Angelakis, An onios; Manioudis, Manolis; Koskina, An hi
A icle
Τhe poli ical economy o g een ansi ion: The need o a
wo-p onged app oach o add ess clima e change and he
necessi y o 'science ci izens'
Economies
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economy o g een ansi ion: The need o a wo-p onged app oach o add ess clima e change and
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Ci a ion: Angelakis, A., Manioudis,
M., & Koskina, A. (2025). The Poli ical
Economy o G een T ansi ion: The
Need o a Two-P onged App oach o
Add ess Clima e Change and he
Necessi y o “Science Ci izens”.
Economies,13(2), 23. h ps://doi.o g/
10.3390/economies13020023
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A icle
The Poli ical Economy o G een T ansi ion: The Need o a
Two-P onged App oach o Add ess Clima e Change and he
Necessi y o “Science Ci izens”
An onios Angelakis 1, Manolis Manioudis 2,* and An hi Koskina 3
1Depa men o Poli ical Science, School o Social Sciences, Gallos Campus, Uni e si y o C e e,
74150 Re hymno, G eece; [email p o ec ed]
2Depa men o Economics, Uni e si y o Pa as, Labo a o y o Economics o S a egy, Inno a ion and
Sus ainabili y—LENS, Uni e si y Campus, 26504 Pa as, G eece
3Na ional Obse a o y o A hens, 11810 A hens, G eece; [email p o ec ed]
*Co espondence: [email p o ec ed]
Abs ac : Gi en he need o s eng hen esponses o he g owing challenges posed by
clima e change, he pu pose o his pape is o explo e inno a i e app oaches and in e -
disciplina y pe spec i es o ackling hese issues, ocusing on he ole o he ins i u ional
amewo k, eme ging echnologies, and he necessi y o also encou age he in ol emen
o small-scale ac o s (such as ci izens). The main app oaches o his pape in ol e, i s ,
he echnological de elopmen s spu ed by he necessi y o e ec i ely add ess clima e
change p oblems, emphasizing mac o-le el dimensions in e ms o he poli ical economy
o g een ansi ion and he echnological componen s o clima e solu ions. Pa allel o
ha , i p o ides esul s and p esen s key elemen s o he legal con ex ha p omo ed he
sus ainable ansi ion, such as he es ablishmen o a science-based policymaking p ocess,
he de elopmen o scien i ic da a and ools, and e o s o encou age he pa icipa ion o all
ele an ac o s in sus ainable economic de elopmen . Agains his backg ound, his pape
pu s o wa d he idea ha a combined app oach is equi ed o add ess clima e change
issues, in eg a ing op-down, e.g., mac o-policy app oaches wi h bo om-up s a egies
(wi h he la e allowing o a mo e dynamic pa icipa ion o ci izens and indi iduals), in
o de o complemen cu en ins i u ional, legal, policy, and echnological measu es. The
esul o he analysis is ha his pape p o ides e idence o he in oduc ion o guidelines
s eng hening mac o-economic app oaches in addi ion o he concep o a “science ci izen”
as a majo componen o new p oblem- ocused solu ions. The p incipal esul s and indings
o e in e p e a ions and insigh s while encou aging u he discussion on ansi ioning
o a sus ainable science socie y. In his con ex , he analysis esul s elucida e ha he e is
e idence o an inc eased policy emphasis on echnology de elopmen (economy-based
app oaches) a he han on echnology di usion and assessmen , and/o he in eg a ion o
key small-scale ac o s, such as ci izens. Thus, his pape p o ides e idence o he need
o inco po a e “science ci izens” as a key pa ame e in o he echnology and inno a ion
chain (e.g., da a p o ision) and he public policy domain. O e all, his pape ou lines a
holis ic analysis o he in e na ional economic, echnological, ins i u ional, legal, and policy
en i onmen ega ding inno a ion, sus ainabili y, and he clima e c isis.
Keywo ds: clima e change; sus ainabili y; g een ansi ion; science ci izen
Economies 2025,13, 23 h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/economies13020023
Economies 2025,13, 23 2 o 21
1. In oduc ion
The unp eceden ed na u e o he clima e c isis makes i clea ha humani y will ha e
o ace un i aled challenges o an inconcei able magni ude. In his con ex , policymake s
should ind inno a i e ways o s eng hening and maximizing communi ies’ esilience,
aking in o accoun he c ucial economic, echnological, and legal aspec s o he sus ainable
ansi ion as dic a ed by he cu en and dominan in e na ional poli ical economy con-
igu a ions and policy ends. The e o e, ollowing on om ha , a key esea ch ques ion
ha a ises is how easible he implemen a ion o new policy app oaches would be— o
e icien ly complemen he exis ing echnological as well as ins i u ional, legal, and policy
amewo ks—and wha key ea u es i should inco po a e. In o he wo ds, would a solu-
ion be o s eng hen he exis ing amewo ks and e o s by ying o es ablish a ounda ion
ha acili a es he engagemen o all s akeholde s conce ned by clima e change, including
by pu ing he ocus on allowing (and encou aging) he pa icipa ion o he base o he
socie y, i.e., ci izens, as well?
