Abstract
This study is based on the concept of Kondratiev’s technological waves as an analytical instrument for examining the processes of technological evolution. It aims at setting feasible indicators for this evolutionary development in order to provide a regulatory instrument for policy makers. In order to do so, the authors analyze approaches used for resource efficiency improvement in several European countries (i.e., implementation of Best Available Techniques, BAT). They emphasize that in Russia, the BAT concept is seen primarily as an industrial policy instrument. While BAT-based legislation is enforced by the environmental authorities, technological innovations making it possible to achieve performance better than that required by BAT are supported by the industrial development authorities. In the conclusions, the authors state that BAT-based solutions could be used as drivers for developing and implementing new technological solutions (innovations) and should become the basis for working out state industrial and environmental policies. The results of policies currently being developed will be assessed by the end of 2024.
Highlights
In modern society, we have become more and more dependent on technologies and their progress.In the 21st century, life cycles of technologies have tended to shorten, and many innovations of the1990s will be forgotten very soon
Starting from early 2000s, the United Nations have set different international development goals aimed at improving resource efficiency, ensuring proper waste management and overall fostering of innovation and modernization in industry and infrastructure
In the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden, government agencies stimulate the dissemination of innovative solutions and the development of fundamentally new industries or processes—those that achieve environmental performance levels that are significantly better that those required by Best Available Techniques (BAT), go beyond BAT
Summary
We have become more and more dependent on technologies and their progress. 1990s will be forgotten very soon (if they have not been forgotten already) This is why the concept of so-called ‘technological waves’ has attracted the attention of scientists but decision-makers at various levels—sectoral, national, and international. Well-known (traditional) resource- and energy-intensive technologies of the fourth ‘technological wave’ remain important and need to be gradually modernized to improve their efficiency, to turn to using alternative energy and to reduce negative environmental impact. Starting from early 2000s, the United Nations have set different international development goals aimed at improving resource efficiency, ensuring proper waste management and overall fostering of innovation and modernization in industry and infrastructure. 2020, 6, 22 nowadays governments pay stronger attention to the transition of technologies to more advanced and at the same time sustainable and responsible modes of production than they did in the 1980s, before the ‘Renaissance’ of industrial strategy in the European Union, United States and Canada. This article aims at the analysis of governance techniques that can be used to stimulate environmental and technological modernization and to provide for favorable conditions for the development and implementation of cleaner and greener technologies
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