Pathways to Sustainability: Evolution or Revolution?

The purposes of this chapter is to delve more deeply into the processes and determinants of technological, organisational, and social innovation and to discuss their implications for selecting instruments and policies to stimulate the kinds of innovation necessary for the transformation of industrial societies into sustainable ones. Sustainable development must be seen as a broad concept, incorporating concerns for the economy, the environment, and employment. All three are driven/affected by both technological innovation [Schumpeter, 1939] and globalised trade [Ekins et al., 1994; Diwan et al., 1997]. They are also in a fragile balance, are inter-related, and need to be addressed together in a coherent and mutually reinforcing way [Ashford, 2001]. Here we will argue for the attainment of ‘triple sustainability’ – improvements in competitiveness (or productiveness) and long-term dynamic efficiency, social cohesion (work/employment), and environment (including resource productivity, environmental pollution, and climate disruption). The figure below depicts the salient features and determinates of sustainability. They are, in turn, influenced by both public and private-sector initiatives and policies.