Asbjørn Karlsen (2026)
Geoforum, 171, 104592.

Abstract. To understand how energy transitions take place in practice, they must be examined from the perspective of key actors—their actions, positions, and regional contexts. The use of Varieties of Capitalism concepts to study regional energy transitions—and their inadequacy for this purpose—serves as a point of departure. The paper draws predominantly on convention theory, which focuses on how actors engage with multiple conventions when coordinating economic activity and exchange. As a theoretical contribution to the energy transition debate, the paper develops a framework that relates conventions to territorial embeddedness, temporality, and sustainability. The author investigates how actors justify actions in specific contexts in the face of climate change.
From a multi-scalar perspective, the paper examines how key actors justify policies and strategies in two O&G-related regions that belong to nations with different institutional legacies shaping their carbon exit strategies. It argues that Norway and its industrial town of Verdal have pursued a dual strategy by developing renewable technologies alongside the continued operation of the oil and gas sector, interpreted as a process of green conversion. This is explained as a product of Norway’s distinctive coordinated market economy, also reflected at the local scale. By contrast, Aberdeen’s oil history reflects the characteristics of the UK’s liberal market economy. Recently, governments in UK and Scotland have pursued a fast-track phase-out of O&G in parallel with just transition initiatives interpreted as a process of green layering. Relations between actors and across scales appear more conflictual in the UK than in Norway.
Highlights
- Industrialists and politicians are obliged to justify actions in specific contexts in the face of climate change.
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The industrial town, Verdal, reflects Norway’s coordinated market economy, while Aberdeen exemplifies the UK’s liberal market economy.
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Norway and Verdal develop renewables while continuing oil and gas operations, interpreted as a ‘green conversion’.
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The UK and Scotland are pursuing a fast‑track phase‑out of oil, in parallel with just transition initiatives interpreted as ‘green layering’.
- Relations between actors and across scales appear more conflictual in the UK than in Norway.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
GdL (4 avril 2026). Actors justifying policies and strategies in the face of climate change – Examples from two oil and gas-related regions in institutionally contrasting nations. Économie des conventions. Consulté le 10 juin 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/160l8