In their new article, “All hail the new king? Critically reflecting on urban experimentation for transformative change”, TU Wien researchers Johannes Suitner, Astrid Krisch and Anna Aigner address the gaps in the discourse on climate experimentation. The authors state that there is still too little focus on non-technological forms of innovation, on non-urban contexts as a particular challenge for sustainable transformations, and on forms of experimentation that are well embedded in existing governance mechanisms.
The article builds on SIAMESE project results, works with Austrian practical examples of transformative experiments, and illustrates the importance of a critically-reflective engagement with the instrument of climate experimentation to avoid false expectations while ensuring tailored forms of transformative climate governance.
The article contributes to the book “Transformationsgesellschaft. Visionen und Strategien für den sozialökologischen Wandel”, published by Waxmann.