In ying o add ess his challenge, his a icle pu s o wa d he idea ha speci ic
measu es should be adop ed o allow o ci izens’ dynamic pa icipa ion, o complemen he
dominan cu en mac o-app oaches aiming o add ess clima e change. Hence, i ocuses
on discussing and examining he easibili y o such a new policy app oach, as ollows.
Building upon he in oduc ion in Sec ion 1, Sec ion 2p esen s he main me hods o
he pape , which in ol e a holis ic analysis o he in e na ional economic, echnological,
ins i u ional, and policy en i onmen s ega ding inno a ion, sus ainabili y, and he clima e
c isis. Se ing he b oade con ex om he iew o poli ical economy in Sec ion 3, Sec ion 4
o his pape will shed some ligh on he majo ends in he in e na ional echnology
landscape wi h a majo emphasis on echnology g ow h and inno a ion as ela ed o cli-
ma e change e ec s. In Sec ion 5o his pape , he majo exis ing gaps o he legal and
ins i u ional en i onmen ega ding g een ansi ion a e p esen ed, namely, a ple ho a o
echnological and policy ools (such as a e he es ablishmen o a science-based policymak-
ing p ocess, he de elopmen o scien i ic da a and ools, and e o s owa d encou aging
he pa icipa ion o all ac o s conce ned), which a e all cha ac e ized by he absence o
ci izen pa icipa ion. Sec ion 6 u he discusses and explains he concep and mul i old
ole o he “science ci izen” unde legal and echnological poin s o iew. In his espec ,
his pape examines, in Sec ion 7, he “science ci izen” concep as a majo cons i uen o
new p oblem- ocused app oaches and lagship bo om-up in e en ions, in he con ex o
c oss-bounda y ini ia i es o add ess clima e c isis. In he inal sec ion, Sec ion 8, his pape
summa izes he main indings, analyzing he main conclusions and in e p e a ions along
wi h co e o esigh conside a ions, and u he issues ela ed o an open discussion o a
ansi ion o a sus ainable science socie y.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
The me hodology adop ed in his s udy in ol es a holis ic and in e disciplina y anal-
ysis o he in e na ional economic, echnological, ins i u ional, and policy en i onmen ,
wi h he aim o examine he app oach adop ed o u ilizing echnology in o de o ackle
clima e change p oblems. This s udy in eg a es mul iple dimensions o p o ide a comp e-
hensi e unde s anding o he issue and o p o ide an in-dep h mul idisciplina y scien i ic
no el y. In pa icula , his s udy examines, i s , he global poli ical economy dynamics,
wi h an emphasis on examining he li e a u e wi h espec o hype indus ializa ion; his
pa shows ha hype indus ializa ion has esul ed in en i onmen al deg ada ion bu
has also c ea ed ools allowing us o measu e and add ess such nega i e impac s on he
en i onmen . Following on om ha (second), his s udy examines he policies adop ed
on echnological ad ancemen and use, showing ha said policies a e mainly ocused on
Economies 2025,13, 23 3 o 21
key playe s in his ield (e.g., companies ope a ing in he ields o clean ech and g een ech).
Thus, his pape p esen s a e iew o global pa en ing ac i i y o illus a e p io i ies adop ed
ega ding he ole o echnologies in add essing clima e issues. In ha espec , he pa en
analysis in his pape uses alid esul s p o ided om ele an s udies/sou ces, such as he
Eu opean Pa en O ice and Wo ld In ellec ual P ope y O ganisa ion. Finally ( hi d), his
pape p esen s he in e na ional legal obliga ions as well as he ins i u ional a angemen s
p omo ing he de elopmen and applica ion o scien i ic and echnological app oaches
o add ess clima e change, and gaps and oppo uni ies in hese amewo ks, pa icula ly
conce ning non-key playe s, such as h ough bo om-up (i.e., ci izen) engagemen . O e all,
his pape assesses g een policies and s a egies, in conjunc ion o in e na ional legisla ion
adop ed in his ield, as implemen ed in key economies. I ocuses on hei mac o-le el
impac and alignmen wi h sus ainabili y goals; a he same ime, i b ings o ligh he need
o an enhanced public policy con ibu ion and ole, despi e he inc easing accessibili y and
widesp ead adop ion o new echnologies. Building on hese indings, his pape p oposes
a dual s a egy, combining op-down mac o-policy in e en ions wi h bo om-up, ci izen-
cen e ed ini ia i es and pa icipa ion, ha should, in any case, be e ec i ely in eg a ed in o
o icial policymaking p ocesses by he ele an au ho i ies.
