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Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity. Guest-lecture Gent University 18 November 2008 Gert Spaargaren: Environmental Policy Group; Wageningen University www.enp.wur.nl. Outline of the argument. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in
Reflexive Modernity
Guest-lecture Gent University18 November 2008
Gert Spaargaren: Environmental Policy Group;
Wageningen Universitywww.enp.wur.nl
Outline of the argument
Sociology and the Environment I (history) Ecological Modernization Theory
Classical and Contemporary formulations Key characteristics/ major contents Example(s) from empirical research Critiques of Ecological Modernization
Sociology and the Environment II (future)
Ulrich Beck at recent Sociology Meeting in Jena
“Seitdem als unstrittig gilt, das der Klimawandel menschengemacht ist und katastrophale Folgen fűr Natur and Gesellschaft hat, werden die Karten in Gesellschaft und Politik neu gemischt, und zwar weltweit” (Beck, 2008, 41)
[“Since it is generally accepted that climate change is (wo)man-made and brings along disastrous consequences for society and nature, the cards in both society and politics are rearranged, even at the global level”].
Sociology and the Environment
Classics: no explicit focus on the ‘environmental consequences’ of modernity Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel
Mainstream sociology in the 1970’and 80’s: no response to the emerging environmental discourse Functionalism; Structuralism; (neo)Marxism; World System
Theory (Parsons, Merton, Saussure, Wallerstein etc.) Ethnomethodology; Interpretative Sociology; Symbolic
Interactionism (Goffman, Schultz, Garfinkel etc.)
Sociology and the Environment
Since late 1970’s – 1980’s: Environmental Sociology Human Ecology; Chicago School; HEP-NEP Treadmill of Production theory (TOP) = (neo)Marxism Ecological Modernization Theory = industrial society theory; system theory Theory of Cell-Tissue Society; Small is Beautiful; de-modernization theory Constructivism; post-modernism
General Sociology and the environment anno 2008
Giddens, Beck, Luhmann, Urry, Castells, Latour,… + Habermas, Bourdieu, Bauman, Elias… +/- Alexander, Sassen, Archer, Foucault, Coleman, … -
Ecological Modernization Theory; Classical formulations in 1980’s
German origine: Joseph Huber, Martin Jänicke Originated from debate on de-modernization strategies
of grass-root ENGO’s in 1970’s/80’s In line with Brundtland-report of 1987 Aimed at repairing a major ‘design fault’ within
‘modern’ production and consumption Strong focus on role of (environmental) technology in
the process of change Productivist outlook (greening of industry) National outlook (nation state system)
Ecological Modernization Theory: Contemporary formulations
International network of authors (ISA, RC-24) (Re)connecting Ecological Modernization Theory to
General Sociologies of Beck and Giddens in particular
Focus on social and policy dimension next to the emphasis on technologies as key drivers of change
Focus on Consumption next to Production Looking beyond the nation-state: Asia, LA, Africa
Key characteristics and contents:basic assumptions
TEIs= Technological Environmental Innovations (Huber) Main drivers behind Sustainable Development (incl. high-techs) By their potential to increase both eco-efficiency and ‘eco-consistency’
of modern production-consumption-cycles
Companies/private enterprises/TNC’s are important stakeholders in the process of environmental change
ENGO’s professional sparring-partners of consumers, companies and governments next to their protest and pressure role in environmental change
Decentral governments and civil-society actors important co-policy makers to complement national politics (Statsversagen)
Key characteristics and contents:
Some examples of TEI’s (Huber 2004) Energy transition by de-carbonization (hydrogen
instead of carbon fuels and fuel-less energy) Natural Resources: low-impact mining,
sustainable forestry, fish-farming, organic/precision farming
Materials and material processing: biotechnology and nano-industry;
End products: clean-cars; zero emission buildings etc.
