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Policy Mixes, Policy Interplay and Low Carbon Transitions: The Case of Passenger Transport in Finland
Author(s) -
Kivimaa Paula,
Virkamäki Venla
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental policy and governance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.987
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1756-9338
pISSN - 1756-932X
DOI - 10.1002/eet.1629
Subject(s) - sustainability , transport policy , sustainable transport , promotion (chess) , industrial organization , environmental economics , policy analysis , business , carbon fibers , economics , transport system , economic system , public economics , public transport , transport engineering , political science , computer science , engineering , public administration , ecology , algorithm , politics , composite number , law , biology
The promotion of low‐carbon transport systems is largely dependent on the interplay between technology, innovation, markets, people's behaviour and policy. Various policies jointly influence the development of transport systems, some policies implying different or even contradictory designs for future transport systems. Policy interplay has not been much addressed in previous research on sustainability transitions. This article combines the technological innovation system (TIS) functions, within the transitions framework, with policy analysis to empirically map multiple policies and their intended paths towards low‐carbon transport systems. Empirically, the article provides a systematic review of Finnish national‐level policies for transport and transport‐related innovation. The discussion examines the contribution of the current policy mix to sustainability transitions based on its degree of attempt to re‐design the transport system. The findings reveal that policy support is more comprehensive regarding more energy‐efficient vehicles and low‐carbon fuels than based on reduced transport demand or alternative transport modes. A holistic policy approach towards low‐carbon transitions is only achieved to a degree and innovation policy gaps are identified. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment