Steven Sarasini

Steve’s research focuses on issues related to the mitigation of climate change primarily via technological development. The comprehensive scope of the climate problem is such that affects mankind around the globe and penetrates all sectors of society. Resolution of such a problem via abatement requires diverse measures that could collectively be described as institutional changes. The notion of institutions as rules, norms and ways of doing things is central to this research topic and Steve’s research seeks to explain the way in which institutional facets of life evolve over time in relation to the climate issue.

Certain institutional elements have a tendency to stabilise and become socially accepted norms or ‘rules-of-thumb’ such that they persist and go unquestioned as social facts. Acceptance of such norms in society is said to be a cognitive process that occurs unconsciously and is related to historical trajectories such that society can become locked into certain institutional forms. On the other hand, it is possible that ideologies and cognitive perceptions evolve in tandem with problems such as climate change. Following recognition of the problem, various strategies are outlined to deal with it – none less than the technological fix. As the stock of knowledge on climate science grows, and as expertise from various cross-disciplinary fields ranging from economics to technology policy and management to sociology is assimilated, it is possible that the issue of climate change itself is a driver for techno-institutional change.

That techno-institutional changes occur on different levels is key to understanding this process. The stimulation of technological diversity for abatement measures, i.e. the generation of new knowledge in the context of societal application is just the first phase. As the perceived localised impacts of climate change become more pertinent a diffusion of new technology may be supported by different sectors in society. That the lay-person does not fully comprehend the latest assessment from the IPCC is irrelevant if they, amongst others, contend that extreme weather events and rising insurance costs are due to human-induced global warming. These are of course socially constructed conceptions that can spur a wider diffusion of climate-friendly techniques and are thus critical for understanding institutional change.

Sarasini S. (2009) Constituting leadership via policy: Sweden as a pioneer of climate change mitigation. In Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 14(7) 635-653.

Sarasini S., Jacob M. (2007) Climate, Companies and Context; the Prospects for Policy to Inspire Sustainable Business Strategies. Conference paper presented at the Corporate Responsibility Research Conference 2007 Devonshire Hall, University of Leeds, UK 15th -17th July, 2007.

Sarasini S. The institutionalisation of climate change in the Swedish electricity industry. Paper submitted to Organization Studies, July 2010.

Sarasini S. Drivers and motivations of eco-innovations in the Swedish electricity industry. Paper submitted to Climate Policy Journal, July 2010.

Sarasini S. Corporate political action on climate change in the Swedish electricity industry. Working paper

Sarasini S., Jacob M. (forthcoming) Drivers and motivations for corporate climate strategies in the UK grocery retail industry sector. Journal article.

Climate Governance Beyond Rhetoric: Deliberation and rule making along the public-private frontier, Lund University, 29th May 2008.

15th Ph.D. Workshop on International Climate Policy, Lund University, 12th-13th October 2007.

Corporate Responsibility Research Conference 2007 Devonshire Hall, University of Leeds, UK 15th -17th July, 2007