Energy, Climate and Society
The energy sector is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. If countries are going to keep their pledges to curb warming to 1.5–2 °C above preindustrial levels, society will have to transform how it fuels its activity.
Many technical fixes for this problem have been explored, but these studies often rely on stylized assumptions about the ways individuals, communities, countries and companies behave. An integrated approach that engages the social sciences alongside the physical and natural sciences and engineering will be necessary if society is to clean up energy production, cut consumption and ensure that humans interact with energy systems in a sustainable way.
This joint Nature Energy and Nature Climate Change Collection showcases research that provides a fuller understanding of society’s response to the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon energy regime.
Image credit: Dirk Meister/Moment/Getty.
