Tracing the development of Anti-Fossil Fuel Norms: insights from the Republic of Ireland

ABSTRACT

Recent scholarly work on sustainability transitions has highlighted the importance of the development of norms against fossil fuels, or Anti-Fossil Fuel Norms (AFFNs), for climate mitigation. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and conditions by which such norms are developed and secured for successful sustainability transitions. This paper contributes to addressing this, through analysing the case of the Republic of Ireland, probing the emergence of norms against fossil fuels and notably against natural gas (also referred to here as ‘fossil gas’). Whilst Ireland is considered an overall laggard on climate action, in recent years the country has witnessed several ground-breaking supply-side moves against fossil fuels. Drawing on in-depth original research interviews and analysis of key political sources, including parliamentary debates and policy documents, the paper finds evidence of norms against fossil gas emerging in the Irish case. The analysis contributes insights into the iterative development of AFFNs at the domestic level, the role of environmental movements, and broader lessons for the development of a just transition away from fossil gas.

Key policy insights

• Initial moves against fossil fuels, even if not successful, can unleash political feedback effects which open space for more stringent policy development over time

• Delayed action on sustainability leads to more complex transition challenges, with implications for ensuring justice within transition processes

• Grassroots environmental movements are important ‘norm entrepreneurs’, providing important sources of expertise, effective communication for policy and the public on the impacts of fossil fuels and mobilisation of wider citizen support for climate policy

• AFFN discursive framings can help to build alliances, advance climate justice, and support the development of environmentally and socially just transitions.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural gas
• sustainability transitions
• norms
• grassroots movements
• feedback effects
• climate policy

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges feedback from two anonymous reviewers, which was extremely helpful in improving the manuscript. A great deal of thanks is also given to the Editorial Team at Climate Policy, including Dr. Joanna Depledge, Dr. Jan Corfee-Morlot, Polona Barber, and particularly Dr. Kirsten Jenkins, for their support throughout the process of manuscript development. Finally, the author would like to acknowledge with gratitude the collegial support of colleagues at Maynooth University Department of Geography, with special thanks to Prof. Mary Gilmartin.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 From here onwards, the Republic of Ireland will be referred to as “Ireland.”