Title: Ecological modernisation, environmental innovation and competitiveness: the case of public transport in Hong Kong

Authors: Jacqueline Lam, Peter Hills, Richard Welford

Addresses: Corporate Environmental Governance Programme, The Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. ' Corporate Environmental Governance Programme, The Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. ' Corporate Environmental Governance Programme, The Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China

Abstract: This paper focuses on the role of environmental innovation in the context of the development of ecological modernisation theory and as a driver for firms to gain competitive advantage in the market. While ecological modernisation theory offers a variety of theoretical and prescriptive viewpoints on the mechanisms through which modern societies respond to the environmental risks of industrialism, only limited attention has been given to issues of technological innovation and their implications for company competitiveness. Using the public transport sector in Hong Kong as a case study, this paper explores how transport operators have deployed environmental innovation as a means of enhancing their competitive position in the market thereby helping also to address significant local environmental concerns.

Keywords: environmental innovation; ecological modernisation; competitiveness; public transport; Hong Kong.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2005.008083

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2005 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.103 - 126

Published online: 11 Nov 2005 *

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