Topic > Environmental Issues in Ecological Modernization

In today's society, much of the resistance to finding green solutions comes from those who would be required to dramatically change their policies and business models. “In general, an environmental problem is less politically difficult to solve if there is a marketable solution,” says Janicke. “By contrast,” he says, “if the solution to an environmental problem requires intervention into established patterns of production, consumption, or transportation, it is likely to meet resistance.” Furthermore, Ecological Modernization states that green innovations must meet the following three qualifications to be successful: First, the solution they propose must address a problem of global concern. Secondly, it is necessary to promote global industrial growth, which will increase the demand for further environmental innovations. Third, the solution requires political and/or social support, and preferably both. When a solution meets these three criteria, it can be successfully commercialized. Land art constructed an experience; the land art works had to be walked through to be truly appreciated. For example, Robert Smithson's Broken Circle Spiral Hill piece [see Figure 2.4] was constructed to follow a certain path connecting the hill to the circle. From the top of the hill one could take the path in which to observe the Circle and vice versa, exploring the picturesque quality of the spectator's time. The piece appears completely different depending on the season in which it is viewed. Finally, when observing the erosion of Spiral Hill, one is aware of entropic geological time. As Smithson said, “The gardens of history are being replaced by the places of time.” FIGURE 2.4. STILL FROM BREAKING GROUND: BROKEN CIRCLE/SPIRAL HILL(I......middle of paper......would alter industrial society beyond recognition." In other words, without the support of cultural movements, the effective production of Mass ecological innovation has stopped. Amidst the decline of cultural influences, “ecological modernization” has emerged. Ecological modernization is a way of thinking that sees technology and innovation integrated into environmental policies, similar to “eco-efficient innovation” that uses environmentally friendly technologies to improve the productivity of a product. Two of the main forces driving ecological modernization are: “The role of “smart” government regulation [and] growing risks. corporate for polluters in the context of multilevel environmental governance” forces can be simplified to the fact that for change to occur on such a large scale, the supporting government legislator must be involved.