The UK’s policy commitment to an 80% reduction in CO₂ levels over 1990 levels by 2050 has framed much recent research and debates between policy-makers and industry about whether and how a transition to a low-carbon future can be achieved. The technical potential for improved energy efficiency and installation of low- and zero-carbon generation technologies in the built environment is, in theory, large enough to achieve the emissions reduction targets in this economic sector but it requires a step-change in technology deployment, with less well studied implications for the industry actors who predominate in the existing markets for housing refurbishment. A socio-technical approach is taken to investigating this problem, drawing on the academic traditions of Actor-Network Theory and Transitions to frame the problem: how can a policy-driven change be brought about in a highly diffuse system of actors, where large outcomes emerge as the result of millions of small-scale decisions? Parallels are drawn with the history of Market Transformation policies that have achieved improved energy efficiency of stocks of electrical appliances over time. In order to explore how a Market Transformation approach might work in the rather different context of housing refurbishment, three key aspects of this particular socio-technical system need to be explored: the technical potential and workings of technology deployment; the operation of several implicated markets; the nature of innovation in the relevant industry sectors. A review of the practical, technical issues encountered in pioneering low-carbon refurbishment projects reveals certain risks of under-performance and unintended consequences of poor implementation. Managing these risks requires a level of underpinning knowledge as well as good-quality workmanship, raising the question of how such knowledge can best be introduced into the fragmented roles and contractual relationships that characterise the industry. The market opportunities for the work are complicated by the number and interdependence of the markets involved, including markets for property transactions and markets for refurbishment work and technology installation. Information systems already exist at the point of property transactions in the form of the Energy Performance Certificate, but the greatest potential for change exists in the mainstream repair, maintenance and improvement market. Interviews with mainstream SME construction managers explain the reasons why the industry’s custom and practice is essentially conservative, but also provide insights into the situations in which innovation can thrive, rather than being resisted or subverted. A proposal for systemic change has at its core the coordination of monitoring information and learning experiences from a range of innovative demonstration projects, with implications for change at an institutional level as well as within the practices of the industry itself. The findings of the research are discussed in terms of the strategic implications they hold for industry and policy-making.

There is a globally acknowledged urgency for mankind to transition toward sustainability. Empowering people to make sound assessments is the basis for desirable transitions. ‘Education for sustainable development’ (ESD) is an interdisciplinary learning process advancing knowledge, understanding and action for sustainability. To encourage sustainability transitions ESD needs to be personal and place-specific. One platform provisioning for such learning is ‘ecotourism’, where participants have a heightened sense of self, others and the environment. Hence a practice incorporating ESD into ecotourism is investigated in this thesis, to determine whether the setting would be propitious for fostering sustainability transitions. The pertinent sustainability concepts are assessed, and ‘social practice theory’ is utilized in a case study. The approach of social practice theory was preferable, as it holds the assumption that people are able to act in relation to collective cultural activities rather than in immediate responses to internal or environmental events. The effect of ESD in ecotourism is analyzed through observations and unstructured interviews conducted in a case-study in Turkey – Narköy, which is a hotel, organic farm and educational facility. The findings imply that through social practice, pro-environmental transitions can be encouraged and strengthened, with the provisions of having freedom for learning, social interaction, connection with nature, tangible activities and inclusive approach.

Contemporary and future societies are facing a myriad of challenges, some of which are throwing into question the future viability of humanity on Planet Earth. These challenges are complex and systemic, and to solve them we must transition to more sustainable ways. Increasingly, researchers have a role to play in not only researching transitions but also facilitating transition through research design which postulates closer engagement in practical contexts and empowering actors of governance to identify pathways for transition. Transition management offers a framework for those interested in bringing about such transitionary potential through research, and potentially offers a tool for students interested in using their university work as a means to bring about transition. This study applies transition management framework using Kosovo’s forest governance as a case study asking the question: How can Kosovo transition towards more sustainable forest governance? The paper finds that forest governance in Kosovo is highly chaotic and inefficient. Issues of lack of capacity, competencies, expertise as well as knowledge are coupled with legal framework which does not allow for local ecological contexts nor local needs to produce a regime of governance subject to environmental degradation, corruption and contestation. Moreover, the absence of capacity on both central and local levels means that the regime configuration is very weak and malleable, and niches have potential to bring about transitions in regime configurations. For Kosovo, moreover, it finds that operative activities are not only possible but desirable, and that actors engaged in forest governance have good conditions and a receptive society for transition. None of the actors which participated in the study were happy with the situation and the need for change is well understood. The challenge for Kosovo is thus identified as how best to facilitate participation for transition, how best to balance centralised vs. decentralised governance, as well as how best to facilitate learning through both raising awareness and listening. These issues are found to be best pursued collectively with wide participation. It identifies three suggestions for transitions which are aimed at bolstering and streamlining existing niche innovations in Kosovo: i) participatory forest governance plans, ii) a forest community centre as well as iii) citizen science initiatives. Lastly, it reflects on the process of involved, participatory and complexity-oriented research to address complex issues, as well as the merit of transition management. It finds that whilst epistemologically diverse and more action-oriented research is important and productive for students of Sustainable Development, even necessary, the transition management framework is difficult to implement, cumbersome and possibly not possible for students. Whilst strategic, tactical and reflexive activities are possible, operative activities are more difficult and exposes the weak standing of students within the politics of environmental governance.