Energiewende in Wolfhagen (Quelle: Case Study)

Case Study Report – Sustainable Consumption and Production Niches

Publication: Case Study
Citation: Debourdeau, Ariane; Stefanie Baasch; Haran Bar-On and Katharina Umpfenbach 2012: Case study Report - D3.2: Empirical report, Berlin.

This empirical report presents the four case studies of the InContext project: GELA - GEmeinsam LAndwirtschaften, a community-supported agriculture project and Thursday Veggie Day, an initiative to reduce meat consumption, and Municipal Energy Transition Process and Emission-Zero cooperative, two projects for citizen-led investments in renewable energies. The general purpose is to provide a better understanding of how niches of alternative and more sustainable consumption and production practices are created, and how they can later be diffused or mainstreamed. The case study [pdf, 2.9 MB, English] report is available for download.

InContext Literature Review & Research Survey

Year 2012

Publication:Case Study

This report presents a document analysis on the four case studies that build on the InContext project’s WP3. The general purpose is to provide a better understanding on how niches of alternative more sustainable consumption and production practices are created, and how they can later be diffused or mainstreamed.

InContext Case Study Analysis

Year 2012

Publication:Document

The purpose of this document is to present the InContext approach in terms of dissemination. In particular, it provides an overview of dissemination tools available to the partners, describes division of tasks among partners and clarifies responsibilities related to reporting and documentation.

InContext Feedback and Dissemination Strategy

Year 2011

Publication:Report

This synthesis report reflects on the four cases of alternative consumption and production niches observed in InContext. From the cross-examination of the empirical material, it distills tentative conclusions on what can be learnt from the emergence and governance patterns of these niches. The case study is available for download.

Alternative Collective Consumption and Production Niches

Lessons from their emergence, developement and governance

Year 2013

Publication:Poster

As part of the project InContext, Ecologic Institute has designed four posters concerned with sustainable lifestyle initiatives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. The posters, illustrated with photos and maps, provide in-depth information on the process and results of the initiatives. They were displayed at the final project conference of InContext and are available for download.

Sustainable Lifestyle – InContext Poster Series

Year 2013

Publication:Document

Action research is the collaborative production of scientifically and socially relevant knowledge through a participatory process. Real-life problems are addressed and new theoretical insights gained. This research brief introduces the concepts of action research, sustainability transitions, and transition management. It presents key issues for conducting action research and how these have been dealt with in the practice of the research teams in the three communities of the InContext project. Furthermore it reflects on the role of the action researcher. The research brief is available for download.

Action Research for Sustainability

Reflections on Transition Management in Practice.

Year 2013

Publication:Policy Brief

From urban gardening and networks of sharing to community-owned wind farms: citizens' initiatives emerge all over Europe in a quest to find new answers to today's pressing challenges. This policy brief explores new forms of cooperation between local governments and these bottom-up initiatives. It argues that getting involved with initiatives helps local governments to be an active player in their community's change dynamics. This cooperation furthermore requires new ways of engaging and participating between the groups.

Going Out of the Town Hall

The Benefits and How They Can Be Achieved

Year 2013

Publication:Policy Brief

This policy brief outlines the main characteristics of this approach and the challenges that these pose for research funders. It discusses whether and how this kind of research can be scaled up and how EU funding mechanisms could support solution-oriented, transformative research. The policy brief is available for download.

How the EU can Support Local Transition Processes

Year 2013

Event:Conference

On 6–7 June 2013, the final conference of InContext, together with the Informed Cities Forum 2013, took place in Berlin. It provided a creative platform for local initiatives, policymakers, and researchers to exchange insights, ideas, and experiences on transition processes. At the core of the conference was the question of how to create space for change and move towards better places, stronger communities, and resilient societies.

InContext Final Conference & Informed Cities Forum 2013

6 - 7 June 2013
Berlin, Germany

Language: English
Authorship: Katharina Umpfenbach

Haran Bar-On

Ariane Debourdeau (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Stefanie Baasch (UFZ)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Year: 2012
Dimension: 154 pp.
Project: Individuals in Context: Supportive Environments for Sustainable Living (InContext)
Project ID: 2706
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

