From carbon democracy to post-fossil capitalism? The German coal phase-out as a crossroads of sustainability politics

IF 3.6 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy Pub Date : 2022-05-17 DOI:10.1080/15487733.2022.2069542

Tobias Haas, Jeremias Herberg, David Löw-Beer

引用次数: 4

Abstract

Abstract For a long time, Germany was regarded as a pioneer in climate policy. Recently, conflicts have intensified over the phase-out of coal from the energy sector. In 2020, the German Bundestag created the legal basis for a coal phase-out by 2038, subsequently revised to 2030 by the new coalition government of September 2021. This article analyzes the recent controversies from a political-economy perspective and shows the interrelationships and tensions between capitalism, democracy, and sustainability within Germany. In particular, the rise of right-wing populist attitudes opposing a coal phase-out, highlights the conflictual character and the social embeddedness of sustainability politics. The analysis of the conflicts surrounding the coal phase-out makes it possible to situate the future of energy supply in the overall societal context.

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从碳民主到后化石资本主义?德国逐步淘汰煤炭是可持续性政治的十字路口

长期以来，德国被视为气候政策的先驱。最近，在能源部门逐步淘汰煤炭的问题上，冲突加剧。2020年，德国联邦议院制定了到2038年逐步淘汰煤炭的法律基础，随后由2021年9月的新联合政府修订为2030年。本文从政治经济的角度分析了最近的争议，并展示了德国资本主义、民主和可持续性之间的相互关系和紧张关系。特别是，反对逐步淘汰煤炭的右翼民粹主义态度的兴起，突显了可持续性政治的冲突特征和社会嵌入性。对逐步淘汰煤炭的冲突进行分析，可以把能源供应的未来置于整个社会背景中考虑。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development

CiteScore

12.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

27 weeks

期刊介绍： Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy is a refereed, open-access journal which recognizes that climate change and other socio-environmental challenges require significant transformation of existing systems of consumption and production. Complex and diverse arrays of societal factors and institutions will in coming decades need to reconfigure agro-food systems, implement renewable energy sources, and reinvent housing, modes of mobility, and lifestyles for the current century and beyond. These innovations will need to be formulated in ways that enhance global equity, reduce unequal access to resources, and enable all people on the planet to lead flourishing lives within biophysical constraints. The journal seeks to advance scientific and political perspectives and to cultivate transdisciplinary discussions involving researchers, policy makers, civic entrepreneurs, and others. The ultimate objective is to encourage the design and deployment of both local experiments and system innovations that contribute to a more sustainable future by empowering individuals and organizations and facilitating processes of social learning.