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Ecological Modernization Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK & Wind Power in the UK Dr Peter A Strachan & Dr Peter A Strachan & Dr Dave Toke Dr Dave Toke

Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

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Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK. Dr Peter A Strachan & Dr Dave Toke. Plan. Research Questions Ecological Modernisation (EM) Principles Christoff (1996) Types of EM ‘Ecological Modernisation, ecological modernities’ Environmental Politics 5(3): 476-500 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

Ecological Modernization Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK& Wind Power in the UK

Dr Peter A Strachan & Dr Peter A Strachan &

Dr Dave TokeDr Dave Toke

Page 2: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

PlanPlan

Research QuestionsResearch Questions Ecological Modernisation (EM) PrinciplesEcological Modernisation (EM) Principles Christoff (1996) Types of EMChristoff (1996) Types of EM

‘‘Ecological Modernisation, ecological Ecological Modernisation, ecological modernities’ modernities’ Environmental Politics Environmental Politics 5(3): 5(3): 476-500476-500

New Labour, EM & Wind PowerNew Labour, EM & Wind Power ConclusionsConclusions

Page 3: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

To what extent does the UK’s wind power To what extent does the UK’s wind power programme follow either ‘weak’ or programme follow either ‘weak’ or ‘strong’ EM strategies?‘strong’ EM strategies?

To what extent might Christoff (1996) be To what extent might Christoff (1996) be right in asserting that a ‘strong’ EM right in asserting that a ‘strong’ EM strategy is necessary?strategy is necessary?

Page 4: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

EM PrinciplesEM Principles

Economic & environmental objectives can be Economic & environmental objectives can be simultaneously achievedsimultaneously achieved

Economic development & ecological protection are Economic development & ecological protection are both desirableboth desirable

The ‘polluter pays’ principleThe ‘polluter pays’ principle A holistic approach to problem solvingA holistic approach to problem solving Focus on the market and government interventionFocus on the market and government intervention Nations need to adopt ecologically sustainable policiesNations need to adopt ecologically sustainable policies

Toke (2002) Ecological Modernisation and GM Food Toke (2002) Ecological Modernisation and GM Food Environmental PoliticsEnvironmental Politics 11(3): 145-163 11(3): 145-163

Page 5: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

Christoff (1996) Christoff (1996) & Strong EM& Strong EM

EM should strive to reduce the consumption of EM should strive to reduce the consumption of material resourcesmaterial resources

‘‘Strong’ EM that is more internationalist in Strong’ EM that is more internationalist in orientationorientation

EM as less elitist and more responsive to EM as less elitist and more responsive to ‘bottom-up’ initiatives‘bottom-up’ initiatives

EM should embrace a diversity of paths to EM should embrace a diversity of paths to sustainability and not one that relies on sustainability and not one that relies on Eurocentric prejudicesEurocentric prejudices

Page 6: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

Types of EMTypes of EM

Weak EMWeak EM EconomisticEconomistic Technological Technological

(narrow)(narrow) InstrumentalInstrumental Technocratic/neo-Technocratic/neo-

corporatist/closedcorporatist/closed NationalNational Unitary (hegemonic)Unitary (hegemonic)

Strong EMStrong EM EcologicalEcological Institutional/systemicInstitutional/systemic CommunicativeCommunicative Deliberative Deliberative

democratic/opendemocratic/open InternationalInternational DiversifyingDiversifying

Page 7: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

SynopsisSynopsis

Christoff argues that dominant practices need Christoff argues that dominant practices need to be challenged, leading to: to be challenged, leading to:

‘‘the sorts of embedded cultural the sorts of embedded cultural transformation which could sustain transformation which could sustain substantial reductions in material substantial reductions in material consumption levels, significant and rapid consumption levels, significant and rapid structural transformations in industrialized structural transformations in industrialized countries, and major international countries, and major international redistributions of wealth and technological redistributions of wealth and technological capacity’capacity’

Page 8: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

New Labour, EM & Climate Policy

Since the election of New Labour there has Since the election of New Labour there has been a flurry of policy documents implicitly been a flurry of policy documents implicitly utilising the concepts and language of EMutilising the concepts and language of EM

There has been an increasing use of EM There has been an increasing use of EM vocabulary in UK climate policy and related vocabulary in UK climate policy and related debates and this has been accompanied by debates and this has been accompanied by the use of NEPIsthe use of NEPIs

The British Renewable Obligation (RO) is one The British Renewable Obligation (RO) is one good example of thisgood example of this

Page 9: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

Characteristics of Wind Power Characteristics of Wind Power Deployment in the UKDeployment in the UK

The government has agreed objectives for The government has agreed objectives for environmental protection, which are supported environmental protection, which are supported by mainstream environmental groupsby mainstream environmental groups

Objectives are pursued through consensus –Objectives are pursued through consensus –reaching discussions between key, nationally reaching discussions between key, nationally based, interest groupsbased, interest groups

Implementation occurs through ‘top-down’ Implementation occurs through ‘top-down’ measures, which do little to involve local measures, which do little to involve local people, but involve ownership by major people, but involve ownership by major business corporationsbusiness corporations

Page 10: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

The incorporation of wind power into existing The incorporation of wind power into existing industrial structures and modes of operationindustrial structures and modes of operation

The pursuit of targets for renewable energy The pursuit of targets for renewable energy deployment through mechanisms designed to deployment through mechanisms designed to maximise economic competitivenessmaximise economic competitiveness

The prioritisation of renewable deployment The prioritisation of renewable deployment over and above a focus on energy efficiency over and above a focus on energy efficiency demonstrates a productionist, pro-demonstrates a productionist, pro-conventional, industrial orientation.conventional, industrial orientation.

Page 11: Ecological Modernization & Wind Power in the UK

ConclusionConclusion

EM provides an effective framework for EM provides an effective framework for analysing UK climate policy and wind power analysing UK climate policy and wind power deployment deployment

Christoff’s notion of ‘weak’ EM theory provides Christoff’s notion of ‘weak’ EM theory provides an accurate description of the UK an accurate description of the UK Government’s approach to wind powerGovernment’s approach to wind power

Recent evidence suggests that techniques Recent evidence suggests that techniques associated with what might be called ‘strong’ associated with what might be called ‘strong’ EM might further aid sustainability objectivesEM might further aid sustainability objectives

e.g. planning problems may be reduced through e.g. planning problems may be reduced through greater local ownershipgreater local ownership