PD Dr. Joachim Markard

Work at ZHAW

Position

• Senior Researcher
• Senior Researcher

Focus

Sustainability Transitions, Innovation, Technology, Policy, Industries

Network

Awards

Web of Science, Highly Cited Researcher 2022
Web of Science, Clarivate
11 / 2022

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Sudheshwar, A. et al. (2025) 'Safe and sustainable-by-design under the European Green Deal : regulatory readiness or pressure for companies?', Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 22(3), pp. 891–909. doi: 10.1093/inteam/vjaf188.
• Rosenbloom, D. et al. (2025) 'Dead-end pathways : conceptualizing, assessing, avoiding', PLOS Climate, 4(8), p. e0000693. doi: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000693.
• Mellot, A. et al. (2025) 'Electrification, flexibility or both? : emerging trends in European energy policy', Energy Policy, 206(114725). doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114725.
• Sovacool, B. K. et al. (2025) 'The acceleration of low-carbon transitions : insights, concepts, challenges, and new directions for research', Energy Research & Social Science, 121(103948). doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2025.103948.
• Löhr, M., Markard, J. and Ohlendorf, N. (2024) '(Un)usual advocacy coalitions in a multi-system setting: the case of hydrogen in Germany', Policy Sciences, 57(3), pp. 567–597. doi: 10.1007/s11077-024-09536-7.
• Raven, R. et al. (2023) 'Transitioning to sustainable academic conferences needs more experimentation and reflection', Global Sustainability, 6, p. e16. doi: 10.1017/sus.2023.15.
• Andersen, A. D. et al. (2023) 'Architectural change in accelerating transitions : actor preferences, system architectures, and flexibility technologies in the German energy transition', Energy Research & Social Science, 97(102945). doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2023.102945.
• Ohlendorf, N., Löhr, M. and Markard, J. (2023) 'Actors in multi-sector transitions : discourse analysis on hydrogen in Germany', Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 47(100692). doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2023.100692.
• Markard, J. et al. (2023) 'Unsustainabilities : a study on SUVs and space tourism and a research agenda for transition studies', Energy Research & Social Science, 106(103302). doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2023.103302.
• Markard, J. et al. (2021) 'Neglected developments undermining sustainability transitions', Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 41, pp. 39–41. doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.012.
• Rinscheid, A. et al. (2021) 'From terminating to transforming : the role of phase-out in sustainability transitions', Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 41, pp. 27–31. doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.019.
• Markard, J., Rinscheid, A. and Widdel, L. (2021) 'Analyzing transitions through the lens of discourse networks : coal phase-out in Germany', Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 40, pp. 315–331. doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2021.08.001.
• Rosenbloom, D. et al. (2020) 'Reply to van den Bergh and Botzen : a clash of paradigms over the role of carbon pricing', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(38), pp. 23221–23222. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2014350117.
• Markard, J., Geels, F. W. and Raven, R. (2020) 'Challenges in the acceleration of sustainability transitions', Environmental Research Letters, 15(8), p. 081001. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab9468.
• Sinsel, S. R., Markard, J. and Hoffmann, V. H. (2020) 'How deployment policies affect innovation in complementary technologies—evidence from the German energy transition', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 161. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120274.
• Musiolik, J. et al. (2020) 'Creating innovation systems : how resource constellations affect the strategies of system builders', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 153(119209). doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.02.002.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

• Markard, J., Isoaho, K. and Widdel, L. (2023) 'Discourses around decline : comparing the debates on coal phase-out in the UK, Germany and Finland', in Koretsky, Z. et al. (eds) Technologies in Decline: Socio-Technical Approaches to Discontinuation and Destabilisation. New York: Routledge, pp. 119–144. doi: 10.4324/9781003213642-5.
• Markard, J. and Rosenbloom, D. (2023) 'Phases of the net-zero energy transition and strategies to achieve it', in Araújo, K. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Energy Transitions. New York: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003183020-8.
• Araújo, K. M. et al. (2023) 'Reconceptualizing the next frontier in energy transitions', in Araújo, K. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Energy Transitions. New York: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003183020-34.

Other publications

• Yanguas Parra, P. A. and Markard, J. (2025) Policies for accelerating fossil heating systems replacement and building renovation. Available at: https://www.renowave.ch/pdf/180050-Accelerating_fossil_heater_replacements.pdf.
• Neu, U. et al. (2025) Perspektiven für die Kernenergie in der Schweiz : Grundlagenbericht. Bern: Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.15599182.
• Boulouchos, K. et al. (2022) Schweizer Energiesystem 2050 : Wege zu netto null CO2 und Versorgungssicherheit. Bern: Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6967076.
• Bencsik, B. et al. (2020) Erfolg durch Partnerschaft : neue Kollaborationsmodelle für einen Energiemarkt im Wandel. SCCER CREST. Available at: https://www.sccer-crest.ch/fileadmin/FILES/Datenbank_Personen_Projekte_Publikationen/Publications/White_Papers/Final_White_Paper9_2020_WP1_Erfolg_durch_Partnerschaft.pdf.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Rosenbloom, D., Markard, J., Geels, F.W., Fuenfschilling, L. (2020): Why carbon pricing is not sufficient to mitigate climate change — and how “sustainability transition policy” can help Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117, 8664-​8668.
• Markard, J.; Rosenbloom, D. (2020): “Political conflict and climate policy: The European Emissions Trading System as a Trojan Horse for the low-​carbon transition?” Climate Policy 20(9), 1092-1111
• Rosenbloom, D.; Markard, J. (2020): “A COVID-​19 recovery strategy for climate” Science, Editorial, 364(6490), 477
• Markard, J.; Bento, N.; Kittner, N.; Nuñez-​Jimenez, A. (2020): “Destined for decline? Critically examining nuclear energy with a technological innovation systems perspective.” Energy Research and Social Science, 67, 101512.
• Markard, J. (2020): “The life cycle of technological innovation systems.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 153
• Markard J. (2018): "The next phase of the energy transition and its implications for research and policy." Nature Energy, 3(8), 628-​633.
• Markard, J.; Suter, M.; Ingold, K. (2016): "Socio-​technical transitions and policy change – Advocacy coalitions in Swiss energy policy." Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 18, 215-​237

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