Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · 23d

Some impressions from the Accelerating net-zero transitions paper development workshop in Brighton last week!

Hiking in the Sussex countryside with the whole group was a highlight of the workshop.

Thank you to for the fantastic organisation @karogge.bsky.social, Qi Song and Daniel Rosenbloom.

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Mar 30

Very happy to be part of this project for the next five years!

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · Feb 24

Happy Independence Day, 🇪🇪 Estonia! Head vabariigi aastapäeva!

Today we look at the research of Laur Kanger at the University of Tartu. His team investigate why some future technologies can aggravate rather than solve environmental issues.

#FrontierResearch @eeineu.bsky.social

🔗

ERC grant to explore how excessive confidence in science and technology is blocking the deep sustainability turn

Laur Kanger investigates why future technologies can aggravate environmental problems rather than solve them.

buff.ly

6

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

Maja Göpel @beyond-ideology.bsky.social · Mar 18

Warum ist es wichtig, differenziert FÜR politische Lösungen zu werben, anstatt jetzt ständig die #Vermeidungsfloskel in Stellung zu bringen, „sonst liegt die AfD bald bei 30%“?
Ein Beitrag zu selbsterfüllenden Prophezeiungen - mit so einigen Quellen.

www.linkedin.com/posts/maja-g...

#vermeidungsgefloskel | Maja Göpel | 96 comments

✨Quizfrage zu klugem Agieren in Zeiten des Populismus✨Welche Mode-Floskel sollten wir sofort ad acta legen❓ Richtig: „wenn xyz das (nicht) macht, stärkt es… | 96 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

9 97 430

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Mar 12

Thank you for an engaging two days of days of discussion!

Jochen Markard @jmarkard.bsky.social · Mar 11

Thanks again to our presenters, discussants and online participants in last week's workshop on #sector-coupling and #multi-system dynamics in sustainability #transitions. Also, many thanks to SNSF, STRN and ZHAW-INE for their financial support.
More info: tinyurl.com/5t3a9hvz

2

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) @irena-official.bsky.social · Feb 19

Modernizing grids powers industries, electrifies transport and strengthens economic resilience. Immediate & strategic investment in grids and storage solutions is necessary to ensure a sustainable power system for all. Read the article:
www.irena.org/News/experti...

2 5

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Feb 2

“Science is a trade marked by novelty. Academics can both advance knowledge on diverse topics and engage in creative forms of action to address them.”

Beautiful Sunday reading on the role of academic knowledge and creativity in supporting activism.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

An active academia for peace and sustainability

With discontent rising in response to insufficient action to address climate, biodiversity, equity, democracy, and peace challenges, activism is preva…

www.sciencedirect.com

1 1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Jan 31

Full open access paper here 👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#TransportSky #TransportationSky

The polysemous nature of the German Verkehrswende—Exploring the role of floating signifiers in shaping mobility futures

The German transportation sector's negative contribution to climate change amongst broader social, environmental, and economic problems is applying ev…

www.sciencedirect.com

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Jan 31

We find that sustainability transitions are not just about technology or policy—they are battles over meaning.

How do we ensure these discursive struggles drive transformation rather than leading to polarisation that could delay policymaking processes?

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Jan 31

When different actors talk about "mobility transition," do they mean the same thing?

Not necessarily.

My latest paper with @taitch.bsky.social explores how Germany’s terms for mobility transition act as floating signifiers—words with multiple meanings that shape different visions of the future.

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Jan 28

Too often efficiency gains are nullified by increasing demand.

Will we see the same for AI? Most likely.

My colleague and I discuss the Jevons Paradox in more depth in this recent publications www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

🔌💡

2 5

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

Kelsey Atherton @atherton.bsky.social · Jan 22

Sure is a bad time to be a person who cares about things.

180 1.3K 9.5K

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

Giulio Mattioli @giuliomattioli.bsky.social · Jan 3

Transport accounted for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, more than any other sector other than power.

Even road transport alone (11%) would be in second place

unep.org/resources/em...