3. The Global Poli ical Economy and Indus ializa ion’s Impac on
Clima e Change
The wide in e na ional poli ical economy con ex se s he s age o unde s anding
he deep en i onmen al challenges linked o escala ing indus ializa ion and globaliza ion.
Howe e , al hough i is undispu ed ha , on he one hand, economic in eg a ion has
s ongly con ibu ed o en i onmen al decline (Sec ion 3.1), i is, a he same ime, ue ha
indus ializa ion has also p o ided p ecision ools enabling scien is s and decisionmake s
o measu e and add ess he en i onmen al impac s o hype globaliza ion (Sec ion 3.2).
3.1. Economic In eg a ion and En i onmen al Decline
Globaliza ion, as he mos c i ical economic phenomenon o he 20 h cen u y, is associ-
a ed wi h an unp eceden ed g ow h o in e na ional ade and Fo eign Di ec In es men s
(FDIs). In addi ion, he e a o globaliza ion is ma ked by inancializa ion, a p ocess whe e i-
nancial ma ke s, inancial ins i u ions, and inancial eli es gain powe o e economic policy
(Palley,2007). In his sense, globaliza ion is implied o u he in ensi y economic ac i i y
as capi alism, acco ding o Ma x and Engels, “c ea es a wo ld a e his own image” (Ma x
& Engels,1848/1888) globaliza ion has been de eloping in ecen decades and has been
associa ed wi h he need o many s a es o expand hei economic ac i i ies o imp o e he
social wel a e o socie y (Omi ade e al.,2021). In his sense, globaliza ion was “upg aded”
o hype globaliza ion. Howe e , hype globaliza ion is in c isis.
The signs o his c isis a e nume ous. The mos c i ical issues a e he ecen ade wa
be ween he Uni ed S a es o Ame ica and China (Jeong & Lee,2021), he Uk aine wa ,
and he ecen wa in he Middle Eas . This eali y is associa ed wi h a ansi ion om
he inc easing global economic in eg a ion o geoeconomic agmen a ion (GEF), which is
ans o med in o a c i ical mega- h ea o he in e na ional economy.
1
Fu he mo e, GEF
is in e mingled wi h a ious mega- ends. A c ucial end among hem is e e -g owing
global income inequali ies ha a e a hei peak as he weal h o he op 1% has inc eased
d as ically a e he COVID-19 pandemic. Acco ding o Ghosh (2022), he global sha e o he
poo es hal o he wo ld’s popula ion is a ound hal o wha i was du ing he i s decades
o he nine een h cen u y. Concen a ing capi al in a ew mul ina ional co po a ions is
a majo o ce leading o inequali y among s a es. The inequali y is in ensi ied h ough
he de- egula ion o ma ke s imposed h ough inancializa ion, leading o he decline in
Economies 2025,13, 23 4 o 21
public weal h ac oss he globe. In addi ion, he COVID-19 pandemic led o s agna ion and
ecession and caused a e e sal o he e ec s o globaliza ion, known as de-globaliza ion
(Su kowski,2020).
This in ensi ica ion, which is associa ed wi h wha is now called hype globaliza ion
(Rod ik,2018), has impo an implica ions o he na u al en i onmen (Clapp,2014). Many
s udies link globaliza ion wi h pollu ion (Ra idandi & Usman,2019;Acheampong e al.,
2019). The g ow h o indus ial ac i i y and con en ional ene gy consump ion led o
g eenhouse gas emissions, ans o ming clima e change in o a clima e c isis. The clima e
c isis and en i onmen al deg ada ion a e signi ican mega- h ea s o he in e na ional
economy. Clima e c isis is associa ed wi h he “ iple ap” o global wa ming, biodi e si y
c isis, and pollu ion. Mo e speci ically, 14 o he 15 wa mes yea s eco ded ha e occu ed
du ing he i s 24 yea s o he 21s cen u y. Mo eo e , he se en ho es days o he
pas 170 yea s we e expe ienced in July 2024, and one million species a e a immedia e
isk o ex inc ion. Las ly, pollu ion le els om chemicals and haza dous was e h ea en
heal h, en i onmen al p o ec ion, and na u al esou ce managemen . The “ iple ap”
o he clima e, biodi e si y, and pollu ion c ises illus a es he immedia e need o go
beyond economic g ow h and p epa e he g ound owa d a g een ansi ion (A ani ou
e al.,2024). Inc easing en i onmen al deg ada ion and he en i onmen al impac o
economic ac i i ies exace ba e he need o educe en i onmen al impac and esou ce use
o allow u u e gene a ions o mee hei own needs. Thus, he ansi ion o economic
policies om he adi ional a ge o economic g ow h (mainly GDP g ow h) o sus ainable
de elopmen is a ema kable shi in de elopmen s udies and will di ec he policy’s u u e
policy implica ions.
