Reflections on IPCC process and
‘strengthened global response’ (chapter 4)
Professor Frank Geels
Sustainable Consumption Institute
Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
The University of Manchester

General struggle between academic
communities
‘Traditional’ IPCC sciences Social science(s)
Topic
orientation
Understand the problem (and
some solutions)
Solution oriented:
“transitions”,
“transformations”
Philosophy of
science
Positivist (model-based,
quantitative)
Positivist, interpretivist,
critical realist
Substantive
focus
Physical climate and techno-
economics
Techno-economic, socio-
cultural, political, conflict
Rhetorical
labelling
“objective”, “sound science”,
“un-biased”, “reliability
statements”
“normative”, “prescriptive”,
“subjective”

Chapter 4: Strengthening the global
response (+ implementation)
• Text formulated in abstract ‘managerial’ terms: options,
deployment, systems, structures, levers of change
• Tendency to assess techno-economic dimensions: costs,
benefits, finance, price/performance
Challenge to also ensure attention is paid to:
• Actors: business, consumers, policymakers, cities, civil
society
• Motivations: interests, beliefs, identities, social
networks,
• Change processes: learning, capabilities, resources,
meanings/discourses, social acceptance, power, politics,
resistance.

Challenge 1: Broaden beyond rational
choice ontology

Challenge 2: Scales/levels
• Understandable tendency to focus on global level (‘old’
focus on international negotiations/targets)
 ‘Average’ dynamics look slow + gradual
• But this risks ignoring the many real-world activities, efforts
at other levels: countries, sectors, cities, local projects
 Examples of fast and non-linear change
• Need for multi-scalar understanding and how the
levels relate

Need for stronger policies to accelerate change
• Innovation policies to nurture solutions
(broadly understood)
• Environmental policies (regulations,
taxes, subsidies) to change markets and
selection environment [much resistance]
• Development policies (finance, capability
building, institutional capacity)

Stronger political will
Strong policies require political will, which is shaped by
• International pressure (agreements, targets and ‘deals’)
• Pressure from civil society, public discourse (‘legitimacy’,
social acceptance
• Pressure from business coalitions (new entrants and willing
incumbents)
• Working exemplars ‘on the ground’ (to overcome
‘scepticism’)
• Positive discourse (co-benefits, green growth, jobs, quality of
life)
• ‘Bottom-up’ pressure (cities, communities, green
entrepreneurs)
 Social sciences can offer relevant insights, which will
hopefully find a place into special report (????)