Low Carbon Innovation in ChinaProspects, Politics & Partnerships

Dr David TyfieldIAS, Lancaster University & Demos

New Perspectives on Chinese Innovation

21st February 2008

• 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”

Climate Change as Social Problem

• Economic growth ≈10% since 1990 • >200 million out of povertyBUT• 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

China’s Environmental Woes

• Great interest in low carbon innovation from policyBUT 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?

“Low Carbon Innovation”?

China• “Scientific development” “harmonious society”• Environmental Legislation• SEPA still weak, Energy still sub-ministerialInternational• Transition in international political economy• “Global” emergence

Politics of Low Carbon Innovation

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.

• 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

Cosmopolitan Innovation (四海为家创新 )

We gratefully note the funding of the ESRC and AIM

Project Team:Dr David Tyfield d.tyfield@lancaster.ac.ukDr James Wilsdon james.wilsdon@demos.co.ukProf John Urry j.urry@lancaster.ac.ukProf Brian Wynne b.wynne@lancaster.ac.uk& the Demos “Atlas of Ideas” Team www.atlasofideas.org

谢谢