Published: 07 December 2006
Outcomes from the ESRC’s Sustainable Technologies Programme
The Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) has announced the outcomes of its Sustainable Technologies Programme, which investigates the development and adoption of sustainable technologies.
The program hops to offer insight into how our consumption habits, production systems and energy use can be made more environmentally sustainable, at a time when climate change and environmental issues regularly at the top of both news and political agendas.
The programme has also focused on the policy changes needed in order to encourage more sustainable behaviour.
Professor Fred Steward, Director of the Sustainable Technologies Programme, said:
“Our research shows that radical innovation is needed for environmental sustainability, embracing a blend of technological and social change.
We urgently need policy innovations to fill the gap between public investment in technological research and efforts to influence social behaviour through, for example, green taxes.”
Themes covered by the research programme and featured in the report, Catalysing Innovation for Sustainability, to be launched at the conference include:
· How can sustainable technologies, for example microgeneration, be made mainstream?
· What influences consumer decisions – do people choose sustainable lifestyles?
· How can sustainable consumption be made normal?
· What is needed to make current food production and consumption systems more sustainable?
· How can waste be dealt with more sustainably?
Professor Steward added:
“Bridges need to be built between producers and consumers through wider public engagement in order to nurture more sustainable behaviours and production systems.
A successful and timely shift to a low carbon, low waste society needs radical innovation to allow society to adapt to a more sustainable pathway.”
Further information:
UK Sustainable Technologies Programme
ESRC Society
Defra: Sustainable Development
Defra: Sustainable Consumption and Production
Related Articles:
Home grown electricity
Local Action on Climate
Powering through the red tape with micro-generation
Sustainable Action Plan
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