Dissolution, Reconfiguration and Formation: Decarbonisation Effects on Regional Industrial Interpath Dynamics

Abstract

Abstract Decarbonising mature industries is crucial for achieving overall carbon neutrality. This article provides an interpath dynamics perspective on how mature industries' decarbonisation paths affect interconnected industries via three key interpath transformation dynamics: interpath dissolution, reconfiguration and formation. Based on 19 semi‐structured interviews with industry representatives in Germany, this article illustrates how the exchange and utilisation of secondary resources in the steel and cement sector change in times of transformation. Findings reveal that individual industries' decarbonisation strategies can be closely interwoven with other regional industries' development paths. From this backdrop, technology change can directly affect existing industrial regional configurations, challenge existing or create novel inter‐industry linkages with variegated outcomes across regions. The concept of interpath dynamics provides a comprehensive perspective to identify challenges and opportunities of decarbonisation processes for industrial regions.