Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
||
| Reference Number | ES/K006002/1 | |
| Title | Low Carbon Innovation in China: Prospects, Politics and Practice | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 30%; Energy Efficiency(Transport) 30%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy) 30%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 10%; |
|
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 10%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Development Studies) 10%; BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science) 30%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 50%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 80%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 20%; |
|
| Principal Investigator |
Distinguished Professor J (John ) Urry No email address given Sociology Lancaster University |
|
| Award Type | Research Grant | |
| Funding Source | ESRC | |
| Start Date | 01 December 2013 | |
| End Date | 31 May 2016 | |
| Duration | 30 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £490,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Transport Systems and Vehicles | |
| Region | North West | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Distinguished Professor J (John ) Urry , Sociology, Lancaster University (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Dr D (David ) Tyfield , Sociology, Lancaster University (0.001%) |
|
| Web Site | http://steps-centre.org/project/low-carbon-china/ |
|
| Objectives | The project will compare 'hi-tech' and 'low-tech' indigenous Chinese 'low-carbon' innovations across 3 domains: energy production (Solar PV vs. solar thermal); urban mobility (electric vehicles vs. electric 2-wheelers); and agri-food (GM maize vs. agro-ecological and community-based maize). | |
| Abstract | This new project, led from Lancaster University, is an international collaboration between researchers in the UK and at leading institutions in China to investigate different models of innovation and their role in low carbon transitions. Running from late 2013 to 2016, the project will compare government-led, high-tech 'indigenous innovation' approaches with emergent, lower-tech approaches in the areas of agriculture, energy and mobility. The project's aim is explore the extent, nature and social implications of low-carbon transitions in China, a key concern for the whole world. There is a burgeoning literature on low-carbon innovation in China, including from thinktanks, global governance institutions and INGOs. But these reports tend to downplay the social nature of technical change, and thus questions of political change and power. They also thus restate conventional policy recommendations that remain ignored or are proving impossible to implement. Low carbon transition fails to emerge even as socioeconomic change continues at spectacular pace. Research for this project aims to fill this gap in knowledge by offering in-depth academic analysis of several key areas of low-carbon innovation that acknowledges these key issues. It seeks to inform policymakers and stakeholders on opportunities for prospective low-carbon transitions, and optimising their global impact, as well as advancing knowledge of contemporary low-carbon innovation in China beyond. There will be a clear project focus on impact, communications and engagement, strengthened through collaboration with the STEPS Centre ICE Unit, the Work Foundation and ChinaDialogue.net. The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and is an affiliate project of the STEPS Centre. | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 21/01/14 | |
