Energy Transition Governance and Sustainable Development on a Mediterranean Island: From Policy Design to Local Action and Global Impact

The energy sector and its technological landscape are rapidly changing, driven by the global need to minimize the reliance on non-renewable resources. The energy transformation over the past five years has resulted in sustainable energy initiatives involving innovative adaptations of energy technologies by regional local authorities. In this context, and as local action will eventually decide global sustainability, this article explores the ways that sustainable strategies and energy actions were comprehended and adopted by regional public authorities. The focus area is the island of Crete in Greece. Owing to its geographical position and the nearly autonomous institutional structure of the broader state apparatus, it serves as a microcosm of a state, rendering it an effective imitation of the Greek state. The methodology of this study is derived from both the relevant literature outcomes and the national legislative framework. A document review served as a preliminary tool to investigate national and regional policy frameworks. This was followed by in-depth interviews with regional stakeholders to collect primary data on implementation. This study’s originality derives from addressing the gap between the proposed measures imposed by the state, along with various sustainable activities from a holistic perspective, and their actual uptake in Crete. The analysis of the results provides insights regarding their effectiveness based on the regional authorities’ approach in a developed South Mediterranean country. The article confirms that municipalities’ heterogeneity and structural differentiation are critical for sustainable energy transition and concludes with future research directions worthy of thorough examination, towards energy transition maturity of an insular region.