QUANTITATIVE INPUTS COLLECTED RELATED TO THE CARBON 20 PROJECT

In addition to these qualitative data collection methods, I have also carried out some more quantitative data collections and processing on the Carbon 20 project – however, not addressed specifically in this PhD.

As already mentioned I have been responsible for an early monitoring of the progress of the project 20. This has as mentioned involved monitoring the companies GHG emissions using a Danish web based CO₂ calculation tool in respect to the emission from each participating company. This has been added an Excel sheet over the companies including also information on the companies’ type and seize, the status for the process etc. The Excel sheet are attached electronically (for the Assessment Committee etc.) and referred in above-mentioned list in Appendix A). Based on this information various overall quantitative information has been processed including overall GHG reduction figures for the project as a whole. These have been reported in the final monitoring report of 2013, AAU (2014). The project has chosen to monitor on the aggregated Carbon dioxide equivalent. The changes in the ratios of RE in the energy net (electricity and district heating) over the 3 years period does contribute significantly to the achieved savings.

A second Excel sheet (also attached electronically and listed in Appendix A) has been formed based on the varies energy saving options suggested by the different energy consultants as well as information on status for their implementation from the municipal officers follow up dialogue with the companies. The screening included for most of the suggested savings some estimates on expected investments cost, expected energy savings and/or GHG reductions as well as the expected economic yearly savings. Based on this information the final monitoring reports includes some findings about what have been the main focuses in companies climate work (e.g. implementing LED) including the aggregated figures in saving potentials and cost/gain ration for these (see AAU, 2014). These conclusion is however somewhat vulnerable for a number of reason. First of all the mentioned estimates was not appropriate available for all suggested solutions in the various screenings. In addition, the various energy consultants have used some different wordings for related suggestions. The gathering of the data represents therefore some sentencing of suggested solutions judged to be similar.

This PhD due not specifically address neither of these analyses and processing of data. Some of the insight and conclusions are referred during the PhD with specific reference to the final monitoring report.

2.3. EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL CHOICES AND METHOD USED

I have in this chapter extensively discussed the epistemological and methodical fundamental choices for this research project.

I took the point of departure in Adolphsen’s distinction between the immediate practical problem and its underlying connected scientific problem(s) – the dialectical dynamics between appearance and phenomenon. I discussed Illeris and Flyvbjerg so as to avoid my research looking only at the immediate practical problem in terms of staying on the surface, nor remaining within the “Ivory Tower”, with theories of little relevance and contribution to real life.

Based on the discussion of Illeris and Flyvbjerg I clarified two specific interests in the overall research – the scientific problem accompanying the practical problems introduced in last chapter – both aiming to respective: provide insights that are directly applicable in respect of the assessed context and particular situations, as well as broader perspective applicable for inspiration in similar situations and

“academic” understanding. These two perspectives include:

1. A learning perspective on the abilities of the municipalities (and especially the participant officers) to actively influence local companies. The aim is both a) the direct enhancing of the participating municipality (and officer) exercised practises, which then can b) form inspiration for other

municipalities and officers attempting to engage in similar projects 2. A critical governance perspective on the societal framework setting the

boundaries for the municipality actions. The aim is again both to a) provide insight into – and feedback to – the specific contextual societal (DK) frameworks, but further b) add to a broader discussion of the role of the municipalities in respect of GHG reductions.

Departing from Flyvbjerg’s critique of applying “ideal theory” in the social sciences, combined with introducing the ideas of interdisciplinary (or transdisciplinary) research, I note that I apply conceptualisations, “theorisations”

and past knowledge in three distinct ways:

1. As input for forming and presenting my epistemological and methodical choices in this chapter – presenting the value-based point of departure for the research

2. As an overall conceptual framing of the two core perspectives of an overall governance/governmentality discussion, but maintaining an underlying learning perspective, and

3. In relation to assessing (analysing) the “discourses” of past knowledge, theorisations and concepts of the specific field of interest.

Building on Flyvbjerg’s use of case study, I suggested that the Carbon 20 project forms a deviant (extreme) case, but further that it actually for some analyses could functioning either as a critical or paradigmatic case. I further showed that the case is actually made up of seven cases, which together encapsulate the variety of Danish municipalities.

