Risk Governance: Supporting transitions in climate and energy policy

Recent multi-hazard disasters, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe and the 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan, demonstrated the need for a multi-risk approach that takes into consideration multiple risks and the interdependencies between them.

RPV research showed that a multi-risk approach is essential for risk governance in the European Union, which is characterized by multiple levels of governance and a variety of risk governance systems. 

Analysis revisiting the "green growth" hypothesis,  which is central to transition strategies, showed that green growth claims are not well supported by economic theory, evidence, and applied modeling. It suggested that quality of growth, equity concerns, and beyond growth dimensions are important for improved macroeconomic governance for sustainability.

An examination of group-based decision making for managing common-pool resources suggested improving collective action and resource outcomes by punishing free riding, enhancing overall and within-group enforcement and improving social capital. This research, part of postdoctoral work within RPV, will guide further research and governance of the commons. 

Impacts of decentralization or centralization on the implementation of multi-risk assessments (MRA)

Recent Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) research addressed how a multi-risk approach (MRA) can be implemented in different governance systems marked by different degrees of centralization in policy and decision-making processes. More

Collective cooperation

Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) research has been examining the broad governance question of whether small or large groups are more likely to cooperate for collective action and successfully manage common-pool resources.  More

Risk governance to support policy transitions: "Green growth" strategies are an oxymoron

Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) research has found the term "green growth" to be something of an oxymoron, as there is not much evidence to date of wide-scale decoupling of GDP from carbon-intensive energy use. More

Solar energy systems

Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) analysts in 2013 looked at how the energy transition might be constrained by the vulnerability of solar energy systems to extreme event risks in a changing climate. More

Last edited: 22 May 2014