ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION NOTES OF SOCIOLOGY

Ecological Modernization (EM) is a theory that suggests environmental protection and economic growth can go hand-in-hand through innovation, technological advancements, and changes in social practices. The idea is that it is possible to address environmental problems while maintaining or even enhancing economic development. The theory proposes that modernizing the way industries operate and integrating environmental concerns into economic and political structures can lead to more sustainable practices.

1. ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION UNIT 4

2. INTRODUCTION Ecological modernisation , also known as eco-restructuring, emerged in the West in the mid-1950 due to increased ecological crisis. Ecological modernisation was a response to radical environmental movement that has developed in Europe. It is also seen as an improved version of sustainable development. Proponents of ecological modernization theory believed that environmental reform could take place only through further industrialisation . They believed that ecological modernization would lead to efficient use of natural resources and less emission of pollution. It was Joseph Huber and Arthur Mol who propounded ecological modernisation as a theory. Later on, Arthur Mol and GertSpaargaren made a revision of the ecological modernisation theory. Ecological modernisationas a theory takes the ‗middle path‘ between the neo Marxist and neo-liberals.

3. WHAT IS ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION? Ecological modernization, according to Arthur Mol, can be defined as the growing independence or autonomy of ecological perspective and the emergence of ecological rationality as the basis of production and consumption. In other words, it means the growing institutionalization of ecological rationality in the domain of economy. This institutionalisation gets manifested in social practices and institutional developments. According to F. H. Buttel , ecological modernization assumes that institutions are malleable and industrial capitalism has the technological capabilities to bring about ―eco-efficiencies or ―improved sustainable development. This would take place through ―ecological switchover in the industrialisation process, which would maintain the sustenance base of production and consumption. According to Huber, the ecological switchover would take place through innovative technologies that would benefit the environment. According to Spaargaren and Mol, it also means the shift from traditional ―ends-of-pipe technologies associated with chemical and manufacturing industries, to clean production processes such as microelectronics and gene technology. Spaargaren and Mol calls this transformation in the production process as the ― ecologization of the economy. For York and Rosa, it is the ―greening of business or ―sustainability from within where environmental impact is internalised so that future productions and ecological stability would be maintained.

4. JOSEPH HUBER ON ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION Joseph Huberwas the one who makes it clear that ecological modernisation belongs to industrial society theory as he explains the historical phase of industrial society and the logic of industrialism. The three phases of industrial society, according to Huber, are the ― Industrial breakthrough which corresponds to Invention Construction of industrial society with corresponds to inauguration. Ecological switchover which is associated with chip technology

5. Conintue ………. To understand modern society, Huber differentiates three analytical categories: ―industrial system ( technosphere ), life world ( sociosphere ), and nature (biosphere) The problem with modern society, according to Huber, is that the sociosphere and the biosphere are colonised by the technosphere . According to him, this fault in the ―structural design can be overcome/corrected with ecological modernization. For Huber, unlike other scholars, the point of departure in ecological modernization is industrialism rather than capitalism

6. ARTHUR MOL OF ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION While Joseph Huber see ecological modernisation taking place in the context of industrialism and as part of the historical phases of industrial society, Arthur Mol see ecological modernisation as market induced environmental reform, especially in the developed countries. Mol argues that ecological modernisation is the outcome of the interplay between ―economic market and actors, on the one hand; and the citizen-consumer and political institutions, on the other. In other words, ecological modernisation is the institutionalisation of environmental interest and concern in the economic domain. Here Mol emphasis on economic domain for market driven environmental reform seems to be in sharp contrast to Huber‘s idea of industrialism, which seeks environmental solutions in technological innovation.

7. Mol also talks about globalization , which is the idea of economies and markets becoming more connected worldwide. He explains that globalization can weaken the power of the state (governments), which are needed to regulate and fight environmental destruction. According to Mol, unchecked global capitalism (a global economic system focused on profit and growth) will lead to the destruction of natural resources, which are the foundation for all production and consumption. This idea is called the "second contradiction of capitalism," meaning that capitalism, by over-exploiting natural resources, will eventually undermine itself.

8. FOUR VIEWS IDENTIFIED BY BUTTEL 1. Objectivism: This view sees ecological modernization as something that happens objectively in society, meaning it's just part of the natural process of development. This view is supported by scholars like Arthur Mol and Gert Spaargaren (from North America and Britain), as well as Joseph Huber and Martin Janicke (from Germany and the Netherlands). They believe that ecological modernization happens through technological advances and changes in industrial practices that help protect the environment while still allowing for economic growth. 2. Constructivism: This view sees ecological modernization as the main idea or approach in environmental policy in developed countries. Scholars argues that while ecological modernization focuses on solving environmental problems, it may downplay or hide the real causes of environmental damage, like capitalism, technology, and consumer culture.

