IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i9p5024-d799523.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Phases Model of the Transformation to Sustainability (T2S)—Structuring through the Negotiation Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Ariel Macaspac Hernandez

    (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik/German Development Institute, 53113 Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

The complexity of linking sustainability with transformation necessitates a critical re-evaluation of the ways the actors, processes, issues, structures, and outcomes related to the transformation to sustainability (T2S) can be understood. At the same time, achieving T2S is highly dependent on policies based on technical solutions that can prompt needed behavioural change, whereas these technical solutions are not always compatible with both planetary and societal boundaries. Therefore, achieving T2S also calls for evaluating the normative foundations of policies and actions. This paper contends that T2S is significantly defined by the multiplicity of negotiation processes. This justifies a deeper look at T2S from the perspective of negotiation studies. T2S is composed of different phases, each of which has a different set of actors, resources, and audiences. This paper introduces a theoretical model as an analytical meta-framework to structure how T2S unfolds in an orchestrated manner. This model builds on negotiation theories to focus on the actors’ perspectives on T2S. It proposes the division of the transformation process into phases— entry point , learning , sequencing , disrupting , and fortifying . Each of these phases is analysed to determine the “quality” of cooperation that can help fulfil the tasks required to master the so-called “cognitive games” of T2S ( ripeness game , power game , bargaining game , policy game , scaling game ). Moreover, insights are presented to explain how the designated milestones can be achieved to indicate the advancement to the next phase and eventually entrench the transformation process. The findings resulting from the analysis of the phases of T2S present potential lessons and opportunities for both theorists and practitioners/policymakers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ariel Macaspac Hernandez, 2022. "The Phases Model of the Transformation to Sustainability (T2S)—Structuring through the Negotiation Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5024-:d:799523
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5024/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5024/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. William W. Baber, 2018. "Identifying Macro Phases Across the Negotiation Lifecycle," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 885-903, December.
    2. Galaz, Victor & Biermann, Frank & Folke, Carl & Nilsson, Måns & Olsson, Per, 2012. "Global environmental governance and planetary boundaries: An introduction," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1-3.
    3. Michael P. Schlaile & Sophie Urmetzer & Vincent Blok & Allan Dahl Andersen & Job Timmermans & Matthias Mueller & Jan Fagerberg & Andreas Pyka, 2017. "Innovation Systems for Transformations towards Sustainability? Taking the Normative Dimension Seriously," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Sun, Chuanwang & Yuan, Xiang & Yao, Xin, 2016. "Social acceptance towards the air pollution in China: Evidence from public's willingness to pay for smog mitigation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 313-324.
    5. Rizzi, Francesco & van Eck, Nees Jan & Frey, Marco, 2014. "The production of scientific knowledge on renewable energies: Worldwide trends, dynamics and challenges and implications for management," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 657-671.
    6. Jonas Meckling & Thomas Sterner & Gernot Wagner, 2017. "Policy sequencing toward decarbonization," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(12), pages 918-922, December.
    7. Hernandez, Ariel, 2021. "SDG-aligned futures and the governance of the transformation to sustainability reconsidering governance perspectives on the futures we aspire to," IDOS Discussion Papers 30/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    8. Jonas Meckling & Thomas Sterner & Gernot Wagner, 2018. "Publisher Correction: Policy sequencing toward decarbonization," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(3), pages 243-243, March.
    9. Tversky, Amos & Kahneman, Daniel, 1986. "Rational Choice and the Framing of Decisions," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 59(4), pages 251-278, October.
    10. Unruh, Gregory C., 2000. "Understanding carbon lock-in," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 817-830, October.
    11. Thomas Hale, 2020. "Catalytic Cooperation," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(4), pages 73-98, Autumn.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Johann M. Majer & Roman Trötschel, 2022. "Negotiating Sustainability Transitions: Why Does It Matter? What Are the Challenges? How to Proceed?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-5, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Algers, Jonas & Gong, Jindan & Nykvist, Björn & Åhman, Max, 2025. "Competition and climate policy in the steel transition: Comparing costs and subsidies in the US and the EU," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    2. Edmondson, Duncan L. & Kern, Florian & Rogge, Karoline S., 2019. "The co-evolution of policy mixes and socio-technical systems: Towards a conceptual framework of policy mix feedback in sustainability transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(10).
