Thematic Platform "Green Transformation and Energy Systems"

Q2-PATHWAYS improves the understanding of deep-structural transformational change by innovatively enriching quantitative with qualitative analyses. The policy objective is to elaborate transformation pathways that are equitable, responsible, resilient, environmentally friendly and socially inclusive by transdisciplinary visioning and strategising with practitioners from policymaking, business and civil society. This aims at broadening the objectives of and the visions for climate policies by advancing from striving for a net-zero economy to aiming at climate-friendly living defined as a good life for all within planetary boundaries and overcoming climate-only policies that remain in a policy silo and putting climate politics at centre stage in a broader societal transformation towards sustainability. The scientific objective is to elaborate a holistic approach to societal transformations by integrating quantitative and qualitative climate research. This endeavour combines inter- and transdisciplinary research: first, Q2-PATHWAYS calibrates existing narratives and transformation pathways based on contemporary research and its transdisciplinary visioning and strategising approach. Second, it calibrates an integrated model of the electricity sector and the macroeconomy with the help of high-level experts mainly from the Second Austrian Assessment Report. Third, three transformation pathways will be modelled with the aim of analysing the effects of integrating diverse pragmatic and radical measures, thereby contributing to climate policies that have a higher potential to be not only effective, but also feasible.