Global Warming and Social Innovation
The Challenge of a Climate Neutral Society
Marcel Kok, Walter Vermeulen, Andre Faaij, and David de Jager
Societies need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 per cent in order to counter the risks of climate change. This study envisions a climate neutral society - one where the output of polluting gases is minimised by social innovations set up in households, by local authorities, through developments in information and communications technologies and dematerialization, and through the shift towards product service systems and emissions trading. The work discusses the possibilities for steering and orchestrating this long-term transition towards a climate-friendly society, mapping paths through current dilemmas in climate policy and exploring the legal issues of making this transition.
Reviews
'This book is important. The authors are among the very few researchers who are exploring non-incremental social change on behalf of environmental goals. This work will encourage further work in this critical area from researchers in several disciplines'
Professor Robert Socolow, Princeton University
next review >>
Marcel Kok is a Researcher at RIVM at the Office for Environmental Assessment in the Netherlands. Walter Vermeulen is an Environmental Sociologist and Andre Faaij is Associate Professor of Energy Supply and System Studies, both at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University. David de Jager is Manager of Energy and Environmental Policies at Ecofys in the Netherlands.
Foreword * Towards a Climate-Neutral Society * Transforming the Energy System of The Netherlands: Two Versions on Reaching 80 Per Cent Emissions Reduction by 2050 * Contemporary Practices; Greenhouse Scepticism? * Technological Change and Innovation for Climate Protection: the Governance Challenge * Households Past and Present, and Opportunities for Change * the Role of Local Authorities in a Transition Towards a Climate-Neutral Society * Improved Material Management as Trend-Breaking Technology for Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions * The Contribution of ICT to the Transition Towards a Climate-Neutral Society * Economy Versus Environment? Design Alternatives for Emissions Trading from a Lock-in Perspective * Legal Aspects of a Changing System in The Netherlands in 2050 * Climate Options for the Long Term (COOL): Stakeholders' Views on 80 Per Cent Emission Reduction * The Climate-Neutral Society: Opportunities for Change * List of Contributors * Index