An on-line community for the environment sector
Does your government do enough to support environmental businesses?
As this is now an international forum I'd be interested in the views of those from all corners of the globe. Does support for environmental businesses look better now in the USA with Barack's victory (although I know Greenlabelman has a view on this in his blog).
From my corner of the UK I'd say that most of the support is provided by regional organisations and for me, its very thin. The sector is not seen as being of particular strategic importance despite the overwhelming forecasts of this being a real growth sector. There remains a huge misconception of what the environmental sector is. I genuinely think its better in other regions (I'd highlight Yorkshire).
Nationally I still don't see any great strategy of building an environmental industry that will compete worldwide. There was some talk about it a while ago but I really can't see what has happened. As we struggle though the current decline I think the lack of investment in the sector may be a huge regret.
I suppose there are 2 things to consider. is there support for the sector and if not what type would be best?
From my corner of the UK I'd say that most of the support is provided by regional organisations and for me, its very thin. The sector is not seen as being of particular strategic importance despite the overwhelming forecasts of this being a real growth sector. There remains a huge misconception of what the environmental sector is. I genuinely think its better in other regions (I'd highlight Yorkshire).
Nationally I still don't see any great strategy of building an environmental industry that will compete worldwide. There was some talk about it a while ago but I really can't see what has happened. As we struggle though the current decline I think the lack of investment in the sector may be a huge regret.
I suppose there are 2 things to consider. is there support for the sector and if not what type would be best?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gareth Douglas Powells on -
Hi Graeme,
I recommend Catherine Mitchell's new book, "The Political Economy of Sustainable Energy" for her analysis of energy policy and barriers to innovation. Its based on the UK but has some European comaprisons. I just reviewed it for the geography journal AREA and I think she's got most things pretty much dead on.
From the back cover:
"This book analyses the extent to which the UK's current political paradigm is capable of meeting the challenges of climate change. It argues that it is unlikely that the UK's energy policy will be able to deliver sufficient change to enable a move to a sustainable energy economy unless there are fundamental changes to the way that governments takes decisions and make policies.
Her argument is about how the policy process is skewed to suit large incumbent businesses and infrastructures and the way it closes off certain (sustainable) innovation trajectories.
Its Good stuff and an easy read.
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Permalink Reply by Graeme Mills on -
Thanks for that Gareth I'll have a look at the book. I also wonder if there is a contradiction in the consumerism that our economy is based on (i.e. a limitless appetite for goods) and an environmentally proactive economy which seems to have the opposite messages (i.e. limitless consumerism v resource efficiency). Are we just kidding ourselves?
Gareth Douglas Powells said:Hi Graeme,
I recommend Catherine Mitchell's new book, "The Political Economy of Sustainable Energy" for her analysis of energy policy and barriers to innovation. Its based on the UK but has some European comaprisons. I just reviewed it for the geography journal AREA and I think she's got most things pretty much dead on.
From the back cover:
"This book analyses the extent to which the UK's current political paradigm is capable of meeting the challenges of climate change. It argues that it is unlikely that the UK's energy policy will be able to deliver sufficient change to enable a move to a sustainable energy economy unless there are fundamental changes to the way that governments takes decisions and make policies.
Her argument is about how the policy process is skewed to suit large incumbent businesses and infrastructures and the way it closes off certain (sustainable) innovation trajectories.
Its Good stuff and an easy read.
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Permalink Reply by Gareth Douglas Powells on
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I agree Graeme and I think that in many ways we are kidding ourselves - or rather we are being encouraged to kid ourselves - into thinking that the two are compatible.
There is certainly a market for 'knowledge' to support the argument that we can square this particular circle by being cleverer, using clever technologies etc. but in the long run are we seeing the kinds of changes that are needed? Other than some headline grabbing targets from government I think we're not yet getting close the kinds of changes that will be needed to bring our economy's resource metabolism down to the kind of level that is sustainable.
In terms of supporting env businesses, I've just been doing some research into the domestic energy sector. What I noticed was that while opportunities were being created for various not-for-profits and some new energy technology firms, policy makers were so closely engaged with, if not tied to, their current operational partners the opportunities created by policy design and reform always ended up favouring those well established, well networked firms. Because this means that neither the material infrastructure nor the markets are unlikely to change very dramatically (because the same custodians are maintaining / dominating them) the opportunities available to newcomers are pretty restricted.
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