A. Executive summary
B. Introduction
C. Methodology
Document analysis (see also D3.1)
Participative Network Analysis - PNA
Semi-structured Interviews and observations
Overview of the case specific methodological aspects
Gela 23
Wolfhagen 100% RES
Thursday Veggie Day (TVD) from Ghent to Brussels
Emissions-Zero cooperative
D. Case Studies
1 GELA - GEmeinsam LAndwirtschaften
1.1 Overview of the Case Study (fact sheet)
1.2 Overall aim: characteristics and purposes sought by the niche creation
1.2.1 Alternative practices
1.2.2 Niche characteristics
1.3 Emergence of a ‘configuration that works’
1.3.1 Grounds of the process: Gela’s collective contexts
1.3.2 The concretisation of the niche: Individual inner and outer contexts
1.3.3 Intermediate summary
1.4 On-going process: perpetuation, governance and institutionalisation of the niche
1.4.1 Evolution and transformation of the niche
1.4.2 Internal governance of the niche
1.4.3 ‘External’ governance of the niche
1.4.4 Intermediate conclusion: Drivers and barriers towards niche creation, perpetuation and institutionalisation
1.5 Patterns of diffusion
1.5.1 Configurational specificity and replicability
1.5.2 Enlargement
1.5.3 Insights on the diffusion of the niches: drivers and barriers
1.6 Conclusion
References
Annex A: Methodological specifications - Gela
Annex A.1: Document Analysis
Annex A.2: Participative Network Analysis
Annex A.3: Interviews
2 Wolfhagen: Municipal Energy Transition Process
2.1 Overview of the case study in Wolfhagen
2.2 Overall aim: characteristics and purposes sought by the niche creation in Wolfhagen
2.2.1 Wolfhagen’s energy transition process: an alternative practice?
2.2.2 Wolfhagen’s niche characteristics
2.3 Emergence of a ‘configuration that works’ in Wolfhagen
InContext – Deliverable 3.2: Case study report: empirical report
iii
2.3.1 Grounds of the energy transition process
2.3.2 Main aspects of the energy transition process
2.4 Ongoing process
2.4.1 Evolutions and transformations in the case of Wolfhagen
2.4.2 Governance of Wolfhagen’s energy transition process
2.4.3 Intermediate conclusion
2.4.4 Wolfhagen’s energy transition process: pioneering, repeatable or unique?
2.5 Conclusion
References
3 Thursday Veggie Day
3.1 General picture of the case study
3.2 Overall aim: characteristics and purposes sought by the niche creation
3.2.1 Alternative practices
3.2.2 Niche characteristics
3.3 Emergence of a ‘configuration that works’
3.3.1 Grounds of the process
3.3.2 The concretisation of the niche / Enactment of alternative collective practices
3.4 Ongoing process: perpetuation, governance and institutionalisation of the niche
3.4.1 Evolutions and transformations of the niche
3.4.2 Internal governance of the niche
3.4.3 ‘External’ governance of the niche
3.4.4 Intermediate conclusion: Drivers and barriers towards niche creation, perpetuation and institutionalisation
3.5 Patterns of diffusion
3.5.1 Configurational specificity and replicability
3.5.2 Current diffusion processes and strategies
3.5.3 Insights on the diffusion of the niches
3.6 Conclusion
Annexes
Annex A: EVA’s Stakeholders (detailed version)
Annex B: EVA's internal organogram from the Policy Programme 2011-2015
Annex C: The 5 Strategic Objectives (SO) – EVA Policy Programme 2011-2015
4 Emission-Zero cooperative
4.1 General picture of the case study
4.2 Overall aim: characteristics and purposes sought by the niche creation
4.2.1 Alternative practices
4.2.2 Niche characteristics
4.3 Emergence of a ‘configuration that works’
4.3.1 Grounds of the process
4.3.2 The concretisation of the niche / Enactment of alternative collective practices
4.4 Ongoing process: perpetuation, governance and institutionalisation of the niche
4.4.1 Evolutions and transformations of the niche
4.4.2 Internal governance of the niche
4.4.3 ‘External’ governance of the niche1
Intermediate conclusion: Drivers and barriers towards niche creation, endurance) and institutionalisation
InContext – Deliverable 3.2: Case study report: empirical report
4.5 Patterns of diffusion
4.5.1 Configurational specificity and replicability
4.5.2 Current diffusion processes and strategies
4.5.3 Insights on the diffusion of the niches
4.6 Conclusion
References
Annex A: Insight into a cooperative wind turbine’s financial plan
Annex B: REScoop’s Shared Energy Charter
5 General conclusion
References
Keywords: Consumer Policy

consumption, production

Further Links

ProjectFP 7Individuals in Context: Supportive Environments for Sustainable Living (InContext)

The three-year research project "InContext" identified framework conditions enabling societal transition towards an ecologically sound, economically successful and culturally diverse future. Action at local and individual levels is vital to bring the concept of... Read more

Individuals in Context: Supportive Environments for Sustainable Living (InContext)

Duration: Oct 2010 - Oct 2013
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

EventConferenceInContext Final Conference & Informed Cities Forum 2013

Conference:InContext Final Conference & Informed Cities Forum 2013

Date: 6 - 7 June 2013
Location: Berlin, Germany

PublicationPosterSustainable Lifestyle – InContext Poster Series

Beáta Vargová (Design), Katharina Umpfenbach (Concept) 2013: Sustainable Lifestyle – InContext Poster Series. Poster. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

PublicationReportAlternative Collective Consumption and Production Niches

This synthesis report reflects on the four cases of alternative consumption and production niches observed in InContext. From the cross-examination of the empirical material, it distils tentative conclusions on what can be learnt from the emergence and governance... Read more

Bauler, Tom et al. 2013: Alternative Collective Consumption and Production Niches - Lessons from their emergence, developement and governance, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefGoing Out of the Town Hall

Piotrowski, Ralph; Susanne Langsdorf and Ania Rok 2013: Going out of the town hall – The benefits and how they can be achieved. [Policy Brief]. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.