Discourses about EU Transport Decarbonisation: Towards a Paradigm Shift?

ABSTRACT

The development and introduction of new technologies are central to achieving sustainable transitions. Policymakers are important in enabling a successful transition. However, discourses about EU transport decarbonisation reveal multiple policy approaches to technology innovation, both in terms of decarbonising the car and building new alternative fuels infrastructure for transport. A discursive institutionalist analysis of these two separate but interdependent communicative discourses on road transport decarbonisation shows the complexities of facilitating transformative change. This shift requires coordination at all levels involving different actors and sector coupling to successfully decarbonise road transport.

KEYWORDS:

• EU road transport policy
• transport decarbonisation
• sustainable transition
• discursive institutionalism
• alternative fuels infrastructure

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Thomas Hoerber and Rosa Fernandez, the journal editors and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on previous versions of this article. The author acknowledges the UACES Research Network ‘The Role of Europe in Global Challenges: Climate Change and Sustainable Development’ for the organisation of a dedicated online workshop. The Jean Monnet Network ‘Governing the EU's climate and energy transition in turbulent times’ (GOVTRAN: https://www.govtran.eu), which is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, deserves credit for additional support.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helene Dyrhauge

Helene Dyrhauge is an Associate Professor in International Public Administration and Politics at the Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark.