Structural change in basic industries is usually interpreted as an autonomous economic process. Some authors claim that there is a tendency to use the "end of the era of materials", thus resulting in a decline of the basic industries. Such a process would obviously benefit the environment....

The paper shows the results of a study, which the Environmental Policy Research Centre conducted in the context of the international research project: "Resource productivity, environmental tax reform and sustainable growth in Europe" (PETRE).1 PETRE is part of the Anglo-German Foundation...

The article discusses the role of the nation state in stimulating lead markets for green innovations. It is often feared that the nation state loses its capacity for action because of economic and political globalization. This article rejects this hypothesis. It argues that empirical research on...

Why does one country take the lead over others in the development and introduction of environmental innovations? This book analyzes lead markets for innovations such as fuel cells and photovoltaics, and offers insight into why this is. The authors use case studies to illustrate the policy...

Efficient climate protection depends on political conditions which will be discussed in this paper. Ambitious climate policy may be restricted neither by technology nor by costs, but by obstacles to political implementation. Even an efficiency-oriented strategy ("ecological modernisation") will...

This article concerns itself with the environmental role of heavily polluting industries since 1970, analysing its development in 11 basic industries, as well as electricity production and road transport, in 32 industrial countries. It argues for a green industrial policy, demonstrating that...