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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In the wake of the Paris Agreement, the urgency for decarbonization has intensified
globally, prompting varied responses from different regions and sectors. This study critically
examines the uneven decarbonization trajectories of Portuguese firms within the framework
of the Portugal 2020 (PT2020) program, informed by transition theory and regional innovation
systems. Employing a multi-method approach that combines natural language processing
and a systematic literature review, we identify and categorize the decarbonization strategies
of 278 out of 2,793 firms funded by PT2020 between 2020 and 2023.
Our findings reveal a modest (less than 10 % of all projects) but pivotal engagement in
decarbonization, predominantly focused on the Porto metropolitan area and adjacent
regions, indicating a pattern of uneven geographical transitions. Larger, established firms
predominantly undertake these initiatives, reflecting a skew in policy effectiveness towards
more stable entities. The most common pathways—demand and co-benefits (49 %) and
decarbonization of electricity (34 %)—suggest a preference for immediately actionable
strategies (electrification of uses and technological breakthroughs).
This study underscores the disparity in decarbonization efforts across firms, but also
regions, correlating higher industrial productivity and urbanization with increased activity.
Such trends reveal the influence of existing economic structures and regional capacities on
the adoption of green technologies, which exacerbate regional inequalities in the face of
global decarbonization mandates.
This study improves the understanding on the potential of decarbonization to increase or
decrease inequalities among companies and regions. It provides crucial lessons for policies
aiming to accelerate decarbonization to achieve the 2030 goals. Further research is required
to explore the impact of regional specialization on decarbonization strategies and to develop
more inclusive and equitable policies.
Description
Keywords
Innovation Decarbonization Policy Firms strategies Regions Portugal
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Vale, M., Alves, T.L., Fontes, M., Paes Mamede, R., & Bento, N. (2024). Critical transitions: Unpacking decarbonization strategies in Portuguese industry and regional disparities. In J.L. Sánchez Hernández, Mª C. Torres Enjuto, I. Aguado Moralejo, R. Mecha López y J. Prada Trigo (eds.), Estrategias territoriales y productivas en un contexto de cambio global. Territorial and Productive Strategies in a Context of Global Change (pp.437-453). Asociación Española de Geografía. https://doi.org/10.21138/ge.2024.22
Publisher
Asociación Española de Geografía (AGE)