Publication Detail

Technology Policy and Global Warming: Why New Innovation Models Are Needed

UCD-ITS-RP-10-67

Journal Article

Energy Efficiency Center

Suggested Citation:
Hargadon, Andrew (2010) Technology Policy and Global Warming: Why New Innovation Models Are Needed. Research Policy 39 (8), 1024 - 1026

The selection of policy analogues (old bottles) into which we fit our (still hotly contested) climate change policy objectives (new wine) asks a particularly and immediately appropriate set of questions. Climate change and energy security issues are pushing government spending on new energy technologies towards $70 billion. Which historical referents we use to frame decisions over how much to invest, in which energy technologies, and towards what end (research, development, demonstration, or deployment) become critical. Investments at this level not only threaten wasteful spending, they also might deter private sector investments and, by picking technological “winners” prematurely, raise the risks of significant opportunity costs. “Technology Policy and Global Warming” asks, specifically, whether the new policies required to combat climate change should be driven by such R&D models as the Manhattan Project or Apollo Program and offers alternatives.