9. 3. Environmental Management: This view focuses on practical solutions in the private sector, such as businesses adopting industrial ecology (thinking about environmental impacts in industrial processes) or eco-restructuring (changing business practices to be more environmentally friendly). A common example is waste recycling, which helps reduce pollution and waste while improving efficiency in production. 4. Environmental Policy Innovation: This view sees environmental policy—laws, regulations, and government actions that protect the environment—as an important part of ecological modernization. Scholars like Murphy argue that when countries create and adopt new environmental policies, they are contributing to the process of ecological modernization.

10. ENVIRONMENTAL REFORM Arthur Mol in his article Ecological Modernization and the Global Economy‘ attempts to understand environmental reform in the context of globalisation . Arthur Mol seems to suggest that ecological modernisation is the answer to environmental degradation. Arthur Mol suggested that one of the ways of taming global capitalism was through political modernisation . This he believes was taking shape through Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) on issues like protection of ozone layer, oceans, etc. In fact, such MEAs were leading to a common denominator in terms of law and policy principle, which ultimately will lead to universal environmental law and policy . Mol also argues that regional institution like European Union (EU) has environmental protection as important component in its economic integration. This would serve a long way in coming up with global governance on environment. Further, Mol pointed out that supra-national institutions like the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Court of Justice could effectively counter environmental degradation where member state or transnational companies (TNCs) are directly a party to it.

11. MARKET INDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL REFORM According to Mol, market induced environmental reform can be carried out across the globe through the logic and rationality of the market Market induced environmental reform, according to Mol, is the result of ―political decision, civil pressures and citizen-consumer demand. Mol argues that global environmentalism is gaining momentum as the ethics and principles of environmental behaviour are increasingly applied worldwide. Moreover, the monitoring of TNCs and global institutions for environmental violation has moved beyond the developed countries and, with increase communication, any environmental damage and information is quickly transmitted across the globe. It also means that sanctions against erring corporation/ institutions have transcended local boundaries and global economic players have moved beyond mere formal compliance. According to Mol, there is an emergence of global ‘sub-politics‘ within the global environmental movement. He attributes this to nation states losing control over national and global developments. Scientists no longer enjoy monopoly over scientific ‗proof.‘ In fact, scientific proof has become the object of social interest and conflict. Often, public intellectuals and scientists questioned the dominant discourse on environmental issues. And with increased transparency worldwide, global economic actors can no longer ignore civil society protests and their sensibilities. As a result, there is an increased felt need for consultations with various stakeholders, which has led to the emergence of global environmental politics and global environmental governance

12. CRITICISM 1.Lack of Depth: Buttel argues that ecological modernization theory is not a fully developed social theory. He believes that it is shaped by broader political and economic factors rather than offering a comprehensive or deep understanding of society. 2.Indistinct Social Theory: Buttel criticizes the theory for being unclear and not fully explaining how environmental issues interact with political processes and practices. 3.Buttel also points out that ecological modernization has a Eurocentric bias. The theory mainly comes from Northern European countries, which means it may not fully apply to other parts of the world or account for global differences in environmental problems and solutions. 4. Ecological modernization places too much emphasis on efficiency and pollution control, but it ignores excessive resource consumption and the bigger environmental impact this has. This is seen as a key weakness because it overlooks how industrial growth leads to the depletion of resources and environmental damage.

13. 5. Hannigan criticizes the theory for its overly optimistic view of technology . Ecological modernization suggests that environmental problems can be solved by more advanced, or "super-industrialized," technology. However, Hannigan points out that not all technologies are environmentally friendly. For example: Silicon chips , essential for modern technology, are not environmentally neutral and can contribute to environmental harm. Nuclear energy , once seen as a "clean" energy source, also has risks and undesirable environmental impacts. 6. Treadmill theorists , like Schnaiberg , argue that ecological modernization has a narrow focus . They believe that the theory looks at a small group of "cutting-edge" technologies or industries that are already performing well, assuming that these improvements will spread. However, this is seen as selective sampling , which does not give a complete picture of the overall industrial landscape. 7 . Treadmill theorists are skeptical of the idea that greener production practices will naturally lead to sustainability. They argue that industries only improve their environmental practices due to pressure from the state or green activists . These improvements are often superficial or manipulated, and creative accounting or misreporting may be used to claim progress that isn't truly happening.