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Globally, rapid demographic change of coastal urban agglomerations, the speed of urbanisation over time, the overall impact of coastal space occupation as well
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This chapter presents a review of the multi-scalar complexities of coastal sustainability challenges. It focuses on three discrete vignettes of innovation, which range from a novel and emerging innovation, a maturing innovation and an innovation which has become mainstream and part of the prevailing socio-technical regime. The first vignette focuses on 3D ocean farming off the coast of Connecticut in Long Island Sound, USA, as an example of an emerging niche-level innovation. The second vignette discusses the development of offshore wind energy capacity in Liverpool Bay, UK as an example of a socio-technical innovation that is more mature. The final vignette discusses containerisation as an example of a fully matured socio-technological change. The chapter argues that a spatial perspective on transition is critical to adequately account for uneven development processes and to recognise the heterogeneity of different places in terms of potential for low-carbon transition. © 2019 selection and editorial matter, C. Patrick Heidkamp and John Morrissey.
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While there is growing consensus that human behaviours need to change to a more sustainable paradigm, community driven approaches, such as social enterprise, have yet to be explored as serious instruments of sustainability transition. Social enterprises sit within the third sector of the economy, typically where market or governmental failures exist in the provision of social welfare, and have increasingly become a key driver of social progress. The autonomous nature of the social-economic model applied by such organisations can represent a viable means to reduce state social welfare dependence, and is a proven model for social change. The capability of social enterprises to create both social and economic value is considered a `win-win'. Yet there are clear potentials for social enterprise models to be more extensively applied to address contemporary ecological challenges of neo-liberal market economies, moving towards `win-win-win' outcomes across social, economic and ecological domains. This paper investigates the value of social enterprises as drivers of low-carbon transition at the community level, with an emphasis on the energy sector. Evidence from seven organisations in the UK is presented and a socio-technical transitions conceptual framework is applied to analyse these social enterprise operations as a form of social innovation.
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This chapter provides an overview of public engagement, its importance and effective approaches to meaningfully involve the public with coastal sustainability transitions. It presents two case studies, Guernsey, British Channel Islands and Cape Wind, Massachusetts. These illustrate how concepts of identity, marginality and engagement are essential to the development of coastal sustainability transitions. As the case study of Guernsey outlines, coastal sustainability transition-related public engagement should seek to enhance the local distinctiveness of coastal areas and 'fit within the wider narrative of place identity and how individuals feel attached to places that are ascribed with specific meanings'. Furthermore, as the case study of Cape Wind illustrates, coastal sustainability transitions need to connect with local communities in terms of addressing immediate social and economic concerns. Therefore, as a research agenda, the human geographies of coastal sustainability transitions can be of substantial value to the practical application of sustainability. © 2019 selection and editorial matter, C. Patrick Heidkamp and John Morrissey.
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In a period of rising sea levels and intensifying storms, enhancing coastal resilience and finding sustainable ways of living with the coast have become necessary concerns. Investigations of storm wave damage to coastal structures on the Connecticut shoreline during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy revealed that the width and height of frontal beaches were the most common denominator in mitigating the damages. One of the major problems, particularly for a state like Connecticut that has a highly developed coastline with systematically eroding beaches, is that the cost of beach nourishment projects is not only high but is increasing rapidly. The cost of beach nourishment at Prospect Beach in the town of West Haven is instructive. However, considering the importance of beaches and the costs of replenishment, rethinking Environmental Protection policies in favour of instituting regional and local sediment management practices may be in order. © 2019 selection and editorial matter, C. Patrick Heidkamp and John Morrissey.
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Behaviour, practices and culture constitute a powerful human factor in the energy system; in particular the interactions between technologies, practices and norms lock individuals in to certain patterns of (often inefficient) energy use. Consequently, behaviour change has gained traction amongst policy makers as a key area of intervention given the impact energy-related behaviours have on climate change. Given the increasing emphasis within policy perspectives in the European Union, it is surprising that a gap in understanding of the success factors of behaviour change initiatives remains. This paper addresses this gap by identifying and characterising behaviour change initiatives across five European countries (the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain). The paper provides insights into the success factors and commonly encountered barriers to behaviour change initiatives. Initiatives are classified into 6 broad categories (community-based interventions; information and awareness based interventions; eco-districts; show-case events; energy switching; and smart-technology focused interventions). The results suggest that there are significant knowledge gaps between what is known to work to engage individuals in behavioural change and what is currently being applied in practice. An over-reliance on education and awareness-raising projects is evident, illustrating that such projects do not sufficiently aim for sustained behavioural changes. A dearth of projects incorporating fiscal measures, regulations or legislation to drive behaviour change reflects reluctance on behalf of decision-makers to engage widely with diverse approaches to foster lifestyle change. This paper contributes understandings of the different models and delivery tools employed to change energy-related behaviours; insights into the critical success factors that underpin best practice and the barriers to action; and a `what works in practice' overview of the meaningful approaches to change behaviour. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.