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"This paper deals with core aspects of ecological modernization, and how these have
been received in the debate on sustainable development during the Rio process particularly
by two social milieus, one being industry and business, the other milieu representing
the red-green current of the ecology movement, which at the Rio conference in
1992 was part of the group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The NGOs' understanding of sustainable development has been formulated by themselves
as an anti-industrial and anti-modernist strategy of "sufficiency", meaning selflimitation
of material needs combined with "industrial disarmament", withdrawal from
free world market economy and an egalitarian distribution of the remaining scarce resources.
Contrary to that, the industry's understanding of sustainable development is the
'efficiency-revolution". Industry and business are looking for a strategy that would
allow for further economic growth and ecological adaptation of industrial production at
the same time. The means for achieving this goal is seen in the introduction of
environmental management systems aimed at improving the environmental
performance, i.e. improving the efficient use of material and energy, thus increasing
resource productivity in addition to labour and capital productivity.
There are good reasons for both sufficiency and efficiency. Nevertheless I will argue
that both strategies do have important shortcomings, so that even if combined they will
not yet represent a sustainable answer to the ecological challenge. In order to open up a
truely sustainable development path an additional third kind of transformational strategy
needs to be pursued. In the present name-giving context one can call it the strategy of
"consistency". A term with a similar meaning in the current discussion is "industrial
ecology" (Socolow et al. 1994, Ayres&Ayres 1996). Industrial ecology aims at an industrial
metabolism that is consistent with nature's metabolism. The transformation of traditional
industrial structures, which are environmentally often unadapted, to an ecologically
modernized consistent industrial metabolism implies major or basic technological
innovations, not just incremental efficiency-increasing change and minor modifications
of existing product-chains.The content of this contribution can be seen as a piece of policy design. It is of conceptual
nature, i.e. it is not mere theoretical analysis, nor is it a report on empirical
research work. It should be stressed, however, that things discussed here were not
worked out by voluntaristic "scenario-writing", but closely correspond to empirical,
practical and historical knowledge." (Textauszug)

The article gives an analysis of the possibilities and limits of the concept of ecological modernization. The concept was used already in the early 1980s to describe the common field of ecology and economy. The focus was on technological progress reducing the environmental impact of production and consumption. Hajer and other authors had a broader definition of the concept. But it could make sense to differentiate technical / non-technical solutions (the latter being less compatible with the economic system). The limits to eco-modernization strategies and the need for "structural" solutions could possibly better be demonstrated by the earlier concept. A policy for ecological modernization may be defined as the sum of government actions aimed to stimulate environmental innovations and their diffusion. Higher eco- efficiency - instead of end-of-pipe measures - is its main objective. But innovation is a highly difficult task, especially for governments. No simple "instrumentalistic" solution is available. Therefore, a more complex policy pattern will be necessary. A more global policy approach would be the stimulation of "green" lead markets. As a rule a complex interplay between political and technical innovation and diffusion can be observed.

A review essay on books by (1) David A. McDonald (Ed), Environmental Justice in South Africa (Athens: Ohio U Press, 2002); (2) Patrick Bond et al, Unsustainable South Africa: Environment, Development and Social Protest (Pietermaritzburg: U Natal, 2002); (3) Richard P. Tucker, Insatiable Appetite: The United States and the Ecological Degradation of the Tropical World (Berkeley: U California Press, 2000); (4) George M. Woodwell et al, Forests in a Full World (New Haven & London: Yale U Press, 2001); (5) Stephen C. Young (Ed), The Emergence of Ecological Modernization: Integrating the Environment and the Economy? (London & New York: Routledge, 2000); & (6) Arthur P. J. Mol, Globalization and Environmental Reform: The Ecological Modernization of the Global Economy (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001).

In the 1990s, Japan gradually began to turn green and started to experiment with more participatory forms of environmental governance. Ecological Modernisation and Japan explores this transformation and looks at Japan as a case for ecological modernisation while contextualising the discussion within its unique history and recent discussions about globalisation and sustainability. It makes a significant contribution to the ecological modernisation debate by unpacking the Japanese environmental experience.

