Accelerating Transition Dynamics in City Regions: A Qualitative Modeling Perspective

Pieter Valkering, Gönenç Yücel, Ernst Gebetsroither-Geringer, Karin Markvica, Erika Meynaerts and Niki Frantzeskaki
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Pieter Valkering: VITO (Flanders Institute for Technological Research)/EnergyVille, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Gönenç Yücel: Boğaziçi University Istanbul, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey
Ernst Gebetsroither-Geringer: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 1220 Vienna, Austria
Karin Markvica: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 1220 Vienna, Austria
Erika Meynaerts: VITO (Flanders Institute for Technological Research)/EnergyVille, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Niki Frantzeskaki: DRIFT (Dutch Research Institute For Transitions), Faculty of Social Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: In this article, we take stock of the findings from conceptual and empirical work on the role of transition initiatives for accelerating transitions as input for modeling acceleration dynamics. We applied the qualitative modeling approach of causal loop diagrams to capture the dynamics of a single transition initiative evolving within its regional context. In doing so, we aim to address two key challenges in transition modeling, namely conceptualization, and the framing of empirical insights obtained for various case study regions in a consistent modeling framework. Our results show that through this systematic approach one can translate conceptual and qualitative empirical work into a transition model design. Moreover, the causal loop diagrams can be used as discussion tools to support dialogue among researchers and stakeholders, and may support a comparison of transition dynamics across case-study regions. We reflect on main limitations related to empirical model validation (lack of data) and to model structure (high level of aggregation), and describe next steps for moving from a qualitative single transition initiative to a quantitative multiple transition initiatives model.

Keywords: acceleration; sustainability transitions; transition initiatives; transition governance; qualitative modeling; causal loop diagrams (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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