Our transition - a cross-sectional comparison of sustainability transition initiatives in Denmark

Abstract: Sustainability transition initiatives are crucial in tackling global sustainability challenges but evaluations of their impacts are to a large extent lacking. This is a problem as it leads to uncertainty of their actual contributions which is a hindrance for public and political support. Due to the complex nature of STIs it has proven very difficult to make comparable assessments as most studies end up focusing on case specific internal factors and dynamics rather than external impact. For the purpose of solving this problem a new assessment framework (T-score) is developed and applied to a Danish context. The framework is positioned in relation to other relevant assessment frameworks and focus on aspects relating to transformational capacity. Specifically, it is investigated how Danish STIs are contributing to sustainable development utilising a database from 2015 of more than 500 STIs. The application of the framework leads to many insights into the Danish STI-landscape concerning actors and activities. The framework brings a needed novel approach to the field of sustainability transition assessment that can help both researchers and decisionmakers identify the most promising STIs.