The overall objective of the PATHWAYS project is to provide policy-makers and other key stakeholders with better insight in on-going and necessary transition pathways for key domains (e.g. heating, energy and land-use) relevant for EU policy. PATHWAYS focuses on a selected set of transition domains using a combination of linked scientific approaches. The PATHWAYS project will achieve this by means of the following concrete specific objectives:
a) Provide a detailed mapping of key alternative transition pathways (In terms of its technical, economic, political and social dynamics characteristics),
b) Better understand the conditions needed for the development of socio-technical systems in a way that is consistent with rapid transitions towards sustainable development goals (the conditions include descriptions of regimes, niches and landscape related to these transitions),
c) Explore how insights and activities of key actors can be harnessed (Specifically by analysing how the limitations of current policies can be overcome by a stronger focus on the involvement of different stakeholders),
d) Link integrated assessment modelling, transition studies and participative action research. In order to create an integrated, interdisciplinary chain of analysis which allows to deepen the understanding of transitions towards sustainable, low carbon societal systems,
e) Use the findings to inform 'transition policies' in the EU (Amongst others in the form of well elaborated scenarios that are based on more realistic descriptions of policies and their impacts).
The Wuppertal Institut focuses on "Transitions in the Making". In this project part innovative initiaves towards transition pathways are analysed based on case studies and participative action research.