Agains his backg ound, echnology, de eloped in he con ex o hype globaliza ion,
has e iden ly d i en economic de elopmen , while also being used in ac i i ies ha m ul
o he en i onmen . Impo an ly hough, echnology (i.e., as de eloped in his speci ic
con ex ) also p o ides e olu iona y ools o add ess such clima e challenges.
3.2. A “Hype globalized” Technology Also Enables Clima e Challenge Measu emen
Based on clima e change science, he challenges ha socie ies a e acing in e ms
o long- e m changes in empe a u es and wea he pa e ns a e adical and de as a ing.
Acco ding o Noam Chomsky, humans a e acing majo p oblems oday ha a e eally
di e en o any ha ha e a isen be o e in human his o y (Chomsky e al.,2020), as ex eme
wea he e en s c ea e unhabi able condi ions in as a eas o he Ea h (ibid.).
Indeed, new echnological ad ances and ea h-o bi ing sa elli es assis scien is s o
collec and analyze da a on d ama ic clima e change. Acco ding o he In e go e nmen al
Panel on Clima e Change a ailable da a (IPCC,2023), global g eenhouse gas emissions
ha e inc eased wi h ongoing con ibu ions a ising om unsus ainable ene gy use, land
use, li es yles and pa e ns o consump ion, and p oduc ion ac oss egions, coun ies, and
among indi iduals. O e all, human ac i i ies, mainly h ough emissions o g eenhouse
gases, ha e caused global wa ming, wi h he global su ace empe a u e eaching 1.1
◦
C
abo e 1850–1900 in 2011–2020 (ibid.).
Simila ly, based on NASA da a
2
(NASA,2024), he cu en wa ming is aking place
a a as a e no seen in he pas 10,000 yea s, while he a e o change since he mid-20 h
cen u y is unp eceden ed
3
. Fo example, he plane ’s a e age su ace empe a u e has isen
abou 2 deg ees Fah enhei (1 deg ees Celsius) since he la e 19 h cen u y, and his is mainly
d i en by inc eased ca bon dioxide emissions in o he a mosphe e. Addi ionally, he global
sea le el ose abou 8 inches in he las cen u y, and glacie s a e e ea ing a a global le el.
Human-caused clima e change is a ec ing many wea he and clima e ex emes in e e y
egion ac oss he globe (IPCC,2023). This is causing widesp ead impac s and damages o
Economies 2025,13, 23 5 o 21
na u e, socie ies, and people. Responding o eme ging challenges, scien is s, go e nmen s,
in e na ional o ganiza ions, communi ies, and ci izens a e de eloping ini ia i es, solu ions,
and ideas o cope wi h clima e challenges. Agg ega e echnological p og ess p o ides new
ools wi h which o collec and analyze a ious sou ces o in o ma ion abou he plane
and i s clima e, illus a ing shi ing pa e ns o clima e change. Simila ly echnological
de elopmen un olds new echnological solu ions ocused on en i onmen al sus ainabili y
and ene gy ansi ion (clean ech and g een ech).
The e o e, i is clea ha he echnological ad ancemen s a ou disposal enable he
p ecise measu emen and analysis o en i onmen al impac s, based on eliable se ies o
da a (uns uc u ed and s uc u ed). Be ha as i may, he c i ical ques ion ha a ises is
whe he such scien i ic and echnological ools a e being u ilized in an e icien manne o
add ess and mi iga e he unde lying causes o clima e change.
4. U ilizing Technology o Tackle he Issue? Emphasizing he
G een T ansi ion
Reali y shows ha , agains he backg ound o he p essing need o add ess clima e
issues and u ilize echnology o ackle he en i onmen al challenges, go e nmen s ha e
mainly pu he emphasis on he g een ansi ion (Sec ion 4.1), as demons a ed by he
a ious policy amewo ks adop ed o p omo e sus ainable de elopmen . A key example
o his is ela ed o he suppo i e g een policies, he ele an policy amewo ks, and
he echnology ends e ealed by he pa en ing ac i i y ha plays a key ole in encou -
aging clean ech inno a ion and suppo ing he adop ion o g een echnologies, in e alia
(Sec ion 4.2).
