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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

Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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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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Page 1: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 2: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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)

Page 3: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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”].

Page 4: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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.)

Page 5: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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, … -

Page 6: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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)

Page 7: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 8: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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)

Page 9: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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.

Page 10: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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.

Page 11: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 12: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 13: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 14: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 15: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 16: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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)

Page 17: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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?

Page 18: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

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

Page 19: Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT): Studying Environmental Change in Reflexive Modernity

Thanks for your attention and questions

The eyes of the Panda can do more thanone hour of lecturing….(Etienne Vermeersch)