Rethinking The Role Of Innovation In The Green Technologies Context

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Environment, Janez Potocnik, during a recent visit to Geneva, elaborated on the global challenges the world faces and on the strategic choices they impose, with a regional focus on Europe. He said the rise in human population that we will observe in the upcoming years raises questions regarding the management of natural resources. In that respect, Potocnik explained the need to rethink our current economic system and the way innovation is carried out.

Potocnik expressed his view at a conference organised on 17 April by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID Geneva) alongside the “Green Week” organised by IHEID.

Potocnik highlighted that the planet’s population is expected to rise to more than 9 billion by the middle of this century, and that this will put immense strain on many resources. He further explained that the demand for food, feed and fibre is projected to increase by 70 percent, and that without important efficiency gains, by 2030 we will need 40 percent more water than we can access.

For him, disappearing biodiversity combined with an increased scarcity of resources such as water, land or oceans bring into question the current European economic model.

He proposed to leave the EU’s current linear model in order to adopt a circular economic model where recycling and innovation around recycling would be central. For him, in this circular model, each of the economic instruments needs to be looked at including intellectual property rights.

“We need to go beyond the traditional “three C’s” – command, control and compliance – and the polluter pays principle, by developing the “three I’s” – innovation, incentives and integration,” he said.

He stressed the need to rethink the current approach to innovation with respect to green technologies to invest in technologies that will reduce the impact on resources.

“Whilst we can achieve a lot by directing our technological and innovative capacities to getting more out of our limited resources, it will not be enough.” he said. “We have to turn that human creativity and innovation that so successfully exploited those resources to provide us with health and prosperity, to rolling out those benefits to billions more people, in ways that exploit resources less” he added.

He pointed out the role of European and national authorities in this domain. He explained that public authorities need to give incentives to guide Europe in the right direction, such as through increasing the share for research and development. Potocnik said that some countries support fossil energies through subsidies and explained that for him the focus of subsidies should be on renewable energies.

He also highlighted the importance that a greener European economic model would have for Europe’s future competitiveness. Potocnik underscored that fostering innovation in green technologies might be a way out of the current economic crisis in Europe.

“With the global market for clean technologies forecast to double by 2020, we can build on our current strengths,” he told the audience. “The EU is amongst the world’s leaders in sectors such as energy efficiency and water and waste management. Today, we provide one-third of the global market for clean technologies and, if we can keep that share in a rapidly-growing sector, it will inevitably mean new jobs, new markets and new benefits from launching innovative technologies or business models.”

Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier recently graduated with a Master in International Law from the Graduate Institute in Geneva and UCLA School of Law. Through her work experience and academic interests she has specialised in international trade, intellectual property, and public health.