Energy 2020 action of the Austrian Fund for Climate and Energy

Title

Powerdown – Developing Scenarios and Options for Action on a Local Level in the Light of „Peak Oil“ and Climate Change

Synopsis

In the project „Powerdown“ four main workshops (dialogue boards) are conducted to discuss transition scenarios and to develop options for action in the light of the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. Essential outputs are a handbook (for urban and rural regions) and a seminar/workshop concept (focussing on local decision makers).

Abstract

The challenges caused by Peak Oil and Climate Change have to go along with a questioning of infrastructures and associated behaviour patterns, which had been developed under conditions when fossil energy sources were plenty and relatively cheap. These infrastructures include energy supply, the transportation system, settlement structures, regional distribution and amount of industrial production, and agriculture. After preparatory activities (literature review, assessment of the status quo of existing relevant initiatives in Austria, critical assessment of renewable energy sources´ potentials for Austria) four main workshops (dialogue boards) with different thematic focus and different composition of participants will be conducted. In these workshops transition scenarios are discussed and options for action are developed in the light of the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. The essential results of the project are compiled in a handbook with three focal points: urban regions, rural regions and the interactions of these two types of regions. Furthermore a concept for a seminar/workshop is developed that can be used as a basis for confronting relevant stakeholders (especially local decision makers) with the topics of the project.