Transcript Low Carbon Innovation in China Prospects, Politics

Low Carbon Innovation in China
Prospects, Politics & Partnerships
Dr David Tyfield
IAS, Lancaster University & Demos
New Perspectives on Chinese Innovation
21st February 2008
Climate Change as Social Problem
• Climate Change is the global problem
• 2 to 6 °C temperature rise over 21st century
• Need drastic global shift away from high to low carbon
consumption
• Thorny global politics of an international agreement
• Great policy interest in “low carbon innovation”
China’s Environmental Woes
• Economic growth ≈10% since 1990
• >200 million out of poverty
BUT
• Massive pollution problems
• No. 1 absolute emitter of GHGs (small per capita)
• Huge rate of growth of energy consumption
• Vulnerability to climate change
• China cannot choose and must not be forced to choose
between development and environment
“Low Carbon Innovation”?
• Great interest in low carbon innovation from policy
BUT what is it?
• Not just technology but also social innovation
• “Disruptive Innovation” – fundamental challenges to
socio-economic systems (e.g. Barnsley biomass)
• “Democratic Innovation” – dispersed, open, user
• What is envisaged and supported by policy?
Politics of Low Carbon Innovation
China
• “Scientific development” “harmonious society”
• Environmental Legislation
• SEPA still weak, Energy still sub-ministerial
International
• Transition in international political economy
• “Global” emergence
Innovation in China: The Next Science
Powerhouse?
• Innovation capacity improving rapidly
• “Innovation-oriented country” by 2020, zizhu
chuangxin
• Environmental innovation, e.g.:
– Renewables: Suntech, Rizhao, wind
– Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics on fuel cells
– Dongtan
• Problems: rote-learning, “talent”, IPRs,
connections to business, to other researchers & to
civil society
Leapfrogging?
• Ambiguous outcome of policy and innovation
• Problems as stimulation?
• Growth vs. Environment, esp. at local level?
• Growth along familiar trajectories?
e.g. Will the “car” run over the frog?
• Commitment to coal: lead the way with CCS or
exacerbate global coal usage?
International Collaboration
• China’s problems are problems for us all
• EU/UK also lack “low carbon capacity”
• Innovation is globalising
•
•
•
•
Room for mutual benefit
China: tech transfer, improving capacity
EU/UK: large & new markets to develop LC innovations
Particular compatibilities between EU and China
(Chatham House)
Constraints & Tough Decisions
• International
– Global governance transition & economic slowdown
– Beyond the low-hanging fruit: e.g. IPRs & tech transfer
• China
– Plagiarism & confidentiality
– Culture of open debate and criticism
• EU/UK
– Match rhetoric with funds, for long-term partnerships
• Questions of Direction not just Scale
– Need to develop global capacity for democratic oversight of
socio-technical trajectories.
Cosmopolitan Innovation (四海为家创新)
• Cosmopolitanism as “global” social force
• Global ethic of concern taking diverse local forms
• Grassroots international partnerships are part of the context
of the multi-layered politics of climate change treaty
• Regime of international collaboration towards “global public
goods”, e.g. a climate change Marshall Plan or a global
research council
• What factors help and constrain collaborations in low
carbon innovation between the EU & China?
– Energy, Agriculture & Urban Mobility
谢谢
We gratefully note the funding of the ESRC and AIM
Project Team:
Dr David Tyfield [email protected]
Dr James Wilsdon [email protected]
Prof John Urry [email protected]
Prof Brian Wynne [email protected]
& the Demos “Atlas of Ideas” Team www.atlasofideas.org