Search Climate Insights Directory

The research paper examines the cognitive dimensions of urban sustainability transitions (UST) in Bilbao, Spain, using the Q method to identify how stakeholder values and perceptions act as barriers or opportunities for decarbonization. The study identifies four distinct discourses among stakeholders: local followers, confidant visionaries, problem-solvers, and workaday sceptics. While there is a general consensus that energy consumption in the Basque Country is too high and fossil fuels are scarce, significant gaps exist between decision-makers and potential drivers of change. The authors argue that for cities to act as 'transition tractors' rather than mere actors, they must establish knowledge, discussion, and communication (KDC) platforms to link pragmatists, visionaries, and policymakers.