Key characteristics and contents: a three-step procedure to eco-modernize
1. start MONITORING the relevant energy and substance flows (make them visible)
2. work towards the MONETARIZATION of substance flows that are crucial from a sustainability point of view. (‘internalization of external costs’)
3. manage transitions towards sustainable development by using and further developing an ‘INDEPENDENT SET OF CRITERIA’ for the ecologically (more) rational organization of production and consumption.
Key characteristics and contents:
Mol and Spaargaren on ‘ecological rationality’
Ecological Modernization Theory refers to the emergence (since 1970’s) of an new, ‘ecological’ rationality
In the form of an independent set of criteria, principles and dynamics Which is governing the complex society – nature relationships in
(reflexive) modernity, and Can be used to assess the environmental performance of industries,
technologies, households and lifestyles Not just in OECD countries but at the international and global level Resulting in Environmental Performances to be judged and valued
parallel and equal to Economic Performances
Relative independency of the ‘ecological sphere’
Economic
Sphere
Economic
Sphere
Ecologicalsphere
Ecologicalsphere
Eco-logical
Sphere
Political
Sphere
Political
Sphere
Socio-cultural
Sphere
Socio-cultural
Sphere
Key characteristics and contents
‘Ecological rationality’ in practice
Examples of ecological criteria the use of the precautionary principle the closing of substance cycles the extensivation of energy-use/ use of renewable energy resources
Examples of instruments used : Life-Cycle-Analyses, EIAs; EP-Indicators (ISO14000; Carbon Credits; Product-labels;
Footprints; Environmental Management Systems (EMAS), CSR and ICM-methods
Green GNPs; CDM; TEP’s Character of Ecological criteria
not undisputed, universal and a-historical learning-by-doing; reflexive processes
Examples from empirical research
The ecological modernization of Chemical industry in Europe SME’s in Asia (Vietnam, China, Thailand) (Food) retail chains (Brazil, Netherlands, Malaysia) Infrastructural provision of energy, water and waste-
services (UK, Sweden, Netherlands Consumption domains of everyday life in OECD
Housing; Food; Mobility; Holidays; Clothing and Personal care
Visit: www.enp.wur.nl/UK/research
Critiques of Ecological Modernization Theory
Competing perspectives within Environmental Sociology in
USA and Europe mainly
Neo-Marxists/ political economy
Neo-Malthusianism De-modernization frames Post-modernism/
constructivism
EcologicalModernization
Theory
Neo-Malthusianism
De-modernization
Neo-marxism
Post-modernismConstructivism
Critiques of Ecological Modernization Theory
What is debated? What are the main issues
Radical Change or Environmental Improvements? Social or Environmental dimension of Sustainable Development to go first?
Absolute priority for Ecological Rationalities over other rationalities?
Materialist basis (substance flows analysis) of EMT when compared to Social Construction of Risks
Risk-profile of Reflexive Modernity: objective and subjective dimensions
Improvements (dematerialization) realized or green-washing, rebound-effects and accellerating deterioration? Population growth to offset eco-improvements
Applicability of the theory in non-OECD contexts (role of States, NGO’s, markets)
Environment and Sociology II (future):
Environment/climate risks move to centre stage in general sociology Beck: world-risk society and cosmopolitization Giddens: time-space distanciation and risk/trust in abstract
systmes Castells: space of flows versus space of place Urry: sociology of mobilities; complexity theory Latour: hybrids
Ecological Modernization Theory responding to these challenges: Sociology of Networks and Flows?
Environment and Sociology II (future)EMT and the Sociology of Networks and Flows
Conventional EMT: Additions and withdrawals
Networks and Flows
‘Geographical’ focus
Place-bound Borderless
Unit of analysis Production and consumption activities behind the flows
Mobile flows themselves
Definition of flows
Substances: energy and materials
Substances, Ideas, Environmental Information etc.
Scope of studying flows
Moving in between ecysystems and production & consumption chains
Flows without clear beginning and end stage, traveling through scapes
Nature of flow Material substances as separate from human agents
Hybrids
Thanks for your attention and questions
The eyes of the Panda can do more thanone hour of lecturing….(Etienne Vermeersch)