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Promoting LNG as A Marine Fuel in Norway: Reflections on the Role of Global Regulations on Local Transition Niches

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  • Sofiane Laribi

    (Department of Management, University of Quebec at Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada)

  • Emmanuel Guy

    (Department of Management, University of Quebec at Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada)

Abstract

Contemporary societies are marked by constant tensions between the notion to improve sustainability and the reluctance to engage in uncertain changes. In any sector, the transition is a delicate and complex process that involves many actors, organizations, and institutions. Niche analysis approaches such as the multilevel perspective model (MLP) explain how such a process grows from innovation within a very restricted field to its generalized application on a global scale. Shipping is a sector particularly challenged by the transition process away from heavy fuel oil towards more environment-friendly alternatives such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or even non-fossil alternatives. Within this industry, Norway stands as an early adopter and leader of the emerging transition. Drawing from a wide discussion of the treatment of scale in transition literature and from this national case study, we propose that the transition process can emerge not only from a local niche perspective, as widely documented in the literature, but can also be driven by changes at a much larger scale and initiated by new international regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofiane Laribi & Emmanuel Guy, 2020. "Promoting LNG as A Marine Fuel in Norway: Reflections on the Role of Global Regulations on Local Transition Niches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9476-:d:445030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Young-Gyu Lee & Jong-Kwan Kim & Chang-Hee Lee, 2021. "Analytic Hierarchy Process Analysis for Industrial Application of LNG Bunkering: A Comparison of Japan and South Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.

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