Sustainability transitions and policy dismantling: Zero carbon housing in the UK

O'Neill, Kirstie; Gibbs, David

Abstract

In this paper we examine the failure of the zero carbon homes agenda in the UK and argue that it represents a case of policy dismantling, where a range of policies and programmes have been introduced, revised and then removed by government. We bring together the sustainability transitions literature with the literature on policy dismantling, regime resistance and regime detractors, and suggest that the zero carbon housing agenda in the UK offers useful insights into the politics of sustainability transitions. We identify three phases of policy change, from policy expansion, symbolic dismantling and eventual active policy dismantling. In the conclusions we offer some suggestions on processes of policy dismantling and what this might mean for future sustainability transitions given the significant contributions of buildings to greenhouse gas emissions and the urgent need for rapid low carbon transitions.

Citation

O'Neill, K., & Gibbs, D. (2020). Sustainability transitions and policy dismantling: Zero carbon housing in the UK. Geoforum, 108, 119-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2019.11.011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Deposit Date: Nov 25, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 19, 2021
• Journal: Geoforum
• Print ISSN: 0016-7185
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 108
• Pages: 119-129
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2019.11.011
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3242298
• Contract Date: Nov 25, 2019