4.1. Policies Focused on Enhancing G een T ansi ion
O e he pas ew yea s, key de eloped economies ha e pu sued policy schemes
o enhance g een ene gy, g een echnologies, and indus ial sec o s, wi h emphasis on
clean ech. Ene gy policies and sus ainabili y p og ams a e usually combined wi h se e al
policy ini ia i es wi hin he ame o in e linked public policies such as echnology and
inno a ion policies, indus ial policies, and anspo policies. The di ec ion o g een poli-
cies bo h h ough la ge-scale g een echnology plans bu also wi hin in e linked policies,
a e inc easingly cha ac e ized by mac o-policy mechanisms ha compile he majo build-
ing blocks o g een ansi ion policies, in e alia, as ollows: legal amewo ks and new
ins i u ions, in as uc u es and in es men s, echnological de elopmen and inno a ion,
business amewo k and unding, skill empowe men , demand-o ien ed incen i es and
measu es, ax incen i es, and in e na ional collabo a ion. Ne e heless, an in eg al pa o
g een policies is inc easingly in ol ing a ge ed and opic- ocused measu es and ini ia i es,
ad anced echnological ools (e.g., geophysical obse a o ies, so wa e sys ems based on
A i icial In elligence o analyzing sa elli e da a, a mosphe e moni o ing ools, ad anced
algo i hms), and new legal amewo ks and ins i u ions (e.g., legal amewo ks o he use
o open da a).
A la ge pa o he g een policies du ing he las yea s has been ocused on g een
economy and sus ainable de elopmen along wi h he imp o emen o esou ce e iciency.
Mo eo e , ci cula economy cons i u es a majo pa o policy p io i ies o a wide ange
o g een policy s a egies, especially ega ding sus ainabili y and esou ce managemen
de elopmen . On op o ha , new inno a i e models o g een en ep eneu ship ha e
eme ged, while se e al ini ia i es a he na ional and in e na ional le el a e emphasizing
sus ainable economic g ow h (Han & Gao,2024). O e all, la ge-scale g een echnology
plans se he amewo k and p o ide ools in innume able ways. Fo example, he Eu-
opean Clima e Law
4
(July 2021) and he Eu opean G een Deal
5
cons i u e undamen al
Economies 2025,13, 23 6 o 21
ins i u ional and policy ini ia i es o accele a e g een ansi ion in he dominan p ac ices
a he le el o in as uc u e, p oduc ion, consump ion, and ene gy esou ces. The Eu o-
pean Union has se clima e neu ali y as a a ge by 2050 h ough a ge ed s a egies o
enhancing emissions cu ing ( educing ne g eenhouse gas emissions by a leas 55% o EU
coun ies by 2030), suppo ing echnology de elopmen in g een solu ions and p o ec ing
he na u al en i onmen
6
. Simila ly, he G een Deal Indus ial Plan
7
aims o e i alize he
compe i i eness o Eu ope’s ne -ze o indus y and o accele a e he ansi ion o clima e
neu ali y h ough he suppo o manu ac u ing o ne -ze o echnologies.
In he USA, he In la ion Reduc ion Ac
8
(IRA) comes in o law in Augus 2022. The
Uni ed S a es o Ame ica in es s nea ly USD 400 billion ( ede al unding) o clean ene gy
h ough he IRA wi h he aim o ne -ze o emissions and limi ing ca bon emissions by
2030. In andem, a conside able pa o he in es men s is di ec ed o he suppo o he
coun y’s inno a ion capaci y, economic compe i i eness, domes ic manu ac u ing capaci y,
and R&D suppo in key sec o s, such as ca bon cap u e and s o age and clean hyd ogen
(McKinsey & Company,2022). The IRA is pa o a se o in es men bills ha ha e been
deployed o e he pas ew yea s, exceeding USD 2 illion, since 2021 ( oge he wi h he
Bipa isan In as uc u e Law and he CHIPS and Science Ac )9.
People’s Republic o China also exhibi s inc easing echnology and p oduc ion ca-
paci ies in clean ech inno a ion ac i i y. A wide se o in es men s, policies, p og ams,
and ools (e.g., G een Bond P inciples, indus ial clus e s, pilo demons a ions) ha e been
designed and implemen ed o pu sue esea ch and de elopmen , ene gy ansi ion, and
ca bon neu ali y. In 2022, China
10
eleased i s 14 h Fi e-Yea -Plan on Renewable Ene gy
De elopmen (2021–2025) (Wo ld Economic Fo um,2023), which in ol es a 50% inc ease
in enewable ene gy gene a ion ( om 2.2 illion kWh in 2020 o 3.3 illion kWh in 2025)
and p omo es a enewable elec ici y consump ion sha e o 33% up o 2025 along wi h a
a ge o de i ing 50% o he coun y’s inc emen al elec ici y and ene gy consump ion
om enewables du ing 2021–2025. Se e al ields o echnology de elopmen also in ol e
la ge-scale enewable ene gy bases, dis ibu ed wind and pho o ol aic in as uc u es,
in eg a ed sys ems o wa e and sola bases, and he de elopmen o o sho e windmills in
se e al a eas (ibid.).
