The politics and governance of phase-out: a framework for empirical research

The phase-out of unsustainable technologies, substances, and processes is increasingly recognized as a critical policy approach for addressing environmental sustainability challenges. Yet its politics and governance have received surprisingly little explicit attention in environmental politics. This Special Issue breaks with the assumption that phase-out is just one among many other tools in the toolbox of environmental policy. To help establish a new research agenda, the introductory review article proposes an analytical framework for empirical studies with broad interdisciplinary relevance. We elaborate five analytical angles that structure this framework: (1) power and empowerment, (2) the construction and contestation of ideas, (3) institutions shaping policymaking, (4) governance strategies and policy designs, and (5) the outcomes and broader implications of phase-out. By mobilizing these angles, the contributions to this Special Issue advance understanding of the politics and governance of phase-out and identify key directions for future research.