Climate change: new frontier for innovation?

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Paris, December 14 2015, 14h-17h

Round table coordinated by Jean-Marc Touzard (INRA, RRI) and Sophie Boutillier (ULCO, RRI)

The COP21 negotiations are an opportunity to reveal many initiatives highlighting the commitment of companies, researchers, associations, consumers or public policies to develop innovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt economic to climate change.

The innovation sometimes described as “environmental”, “green” or “climate” is at the heart of our ability to cope with climate change, to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and/or fight against global warming. It involves many economic sectors such as energy, transportation, construction, chemicals or agriculture. But what are the characteristics, conditions and expected effects of these innovations? How are they presented in innovation policies at national, European, local levels? Is climate change simply one more argument for innovations aiming at ecological transition of our industrial economies, or even sometimes at green washing? The climate challenge would it not be the origin of more radical and original forms of innovation supported by new scientific communities, technical, entrepreneurial and citizenship?

These questions are however not new. From the first industrial revolution, and even the 18th century, the economy of the nature has already been the subject of controversy and scientific debate, questioning the technical progress. The hypothesis of a new frontier for innovation is in any case the object of debates, some seeing a possible source of economic growth, other the basis of a new economy of moderation, even of a “decrease”. Technological options and forms of knowledge are vary, as well as protection mechanisms, controls or support for these innovations of which future is uncertain.

In the immediate aftermath of COP21, the Research Network on Innovation (RNI) invite economists and policy makers specialized in the field and provides an update on “climate innovations” and on new prospects offered by the outcome of the negotiations. Hosted by the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie de la Villette, this scientific event will combine short presentations and discussions between the speakers and the participants. It is open to all scientists, students and business executives or services to support innovation.

With:
Antoine Dechezleprètre, Senior researcher, London school of economics
Roman Debref, Maitre de Conférences, Université Reims Champagne Ardennes
Benoît Leguet, Directeur de l’Institute for Climate Economics
Patrick Matagne, Maitre de conférences, Université de Poitiers
Thanh-Tâm Le, Directeur de Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) France
Jean-Marc Touzard, Directeur de recherche INRA, UMR Innovation

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