Purposive transition governance for road freight decarbonization

Road freight decarbonization, like other complex system transitions, presents a formidable political, social and organizational as well as technical and economic challenge. While technical and economic aspects have received considerable research focus, there is much less research on political, social and organizational aspects. Purposive road freight decarbonization furthermore needs an effective governance framework to coordinate system-level decision-making that reflects all these important system dimensions. Findings from literature regarding governance requirements for purposive system transitions are synthesized to form a novel framework organized around the three pillars of governance processes, effectiveness and legitimacy. This framework is validated and further developed via thirteen semi-structured interviews and a workshop with transport authorities and industry associations. Conclusions are drawn regarding maintaining system functions and managing asymmetric power relations during transitions; key governance enablers; and the importance of achieving input, throughput and output legitimacy. Governance connections are identified, and the implications of these for transition wickedness discussed. • Rapid and radical road freight decarbonization requires purposive governance. • Governance requirements span processes, effectiveness, legitimacy and enablers. • Critical system functions and asymmetric power relations must be considered. • Specific governance connections should be addressed.