Ecological modernisation theory in debate: A review

Mol, A.P.J.; Spaargaren, Gert

doi:10.1080/09644010008414511

Cited by 567 publications

(311 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

264

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In line with suggestions made by ecological modernisation theorists (e.g. Mol and Spaargaren, 2000;Mol and Sonnenfeld, 2000;JŠnicke, 2008), vast amounts of time and energy are directed towards research, and the development and innovation of new, greener or cleaner products and processes. Measured in economic terms, global investments in (so-called) clean energy, for instance, reached USD 318 billion in 2014 (BNEF, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Degrowth by means of technology? A treatise for an ethos of releasement

Heikkurinen

2018

Journal of Cleaner Production

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Highlights¥ Technological practice cannot and does not let objects be. ¥ This leads to an increase in the cumulative matter/energy throughput. ¥ To achieve degrowth, throughput must reduce. ¥ Releasement of objects leads to a reduction in throughput. ¥ An ethos of releasement is needed to degrowth. AbstractThe large-scale ecological damage caused by growth societies calls for economic degrowth in terms of a radical decrease in matter/energy throughput. This article examines the role of modern technology in degrowth with a focus on the question of agency and its ethical implications. After conceptualising technology as practice, the paper finds that while technological practice encompasses an agency for social change, it is restricted to transforming the non-human world to human-made objects. This is because in technological practice the world and its objects unfold as a standing-reserve for human use. Due to this calculative and anthropocentric thinking, technological practice does not and cannot support the emergence of a kind of agency that either does or can let things be. Moreover, the more technological the practice, the more objects are utilised. The paper concludes that technological practice does not support the transition to degrowth, because it directs its agents towards the continuous transformation of non-human-made objects into humanmade objects resulting in an increase in cumulative throughput. The paper thus suggests that an ethos of releasement is needed to attain, as well as to live in, a degrowth society. The rationale provided for refraining from the technological practice in order to contribute to ecologically sensible social change is the chief contribution of this paper.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Degrowth by means of technology? A treatise for an ethos of releasement

Heikkurinen

2018

Journal of Cleaner Production

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Brazil and Spain, this analytical focus is even less frequent. iii The ecological modernization is inserted in the scope of reflexive modernization, seeking to overcome the classic industrial categories, but keeping their faith on the possibility that technological progress may be able to equate environmental issues and promote sustainable development (Beck, 2010;Andersen;Massa, 2000;Mol;Spaargaren, 2000). iv Ripening period of bellotas, which lasts from November until February and which corresponds to the fattening period of the pigs it feeds.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

GIs AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION - NOTES ON EXPERIENCES IN DIFFERENT IBERIAN-AMERICAN CONTEXTS

Fröehlich

Corchuelo

2017

Ambient. soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current environmental issues have affected the logic for promoting development strategies and social construction processes of new ruralities. Therefore, rural territories start connecting their socio-productive settings to high demands that come from environmental issues. In this scenario, little attention has been given to relations that the Geographic Indications (GI) based strategies have established with environmental issues, whose strategic interest lies in the scope of multiple correlations of power that cross contemporary societies. Through a multiple case analysis, by contrasting contexts from Brazil and Spain, we used this theoretical approach to analyze how environmental issues, in face of conservationist approaches towards enhancing biodiversity, have permeated the production of senses, the narratives, the conflicts and positioning of the players involved in GI experiences in different Iberian-American contexts.

show abstract

“…Sustainable development is criticized for its presumption that economic growth can be ecologically sustainable (SAT- TERTHWAITE, 1997), and ecological modernization for its optimism about finding technological and institutional solutions to the economy-environment tension (MOL and SPAARGAREN, 2000). Sustainability and sustainable livelihood approaches, far less sanguine about overcoming such tensions, receive less attention in debates about environmental governance because they tend to prioritize local-scale activities (e.g., SNEDDON, 2000).…”

Section: Eco-state Restructuring (Esr)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Green Leap Forward? Eco-State Restructuring and the Tianjin–Binhai Eco-City Model

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

green leap forward? Eco-state restructuring and the Tianjin-Binhai eco-city model. Regional Studies. China has experienced a remarkable explosion of designated eco-cities since the year 2000, with TianjinBinhai becoming the best-practice model. Embedded in broader political economic changes, shifting multi-scalar regimes of environmental governance have shaped this efflorescence. Applying eco-state restructuring, this paper argues that eco-city construction became a new strategic project after the 2000s, driven by central state-driven model cities and assessment initiatives. This also led to a very different kind of 'best practice' eco-city model: Tianjin-Binhai, a China-Singapore collaboration in which greenness is manufactured rather than adapted. Notwithstanding significant implementation problems, Tianjin-Binhai's status as best practice persists, raising questions about what it means to claim eco-city status.

show abstract

Ecological modernisation theory in debate: A review

Cited by 567 publications

References 28 publications

Degrowth by means of technology? A treatise for an ethos of releasement

Degrowth by means of technology? A treatise for an ethos of releasement

GIs AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION - NOTES ON EXPERIENCES IN DIFFERENT IBERIAN-AMERICAN CONTEXTS

A Green Leap Forward? Eco-State Restructuring and the Tianjin–Binhai Eco-City Model

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About