Besides he la ge-scale s a egies and g een policies, g een ansi ion equi es wide
socio-economic ans o ma ions wi h shi s in se e al legal, ins i u ional, and social pa-
ame e s (e.g., social di usion, ci izens’ engagemen , open da a exploi a ion). Acco ding
o Scho and Kange (2018), in e connec ed social, economic, and ecological challenges
necessi a e undamen al changes in a wide ange o socio- echnical sys ems (e.g., ene gy,
mobili y, wa e , ood). Fo example, he deba e abou edesigning he di ec ion o mod-
e n indus ial policies has al eady been en iched wi h insigh s, p oposals, measu es, and
ini ia i es o delibe a ely sus ainable, wel a e-o ien ed, inno a ion-o ien ed, and holis ic
policy mechanisms based on he coope a ion be ween go e nmen agencies and p i a e
and hi d-pa y sec o s (Mazzuca o & Rod ik,2023). Mo eo e , he a ailabili y and he coa-
lescence o mul iple and complemen a y echnological ools co-e ol es wi h legal change
and lea es oom o new o ms o social and ci izen pa icipa ion in o he science and
echnology domains. As long as he la ge-scale g een policies a e c ucial o de eloping
he co e echnological and inno a ion amewo k as well as he legal en i onmen , he
opic- ocused accele a ion mechanisms aiming o enhance social di usion and ci izens’
engagemen also cons i u e a p e equisi e o social embeddedness o g een echnologies
and g een ansi ion.
None heless, policy ini ia i es and ins i u ional a angemen s un old po en ial ame-
wo ks o ac ion o manage clima e change. In his wo k o analyze global ade and wo ld
economy, Dani Rod ik (2018) s a es ha ma ke -suppo ing ins i u ions a e no unique
Economies 2025,13, 23 7 o 21
and he e is no a limi ed ange o plausible a ia ion in ins i u ions ha migh di e
signi ican ly ac oss coun ies. Taken u he , his e idence-based a gumen indica es
ha ins i u ional se ups migh be e-con igu ed and ecombined o ackle se e al issues
and challenges o social inequali y, social insecu i y and jus ice, o clima e change. In a
nu shell, ins i u ional design, ins i u ional se ups, and o ganiza ional changes a e majo
complemen s o e icien ly deploying echnological p og ess and ackling social challenges.
Mo eo e , acco ding o Mazzuca o (2018b), inno a ion has a a e and a di ec ion. As a
esul , inno a ion policy design should be inex icably in e linked o he inc easing need o
cope wi h eme ging challenges such as clima e change. In his espec , mission-o ien ed
policies a e de ined as sys emic public policies ha d aw on on ie knowledge o achie e
speci ic goals and o con on social challenges (Mazzuca o,2018a,2021).
O e all, he legal and ins i u ional a angemen s as well he di ec ion o echnolog-
ical change and inno a ion cons i u e c ucial pa ame e s o c ea e unique and adjus ed
echnology-enabled app oaches o ackle social challenges and, mo e speci ically, o cope
wi h he d ama ic clima e c isis.
4.2. Technological Change and Pa en s: A Key Aspec o he Policies Adop ed
Rega ding echnological change, global pa en ing ac i i y, and eme ging pa en ends
illus a e an o e all pic u e on echnological p og ess in he ields o sus ainable ech-
nologies, clean ech, and g een ech. Clean ech and g een echnologies in ol e a wide
a ay o echnological applica ions such as low-ca bon elec ici y p oduc ion, low-ca bon
anspo a ion, ene gy e iciency in he buildings sec o and he manu ac u ing sec o , ai
pollu ion con ol echnologies, and was e managemen (OECD,2019).
I should be men ioned ha he e a e di e en me hodologies a ailable o iden i y
g een pa en s based on he code classi ica ion (ENV-TECH de eloped by OECD, IPC G een
In en o y by WIPO, and Y02/Y04S Tagging scheme by EPO) (Fa o e al.,2023). As a esul ,
in se e al cases, he me hodologies should be used in combina ion in o de o ob ain a
comple e and p ecise pic u e o gene al ends. Acco ding o Fa o e al. (2023), o ins ance,
ENV-TECH and IPC G een In en o y should be used in combina ion o iden i y mo e g een
pa en s, wi h he inclusion o he “CPC” ENV-TECH g een codes (when applicable) while
he mu ual in eg a ion o he h ee me hodologies is ecommended.
Fo example, a s udy by Ri e a León e al. (2023) based on he IPC G een In en o y o
he Wo ld In ellec ual P ope y O ganiza ion (WIPO), examined ou b oad ca ego ies o
g een ene gy echnologies, including al e na i e ene gy p oduc ion echnologies, ene gy
conse a ion echnologies, and g een anspo a ion in he pe iod 2005–2017. The indings
e ealed ha ene gy inno a ion- ela ed pa en ing ac i i y i s expanded exponen ially up
un il 2013, bo h in o al numbe o pa en amilies and PCT (Pa en Coope a ion T ea y
11
)
in e na ional pa en applica ions in g een ene gy echnologies (ibid.).
