Unravelling the Ties that Bind: 2008–2010

Abstract

By the late 2000s, widespread perceptions of an energy supply security crisis in the UK combined with new renewable energy targets and a continuing sense of uncertainty left a more open space for those who advocated change to be heard in political circles. Policy-makers and politicians were more aware not only that energy as a policy area was becoming problematic but also of some of the details and depth of those problems, and were actively seeking other solutions. At this time a more audible crisis narrative emerged in support of the notion that problems being experienced were not just externally generated, but were in fact endogenous to current energy governance institutions. Another notable way in which alternative crisis narratives were progressing was that climate campaigners started to draw on security concerns in order to underpin arguments for more state support for renewable energy production. This is referred to here as ‘narrative appropriation’. As such an energy security-climate nexus was formed which borrowed from geopolitical and climate narratives in order to provide both reasons for change and solutions to perceived problems.