About LETS

The core mission of the LETS research program is to identify, explore and suggest ways that Sweden can implement low-carbon energy and transport systems for 2050, in order to reach the ambitious climate policy objectives suggested by the 2°C target. To achieve this, we have to drastically decrease our emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases. The research within the LETS programme is based on the presumtion that is is technically possible and economically doable to make the transition to a low carbon society, but what needs to be done is to find the paths to get there. Hence, the overarching reasearch question is:     

What societal transitions are implied by low-carbon futures and how can these transitions be governed and implemented to meet challenging climate policy objectives? 

The abbreviation LETS stands for Governing transitions towards Low-Carbon Energy and Transport Systems for 2050. 

The research period for the LETS programme is January 2009 – June 2013 and approximately 25 researchers from a number of institutions are involved.

LETS combines scientific excellence with close user interaction to ensure relevance and efficient dissemination of knowledge and results among key stakeholders. The objective is to produce new knowledge, but also to synthesize and interpret existing knowledge for more informed choices by decision makers, planners and other stakeholders. 

Low-carbon futures necessitate shifts to carbon-free energy carriers produced in low-carbon conversion processes and changes in consumption behavior. When accommodating such shifts, existing political and administrative regimes are challenged by the need for climate policy integration across policy domains, dynamic consistency, new planning tools and processes, ceding power to the appropriate level, etc. 

Output
The outputs from LETS will range from high-level research based policy advice to tools and guidelines for the “street level” implementing agencies and other administrative bodies. The research team brings together key disciplines from social sciences, economics and engineering (i.e. energy and transport system studies).

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