Mos o he g een ene gy echnologies ha e seen a downwa d end in he annual
numbe o pa en s published since 2012 (e.g., nuclea powe gene a ion echnologies and
enewable ene gy echnologies, such as sola and wind ene gy, and uel cells). On he o he
side, acco ding o Ri e a León e al. (2023), he numbe o pa en s in ene gy conse a ion
echnologies and g een anspo a ion echnologies has con inued o g ow, al hough a a
slowe a e.
Acco ding o a join s udy
12
published by he Eu opean Pa en O ice (EPO) and he
In e na ional Ene gy Agency (IEA) (EPO & IEA,2021), he numbe o pa en s ela ed o
low-ca bon ene gy echnologies a ound he wo ld g ew by an a e age a e o 3.3% pe yea
in he 2017–2019 pe iod. Since 2017, he e is inc easing inno a ion ac i i y in low-ca bon
ene gy (LCE) ega ding c osscu ing echnology a eas such as ba e ies, hyd ogen, and
sma g ids as well as ca bon cap u e, u iliza ion, and s o age (CCUS) (ibid.).
Economies 2025,13, 23 8 o 21
Mo e ecen ly, acco ding o he ecen join epo
13
by he Eu opean In es men Bank
(EIB) and Eu opean Pa en O ice (EPO) (EIB & EPO,2024), he e has been an inc ease
in pa en s ela ed o echnologies ocused on en i onmen al sus ainabili y and ene gy
ansi ion. Based on he Eu opean Pa en O ice classi ica ion, clean ech pa en s in ol e six
ca ego ies: low-ca bon ene gy
14
; clima e change mi iga ion echnologies (CCMTs) ela ed
o anspo and buildings, in manu ac u ing and ICT; clima e change adap a ion solu ions;
sma g ids; was e and was ewa e ea men echnologies; and CO
2
cap u e and s o age
solu ions (ibid.).
O e all, o e 750,000 in e na ional pa en amilies (IPFs) in clean and sus ainable
echnologies ha e been iled wo ldwide, which ep esen nea ly 12% o all IPFs (EIB &
EPO,2024). Low-ca bon ene gy echnologies, encompassing enewable ene gy gene a ion
and ene gy s o age solu ions like ba e ies, cons i u e he p edominan clean ech sec o .
Acco ding o he EIB and EPO (2024) epo da a, ollowed by a decline up o 2012, his
sec o accoun ed o o e 78,000 IPFs, ep esen ing 32.1% o all IPFs in clean ech om 2017
o 202115 (ibid.).
Based on he WIPO’s G een Technology Book (2023), he e is a wide ange o clima e
change mi iga ion solu ions based on ma u e and eme ging inno a ion echnologies a ail-
able. Acco ding o WIPO da a (2023), in en ions in clima e change mi iga ion echnologies
inc eased i e old be ween 1995 and 2011, while he pe iod 2014–2017 was cha ac e ized
by a slowdown (due o ac o s ela ed o ossil uel p ices and echnological ma u i y o
clima e mi iga ion echnologies, among o he s). Since hen, he e is an obse able upwa d
end (WIPO,2023). In e ms o echnology a eas, indica i ely, pa en ing ac i i y inc eased
be ween 2017 and 2020 in low-ca bon ene gy echnologies as a esul o he ac i i y in
he uel swi ching, ene gy e iciency, and c osscu ing echnologies, such as hyd ogen and
ba e ies o anspo .
Consequen ly, i seems ha he inc easing a e o in es men s on g een echnologies is
co ela ed wi h he inc easing pa en ing a es o he in e na ional pa en amilies (IPFs) in
clean and sus ainable echnologies wo ldwide. Pa o his inc ease is igh ly in e linked
wi h he g een policies being implemen ed in ecen yea s in key de eloped economies
and he ins i u ional a angemen s pu suing he deploymen o hese echnologies by
pa ing he way h ough new go e nance schemes and by elimina ing echnological and
comme cializa ion unce ain y.
All o he abo e de elopmen s s em om economic and de elopmen al dynamics,
while also e lec ing he inc easing global awa eness o clima e change challenges. Howe e ,
in eali y, s a es ha e, in ligh o his awa eness, also unde aken signi ican commi men s
unde in e na ional law o use all he a ailable scien i ic and echnological esou ces o
add ess clima e change e ec i ely, and ag eed on du ies ha ex end well beyond he me e
p omo ion o echnologies o a g een ansi ion.
