Informace o publikaci
Machines out, Humans in: Labor-intensive Low-tech for a Resilient Energy Transition
| Autoři | |
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| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Konferenční abstrakty |
| Citace | |
| Popis | The escalating climate crisis requires a resilient energy system that reduces both energy and material consumption (Worrell and Carreon, 2017). A recurring theme within the degrowth literature is the substitution of industrially produced – especially fossil – energy with human labor where feasible (D’Alisa and Cattaneo, 2013; Jackson and Victor, 2011; Kallis, 2017; Norgard, 2013; Zoellick and Bisht, 2018). Low-tech, convivial, or “pluriversal” technologies offer a way to achieve this vision in a variety of sectors (Illich, 1973; Kerschner et al., 2018; Philippe, 2020; Tanguy et al., 2023; Velasco-Herrejón et al., 2022). These technologies can reduce energy use (e.g., cycling instead of driving) as well as curb material demand (e.g., repair rather than replacement). Their simplicity and repairability can lower dependence on complex global supply chains (Alexander and Yacoumis, 2018), thereby increasing resilience in both planned economic contraction and crisis scenarios. However, assessing the impacts of scaling up concrete low-tech alternatives in suitable models, such as global multi-regional input-output (MRIO) models, is challenging. Low technologies often operate within the household economy, which is typically clustered into a single sector, or operate as part of manufacturing sectors. While previous research around input-output models has focused on detailing households (Cap et al., 2024; Ironmonger, 2000, 1995a, 1995b; Kim et al., 2016; Madsen and Weidema, 2023) as well as on sectoral disaggregation in general (Lenzen, 2011; Lindner et al., 2012), it has not specifically addressed the low-tech practices. This complicates the comparison of energy, labor, and material requirements between the low-tech alternatives and their industrial counterparts across global supply chains. To start addressing this gap, we develop a taxonomy of low-tech alternatives conducive to energy and material savings that can substitute industrial production. Using criteria centered on resilience (e.g., repairability or operational lifespan) and conviviality (Vetter, 2018), we match the low-tech alternatives with industrial technologies based on the human needs they fulfill. We then identify the conditions under which these alternatives can serve as substitutes, including the labor required to meet those needs. Finally, we outline methods to integrate the low-tech practices into the MRIO models. Key opportunities for substitution include areas such as mobility, maintenance and repair, or electricity generation. Our approach helps pinpoint industries where production and wage jobs can be scaled back without jeopardizing basic human needs, while revealing the global impact of these changes on energy and material consumption. |
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