Joining the Dots: Sustainability, Climate Change and Ecological Modernisation

Abstract

Ecological modernisation (EM) can provide an effective strategy for improving sustainability and addressing climate change by overcoming the resistance to change in key sectors. This chapter triangulates a broad range of sources from the academic literature and synthesises them with the findings of previous research by the author. It is argued that governments can assist with the transition to a more sustainable low-carbon economy by using EM to design policies that promote technological innovation, engage with economic imperatives, implement institutional change, improve community engagement and change the public discourse to focus on practical “win–win” scenarios. The theoretical framework of EM was developed in Europe during the 1980s and will need to be adapted for countries like Australia that have a very different political context. Examples are given of how business models can be changed and how government policies can encourage the transition. The adoption of this proposal would increase community empowerment and improve democratic decision-making. This chapter undertakes an original synthesis of sustainable development, climate change mitigation and strong EM to create practical changes to business models.