Introduction

The papers in this special edition of European Planning Studies present research on the theoretical, spatial and policy issues surrounding the need to create new technological pathways in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. They start from the assumption that the scientific case for climate change and the contribution of the human race to that phenomenon has been made. The failure of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change in 2009, however, demonstrated the immense difficulties associated with moving from the scientific evidence to effective action to slow down and reverse the contemporary rates of climate change.