RTÉ Brainstorm – Why policy changes are key to encouraging climate innovation
Whitaker Institute member Dr Rónán Kennedy, cluster leader of Technology and Governance, has a new piece in RTÉ Brainstorm. The piece discusses the need for policy changes to encourage green technology.
Why policy changes are key to encouraging climate innovation
Opinion: how should we rethink laws and policies to make the development of green technology easier, quicker and more attractive?According to the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Annual Review 2017, one key aspect of developing robust responses to climate change is the need to encourage innovation in technologies and techniques. This is expanded upon by the more recent Climate Action Plan (in section 15.3) and should resonate with Irish policy-makers and businesses, particularly in improving energy efficiency and developing new markets.
However, the first call under the Climate Action Fund has focused on supporting infrastructural projects, rather than encouraging truly innovative research and development which could lead to the creation of new enterprises and market opportunities. How should we re-think intellectual property law and innovation policy in order to make the development of green technology easier, quicker and more attractive? Continue reading…