Knowledge claims in European Union energy policies: Unknown knowns and uncomfortable awareness

Despite the concerted efforts of scientific community and politicians to contain greenhouse gas emissions, CO 2 level in atmosphere continues increase monotonically. This raises question whether representations related knowledge claims used inform energy policy have been incomplete or incorrect. Are there alternative relevant that overlooked ignored discussion policies if so, why? We answer these questions by elaborating three case studies, efficiency improvements, liquid biofuels, decarbonization electricity, using a novel procedure for quality checking narratives is based post-normal science developed EU project Moving Towards Adaptive Governance Complexity: Informing NEXUS Security (MAGIC). The focus our approach on coherence why (concerns justifications), what (“solution”), how (“scientific evidence”) policies. show all cases studied claims, mostly derived from relatively new field non-equilibrium thermodynamics, would be available better informing policy, but they are unknown knowns chosen framing issues. conclude idea various concerns identified can solved simultaneously unrealistic. only persist virtue banishing uncomfortable creation implausible socio-technical imaginaries. When considering different aspects problem integrating smooth painless transition zero-carbon economy seems unlikely.