights into the process of scenario development. We base our analysis on various approaches of feminist theory. These approaches allow a reflection and critique of common scientific practice as well as a contextualization of underlying values and norms. We argue that the focus on technological solutions is not an outcome of an open scientific competition of ideas, but due to underlying assumptions based on thought patterns prevalent in western societies. Thus, to provide the chance of a more open and objective debate about possible climate change mitigation measures and pathways we need to reconsider underlying assumptions and biases influencing the scenario building process.

JEL-codes: F0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.iaee.org/en/publications/eeeparticle.aspx?id=308 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to IAEE members and subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aen:eeepjl:eeep9-1-braunger

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.iaee.org/ ... ons/eeepjournal.aspx

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy from International Association for Energy Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by David Williams ().