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Climate Challenges, Ecological Modernization, and Technological Forcing: Policy Lessons from a Comparative US-EU Analysis

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  • Joseph Szarka

    (Joseph Szarka is Reader in Policy Studies in the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies at the University of Bath, UK.)

Abstract

The practice of “technological forcing,” understood as policy designed to accelerate technological innovation for the purposes of environmental protection, was pioneered in the USA during the 1970s and continued in Europe with feed-in tariffs for renewable energy and the emissions trading scheme. In order to draw lessons for climate policy, the article tests the capacity of “technological forcing” to translate ecological modernization theory into effective policy and practice, by providing analysis of three case studies. It argues that ambitious climate policies require not only technical proficiency in policy design, but also greater acknowledgment of the need to achieve structural change in major industrial sectors. It concludes that technology-based policies need to be accompanied by economic and political strategies to counteract incumbent resistance, and delineates potential means to do so. © 2012 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Szarka, 2012. "Climate Challenges, Ecological Modernization, and Technological Forcing: Policy Lessons from a Comparative US-EU Analysis," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 12(2), pages 87-109, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:12:y:2012:i:2:p:87-109
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    File URL: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/GLEP_a_00110
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    Cited by:

    1. Mark Purdon, 2015. "Advancing Comparative Climate Change Politics: Theory and Method," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 15(3), pages 1-26, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate policy; environmental politics; ecological modernization; technological forcing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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