    3. Møller, Karl Magnus, 2024. "Domestic renewable energy industries and national decarbonization policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    4. Rohan Best & Paul J. Burke, 2020. "Energy mix persistence and the effect of carbon pricing," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(3), pages 555-574, July.
    5. Mattauch, Linus & Hepburn, Cameron & Stern, Nicholas, 2018. "Pigou pushes preferences: decarbonisation and endogenous values," INET Oxford Working Papers 2018-16, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    6. Gokul Iyer & Alicia Zhao & Adriana Bryant & John Bistline & Geoffrey Blanford & Ryna Cui & Allen A. Fawcett & Rachel Goldstein & Amanda Levin & Megan Mahajan & Haewon McJeon & Robbie Orvis & Nathan Hu, 2025. "Author Correction: A multi-model study to inform the United States’ 2035 NDC," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-1, December.
    7. Diogo Ferraz & Fernanda P. S. Falguera & Enzo B. Mariano & Dominik Hartmann, 2021. "Linking Economic Complexity, Diversification, and Industrial Policy with Sustainable Development: A Structured Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
    8. Heleen L. Soest & Lara Aleluia Reis & Luiz Bernardo Baptista & Christoph Bertram & Jacques Després & Laurent Drouet & Michel Elzen & Panagiotis Fragkos & Oliver Fricko & Shinichiro Fujimori & Neil Gra, 2022. "Author Correction: Global roll-out of comprehensive policy measures may aid in bridging emissions gap," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-1, December.
    9. Paul Fesenfeld, Lukas & Maier, Maiken & Brazzola, Nicoletta & Stolz, Niklas & Sun, Yixian & Kachi, Aya, 2023. "How information, social norms, and experience with novel meat substitutes can create positive political feedback and demand-side policy change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    10. Sterner, Thomas & Ewald, Jens & Sterner, Erik, 2024. "Economists and the climate," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    11. Sebastian Levi & Christian Flachsland & Michael Jakob, 2020. "Political Economy Determinants of Carbon Pricing," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(2), pages 128-156, May.
    12. Fries, Steven, 2023. "Sequencing decarbonization policies to manage their macroeconomic impacts," INET Oxford Working Papers 2023-26, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    13. Karoliina Isoaho & Jochen Markard, 2020. "The Politics of Technology Decline: Discursive Struggles over Coal Phase‐Out in the UK," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 37(3), pages 342-368, May.
    14. Lackner, Teresa & Fierro, Luca E. & Mellacher, Patrick, 2025. "Opinion dynamics meet agent-based climate economics: An integrated analysis of carbon taxation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    15. Blankenship, Brian & Aklin, Michaël & Urpelainen, Johannes & Nandan, Vagisha, 2022. "Jobs for a just transition: Evidence on coal job preferences from India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    16. Abrell, Jan & Kosch, Mirjam & Rausch, Sebastian, 2019. "Carbon abatement with renewables: Evaluating wind and solar subsidies in Germany and Spain," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 172-202.
    17. Réka Juhász & Nathan Lane, 2024. "The Political Economy of Industrial Policy," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 38(4), pages 27-54, Fall.
    18. Ridha Nouira & Leila Ben Salem & Sami Saafi & Christophe Rault, 2025. "Renewable Energy Consumption and International Trade: Does Climate Policy Stringency Matter?," CESifo Working Paper Series 11934, CESifo.
    19. Theis Madsen & Yiannis Kountouris & Rasmus Bramstoft & Phoebe Koundouri & Dogan Keles, 2024. "Pathways for Pan-European Energy System Decarbonization: The Effect of Emission Policies on Target Alignment," DEOS Working Papers 2404, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    20. CİTİL, Mucahit, 2024. "Is green finance a prerequisite for green growth of G-20 economies," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(4).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5024-:d:799523. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.