The role of international business in clean technology transfer and development

Abstract

While research has generated useful very insights, usually at the macro level, regarding the multifaceted nature of environmental innovation and regulation, the characteristics and drivers peculiar to international companies have remained underexposed in the policy-related literature on clean technology transfer and development. This article aims to help open the 'black box' of business, also as input for future policy-making, by discussing aspects that influence corporate responses: sectorspecific and company-specific peculiarities as well as those related to country contexts (both origin countries and host countries to companies). Most of the climate-related investments in 'developing' countries turn out to have been geared to a few emerging economies, generally involving established technologies with limited transfer, and a major role for developed-country utilities, particularly from Europe. Despite these limitations, there is a base with experience being built up, and a potential for extension to lesser-developed areas, but that requires market co-creation by joint business and governmental efforts. As viable business models are largely lacking, the article suggests three main modalities, ranging from fully commercial to primarily publicly funded, involving different types of actors and countries. Gearing policies more toward corporate realities and reaping the international momentum of sustainable energy might also further climate goals.

Residential Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Algeria

“…For example, Sellami et al [86] state that Algeria has an enormous potential market for the solar water heater, but its development and commercialization remain in their infancy, due to the lack of specific incentive laws and the absence of a local specialized industry. Along this line, Pitelis and Teece [87] consider that local markets may be co-created by joint multinational foreign investment and home/host/international policies, which imply interactions between business and governmental efforts [88].…”

The Policy Role of Corporate Carbon Management: Co‐regulating Ecological Effectiveness

“…Companies have the resources and technological capacity to innovate and implement clean energy solutions, and with the right incentives can move more swiftly than governments (Ball, 2015;Kolk, 2015;Patchell and Hayter, 2013). Companies have the resources and technological capacity to innovate and implement clean energy solutions, and with the right incentives can move more swiftly than governments (Ball, 2015;Kolk, 2015;Patchell and Hayter, 2013).…”

“…Corporate investment in research and development is necessary. Companies have the resources and technological capacity to innovate and implement clean energy solutions, and with the right incentives can move more swiftly than governments (Ball, 2015;Kolk, 2015;Patchell and Hayter, 2013). The business-led NGO Ceres has called on companies to contribute to the 'clean trillion': the estimated one trillion in additional investment is needed every year to limit global warming.…”

A cross-country study of collective political strategy: Greenhouse gas regulations in the European Union

“…The rising importance of climate change and the introduction of regulations for greenhouse gases around the world have elevated these regulations as target for political strategy efforts by interest groups. Although the growing impact of climate change on international business and strategy is reflected in an emerging body of research on this topic (e.g., Kolk, 2015;Kolk & Hoffman, 2007;Kolk & Pinkse, 2008Lundan, 2011;Pinkse & Kolk, 2007Romilly, 2007), prior work on climate change and greenhouse gas regulations has largely focused on firm-level effects and strategies rather than interest group efforts. In light of this, this study focuses on environmental regulations, which impact multiple industries and exist across a large number of countries.…”