2 31 55

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 23

POV: You’re an energy transition researcher headed home for Christmas to a very conservative part of Germany, and your vacation now involves debunking myths like “EVs pollute more,” “fusion will save us soon,” and “renewables cause blackouts”—all while passing the potatoes. #energysky
#greensky 🔌💡

4 12

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

💡 Our proposed way forward? A restorative justice approach to PEDs rooted in:

Respect: Consulting and including all citizens, especially marginalized groups.
Responsibility: Ethical decision-making with accountability.
Remediation: Corrective actions to address and repair injustices.

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

🔍 Conflict 3: New developments vs. Energy-positive retrofitting
The focus on building new PEDs overlooks the massive potential of retrofitting existing urban areas. Retrofitting is essential for inclusivity but often lacks adequate attention and funding mechanisms that, e.g., include renters.

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

🔍 Conflict 2: Economic viability vs. Vulnerability mitigation
Profit-driven PED developments prioritize wealthy areas, leaving disadvantaged neighborhoods behind. How can we ensure low-income communities benefit from clean energy transitions too?

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

🔍 Conflict 1: Technocentric decarbonization vs. Citizen inclusion
PEDs focus on advanced energy solutions but often neglect meaningful consultation with marginalized communities. Without inclusivity, they risk perpetuating inequality instead of reducing it.

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

PEDs are energy-efficient urban areas that aim for net-zero emissions and energy flexibility. They promise sustainability but raise serious questions about equity and justice in their design and implementation.

What are the emerging conflicts?

1

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Dec 9

Excited to share our latest book chapter: "Inclusive Urban Energy Futures? Unveiling Justice Conflicts in the European Vision for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)"!

📖 Read the full chapter (open access!) here: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
🔌💡 #energysky

(PDF) Inclusive urban energy futures? Unveiling justice conflicts in the European vision for Positive Energy Districts

PDF | This chapter examines the vision of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in Europe through a critical thematic analysis. It highlights justice... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on R...

www.researchgate.net

1 3

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

T&E @transportenvironment.org · Dec 9

We want European carmakers to succeed, but delaying climate rules won’t cut it.

Representatives from the EV industry and the environmental movement are united on what the EU must do to compete globally 👇
www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...

We want European carmakers to succeed, but delaying the rules won’t cut it

Only one of the two roads forward will unlock the decarbonisation and growth that we all want. This road requires the European Commission and Member States to hold strong on the 2025 and 2035 car CO2 ...

www.euractiv.com

1 3 12

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Nov 11

Want to learn more about why and how climate policies should take psychological dimensions of decision-makers into account to accelerate the transition to low-carbon freight transport? 🚛🔋

Sign-up for my online breakfast seminar at the ITRL tomorrow via this link:

www.kth.se/form/66dec6b...

KTH | ITRL Breakfast Seminars: Understanding the Impact of policy perceptions on Zero-emission Truck adoption in Sweden by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

www.kth.se

1 4

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Oct 30

They say climate *protesters* are disruptive.
Valencia today.

28 690 1.9K

Reposted by Sophie-Marie Ertelt

Prof Lisa Schipper 🌍🍉💪 @lisaschipper.bsky.social · Oct 3

Scientists have emotional responses to climate change too,
Shobha Maharaj, Gretta Pecl and I say today in
@natureportfolio.bsky.social Nature Climate Change.
DM for a copy if you cannot access it.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Scientists have emotional responses to climate change too - Nature Climate Change

The dominant paradigm holding that science is always objective needs to be challenged. When scientists’ opinions about climate change and their own fears are seen as irrelevant, it suggests that scien...

www.nature.com

6 54 110

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Aug 28

Full paper can be read open access here:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 6/6

From policy mix to pavement: Exploring individual actor-internal factors in zero-emission truck adoption

Despite regulatory efforts and market availability, the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the road freight sector is limited. This paper in…

www.sciencedirect.com

Sophie-Marie Ertelt @s-mertelt.bsky.social · Aug 28

Is it time to re-evaluate the use of technology neutrality as a design principle for net-zero transition policy mixes to avoid delaying urgently needed emission reductions? Happy to hear your thoughts! 5/6

1