Departing from Illeris’ “participatory steering”, I introduced the way I have grounded my research in the actual practises and interests of the seven municipalities with respect to the Carbon 20 project. Participants have not been involved directly as co-researchers, as suggested by Bergold and Thomas, but my research perspective has been formed on behalf of the officers learning perspective on the project – capturing this by adding a third loop to the concept of Argyris and Schön’s learning vocabulary.

I further argued that participation in the Carbon 20 project has formed a platform for a rich pool of empirical data and deeper insight into the everyday practice of the municipalities (participant officers), with some data used directly in the analysis, and other data forming background knowledge and input for the progressing of the research focus and thus directing the specific data collection method applied.

Supplementing such information, I have used qualitative interviews as a key method to gather the empirical data. First and foremost consecutive interviews were undertaken with the participant officers – face-to-face single and/or focus group interviews and telephone interviews, but also trough open-ended questionnaires. I also interviewed some of the participating companies and energy consultants, as well as officers from the Danish EPA and experts within the field. The interviews were supplemented by reviews of various kinds of documents: academic contributions, specific acts and other legal documents, overall policy documents (action plan, strategies etc.) and political documents such as evaluations, recommendations etc.

In connection with the monitoring of the project different more quantitative measurement have also been applied. These are, however, only used partial for this PhD.

Altogether, the applied methods have resulted in rich pool of data, which has been taken as the point of departure for formulating research questions and exploring, analysing and “theorising”.

As argued in last chapter, my research has put emphasis on five specific related but still different elements. These are each analysed separately and combined in a sixth separate assessment, whereas the core of some of them is presented as “stand-alone-papers”. For each of these specific analyses the chapter/papers therefore draws up

the specific method and information applied for that analyse and thereby specifies this overall method presented here.

FRAMEWORK

In Chapter 1, I presented the research field and the objectives of the PhD thesis. In Chapter 2 I presented the methodological base of the PhD including the basic scientific (epistemological) standpoints and understandings, as well as the research method including the case forming the empirical basis of the PhD. I made a distinction between the concepts and theorisations that I apply to develop my conceptual framework for structuring the field of interest, versus the concepts, and past contributions of the field of study. The transdisciplinary approach implies that the latter depends on the specific assessment and understanding of the sub-questions asked and thus may apply quite different – and not necessarily coherent – conceptual perspectives.

The object of this chapter is to present my conceptual framework. The various conceptual and theoretical perspectives presented in this chapter are thus used as my framing of the overall conceptualisation of the field.

As argued in the last chapter this conceptual framework is not to be understood as a preliminary (theoretical) point of departure for the analyses conducted. It has conversely been developed dialectically in an iterative process of engaging with the field and reflecting on the insights gained in respect of previous contributions. This conceptual framework is thus an attempt to iteratively develop a coherent framework for the different discussions and analyses of the PhD.

3.1. PICTURING OF THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK In Chapter 2, I explained that I had two interests in this PhD thesis and the formulated research question (the scientific question accompanying the practical problem): a governmental focus on the municipalities as local governments placed within the governance of climate change, and a specific learning perspective on the particular participating municipalities.

This image of the overall conceptual framework takes its point of departure in the governance perspective and draws heavily on the governance and governmental literature. I maintain the learning perspective as the underlying premises for my participatory research approach and combine the two in the focus on a change of governing practises to improve overall governability.

This chapter expands the figure presented in Chapter 1 (see Figure 5) in terms of adding an overall governance structure perspective on the municipality activities for

encouraging change among local companies. I also include the learning perspective in this picture of the governance system below by including the municipal (officer) as “reflective dialogue partner” as a concept for discussing leaning in respect of municipality interaction with companies as core element in their attempt to improve the overall governability.

Figure 5 – The conceptual framework: the governance system for municipal influence on local companies to reduce GHG emission (Own production)

Throughout this chapter, I will present the input upon which I rely on to draw up this picture of my conceptual framework. I commence by introducing my overall understanding of governance and governmentality as the overall framework, before explaining the specific concept applied in the figure.

Municipality

The ”reflective dialogue partner”

GHG

Governing techniques to influences

Governance system structuring the field of