Editorial by Anita Engels in DKK column "To the point"Sociology for the Climate

18 January 2022, by CSS

Photo: UHH/Sebastian Engels

To tackle the climate crisis, we need a major societal transformation. This is feasible, but only hoping for technological solutions is in vain, argues CSS member and DKK board member Anita Engels in her editorial in the column of the Deutsche Klima-Konsortium (DKK).

Insights that emerge from her research: There are no simple technological solutions that would deliver the required transformation with the necessary depth and speed. The major societal transformation we need is difficult and complex, and we have no model to follow. It is essentially a political problem, as it is always about the questions of whose lifestyles come under pressure, who has to accept impositions, how these impositions are compensated and for whom climate protection is made easier.

From a social science point of view, it is most important that climate protection is pursued in such a way that as many groups and classes of the population as possible can embrace climate protection. This happens when the climate protection goals can be well linked to their own interests and priorities. Whether it is about citizen energy cooperatives, climate-friendly business models, or strengthening municipal administrations - all these approaches are at least as important as dealing with technological options.

The entire editorial can be found here on the website of the DKK [in German].