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Technological regimes, path dependency and the environment

Berkhout, F.
2002
Global Environmental Change, 12(1): 1-4

Berkhout, F., (2002), "Technological regimes, path dependency and the environment", Global Environmental Change, 12(1): 1-4.
Abstract:
1. Introduction

The relationship between technological change and the environment has been a critical issue for environmental policyfor over two decades. Technology is seen as both the root-cause of manyenvironm ental problems, while also offering the means for reducing the ecological footprint of human activities. Recentlythis debate has become more urgent, partlyas a result of renewed interest in policycommun ities, and partlyas an outcome of conceptual and theoretical developments in the study of innovation and the environment. Policycommuni ties are faced with major challenges including questions about how industrial economies can be radicallyde - carbonised, and how step-jumps in resource ef.ciency maybe achieved. New research on innovation and the environment emphasises the importance of looking at the level of technological systems and at the link between technologies and the institutional settings they are embedded within. In The Netherlands this has led to an important policyde bate about the management of ｀system innovations' in pursuit of high-level sustainabilityobject ives (VROM, 2001). How did we get to this point in the debate? What do we know about these larger-scale technological transitions? What can we say about their management?

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Reframing the technology-environment debate

3. Change in technological regimes

4. Creating the conditions for path-breaking

References

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