Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Sandberg, Mikael
Author-Workplace-Name: United Nations University, Institute for New Technologies
Title: EST (Environmentally Sound Technologies) from the West: Asymmetry, Regimes and Polish Policy Implementation
Abstract: This paper argues that the notion of interdependence between technologies and
	 institutions which Dalum, Johnson, Lundvall (in Lundvall ed,. 1992) incorporate in
	 the national system of innovation (NSI) approach is valid not only on the national
	 level, but also on all levels of social organizations; i.e. at national as well as
	 sub- and supranational level. This proposition implies that global technological
	 change interacts with what corresponds to 'institutions', 'routines', or
	 'accommodations' at supra- or international level, but which, relying on Keohane
	 and Nye's classic Power and Interdependence (1977), we may instead call
	 'international regimes'.  Aid projects will reflect how the NSI, given
	 international regimes and available aid, select key factors, systems or singular
	 technologies for implementation of specific NSI (in this case
	 environmentally-related) goals. Timing, in choice of a key factor, system or
	 singular technology, may be conclusive for success in terms of NSI
	 'competitiveness' (relative technological capacity in the specific area, such as
	 EST) in inter-NSI relations. Evidence from aid projects so far indicates that aid
	 projects correspond to most Polish environmental priorities in the near-term
	 perspective (up to 1994-1995), as they were defined in 1991. 17 projects deal with
	 'hot-spots'. There is a proportionately large aid effort implementing energy, air,
	 water and waste priorities, while transportation and soil remediation policies
	 gained less aid. International financiers have been the major actors in
	 energy-related aid. A variety of international and national actors have helped in
	 decreasing air pollution, except for that related to energy efficiency. There are
	 also areas, however, which are not primarily motivated by Polish policies or aid
	 implementation, but rather by the international regime as defined by treaties and
	 conventions ratified by Poland. A third category is 'modern' in the form of
	 monitoring technology, i.e. creation, communication and analysis of data on the
	 status of the environment. Finally, a large number of aid projects involve
	 administrative support, i.e. something that can bear upon particular adaptations
	 Poland has chosen to make, such as to the EU through the "European Agreement". Such
	 projects provide opportunities for 'institutional learning'.
Keywords: Environmental Policy, Technology Policy, National Policy, Poland
Series: Discussion Paper
Creation-Date: 1996
Number: 04
File-URL: http://www.intech.unu.edu/publications/discussion-papers/9604.pdf
File-Format:application/pdf
File-Size:  79.7 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unuint:199604