The Third Way is increasingly proffered as the center-Left's new political outlook. The claim is that Third Way distinctiveness lies in its capacity to distill the best from two diametrically opposed ideological positions -- the "old" Left & the "new" Right. This article critically examines some of the Third Way's claims of invigorated political renewal, especially in the context of globalization. It does this by exploring the Third Way's approach to environmental renewal-ecological modernization. The article thus poses the following question: what does the trajectory of ecological modernization tell Third Way theorists about the nature & strength of their discourse? The overall argument is that while the Third Way makes a laudable contribution to reinvigorating the (center) Left dialogue, it glosses over some of the distinctive problems & issues raised by the globalization/nation-state nexus. Adapted from the source document.

This paper explores what an ecological modernization perspective has to offer in an era marked by globalization. Globalization processes and dynamics are mostly seen as detrimental to the environment. The point that an ecological modernization perspective puts on the research agenda is that, although global capitalism has not been beaten and continues to show its devastating environmental effects in all corners of the world, we are moving beyond the era of a global treadmill of production that only further degrades the environment. More or less powerful, reflexive, countervailing powers are beginning to move towards environmental reform. And these powers are no longer limited to a small environmental movement that only reacts to the constant undermining of society's sustenance base. In analyzing these countervailing forces, the paper also explores the consequences of globalization processes for ecological modernization ideas and perspectives.

This paper explores what an ecological modernization perspective has to offer in an era marked by globalization. Globalization processes & dynamics are mostly seen as detrimental to the environment. The point that an ecological modernization perspective puts on the research agenda is that, although global capitalism has not been beaten & continues to show its devastating environmental effects in all corners of the world, we are moving beyond the era of a global treadmill of production that only further degrades the environment. More or less powerful, reflexive, countervailing powers are beginning to move toward environmental reform. And these powers are no longer limited to a small environmental movement that only reacts to the constant undermining of society's sustenance base. In analyzing these countervailing forces, the paper also explores the consequences of globalization processes for ecological modernization ideas & perspectives. 1 Table, 66 References. Adapted from the source document.

The concept of "Chinese-style modernization" formulated in the end of the 1970s has been at the center of attention of the Chinese leadership and researchers since the beginning of this decade. The notion of primacy of national characteristics was transformed from a former reference to China's weakness and backwardness to current focus on development success. Explanations of plans for China's "basic socialist modernization" by 2035 formed the channel of influence of official policy on the academic discussions. The article analyzes contemporary Chinese comparisons of Chinese and Western paths of modernization along with theoretical reflections on the patterns of "Chinese-style modernization". The determination to make China's experience a reference point for policy decisions in developing countries is connected with studies in modernization theory. The question of the correlation between the general patterns of modernization and the specifics of the Chinese path of development has come to the fore. The emphasis on the differences between Chinese-style modernization and Western and Soviet models substantiates the theoretical possibility of a new development perspective for other countries, and encourages them to develop independent modernization strategies based on their own national specifics. Chinese researchers consider attempts by backward countries to copy the advanced institutions of developed nations as useless and even dangerous. China's modernization is not complete, in the field of economic development there are mounting difficulties related to lagging behind in science and technology, deteriorating external environment, slowing growth, ageing population. While examining Chinese studies of Chinese-style modernization, it is appropriate to focus on the development of academic concepts, quantitative evaluation system and discursive system. Explorations in theory will be determined by practical achievements, first of all, by China's ability to maintain sustainable balanced growth of the economy. The preliminary outcome can be assessed in the middle of the next decade, when China plans to build the foundations of modernization. The final judgement on the effectiveness of Chinese-style modernization will be made only after the results of China's plans to become a world leader are known in the middle of this century.

Virtually all of the existing literature on modernization is concerned with the virtues of modernity. It focuses on the gains to be derived from modernization—industrialization, material progress, social welfare, political rationality, etc. But experience suggests that gains are usually achieved at some cost: the drive toward modernity seems invariably to produce new social and personal problems. In the USSR—perhaps the world's most developed underdeveloped country—the modernization process has been accompanied by massive social costs.