5. In e na ional Law: Op imizing he Use o Science—Enabling
Ci izen Engagemen
S a es adop ed he policies p esen ed abo e, also g ounded in hei ag eemen a he
in e na ional le el o use science o ackle clima e change. Indeed, he c ea ion and use
o g een echnology and clima e- ela ed scien i ic knowledge was ac i ely p omo ed by
he in e na ional communi y ollowing he adop ion o binding law ins umen s aimed
a adap ing o clima e change issues by inc easing he esilience o socie ies. Such de el-
opmen s we e encou aged in wo ways, namely ia he es ablishmen o ( i s ) a clea
obliga ion o s a es o use scien i ic da a wi hin he con ex o policymaking and (second)
he se ing up o dedica ed bodies empowe ed o p omo e he c ea ion and u iliza ion o
scien i ic in o ma ion; said amewo ks a e, howe e , cha ac e ized by he limi ed ole and
Economies 2025,13, 23 15 o 21
is in e linked wi h se e al aspec s o unp edic abili y and he combina o y dynamics o
echnological, economic, poli ical, and geos a egic dimensions (Angelakis & Manioudis,
2024). In ecen yea s, new policy o mulas and new gene a ion policies ha e been deployed
o sus ainabili y wi h he aim o ackle clima e c isis and subsequen challenges. Thei
majo ea u es combine mac o-schemes wi h ho izon al mac o-e ec s and se e al p oblem-
ocused mechanisms and bo om-up in e en ions (e.g., p og ams and ini ia i es engaging
decen alized echnologies, o ganiza ions, sys ems, and new science ools such as da a-
moni o ing pla o ms and sa elli e sys ems) (Table 1). In his espec , policies ha e icien ly
ackle clima e change e ec s in ol e aspec s o public and p i a e in es men s, science and
echnological p og ess, economic and social ans o ma ions in e ms o business p ac ices,
p oduc ion models, consump ion pa e ns, and ene gy pa adigms.
Table 1. Two-p onged policy app oaches.
Policy App oach Dimensions and Pa ame e s
Cu en mac o-policy app oaches
Ene gy and echnological in as uc u es;
legal amewo ks; esea ch in as uc u es;
echnologies; unding ools; ins i u ions;
policy measu es; in e na ional coope a ion;
in e na ional an agonisms and ensions
Bo om-up app oaches
Legal and ins i u ional amewo ks secu ing
and encou aging ci izens’ pa icipa ion;
eme ging and decen alized echnologies;
open pla o ms; open echnologies; science
ools and sys ems; sma senso s and da a;
da a p o ided/assessed by science ci izens;
need o in e na ional coope a ion
Sou ce: own p ocessing.
Howe e , gi en bo h he cu en legal amewo k and echnological de elopmen s
ha all allow o a mo e dynamic pa icipa ion o indi iduals, i is mo e han appa en now
ha op-down e o s should be combined wi h (a mo e dynamic) bo om-up in ol emen .
Namely, he pa hway o managing clima e change in he u u e should inc emen ally
be based on a wo-p onged policy app oach wi h wide-scale op-down policy s a egies
compiling legal, ins i u ional, and echnological pa ame e s as well as bo om-up opic-
ocused app oaches engaging local communi ies, social g oups, and ci izens (Table 1).
Mo e p ecisely, in eg a ing op-down and bo om-up s a egies o empowe he “sci-
ence ci izen” equi es ac ionable policy ools and clea ly de ined goals. In he sho e m,
go e nmen s and o ganiza ions could gi e p io i y o c ea ing use - iendly pla o ms
whe e indi iduals (i.e., ci izens) may upload en i onmen al da a, using hei own senso s
o ama eu echnology, such as ai o soil quali y measu emen s; exis ing p og ams o
ini ia i es could be used as a bluep in . To ensu e inclusi i y, ee aining on AI- opics,
da a-d i en applica ions, and digi al ools could be p o ided o b idge he digi al di ide.
In addi ion o his, policy amewo ks should ensu e ha he uns uc u ed o s uc u ed
da a p o ided by ci izens a e con olled and in eg a ed in o decision-making p ocesses,
coupled wi h incen i es like public ecogni ion o encou age ac i e pa icipa ion. Follow-
ing his line o easoning, go e nmen s should aim a p omo ing and encou aging, in
he nex decades, he widesp ead pa icipa ion o ci izens; hey should also ensu e ha
ci izen-d i en en i onmen al in o ma ion is aken in o accoun in local and na ional poli-
cies h ough s anda dized amewo ks. Rela edly, he design and deploymen o policies
ocused on in eg a ing op-down and bo om-up s a egies o empowe he “science ci izen”
app oaches, in ol e c ucial aspec s such as he o mula ion o app op ia e legal ame-
Economies 2025,13, 23 16 o 21
wo ks, he suppo o echnologies and echnological applica ions wi h open and inclusi e
and pa icipa o y cha ac e , he o mula ion o in as uc u es, and he enhancemen o
collabo a ions, syne gies, and ci izen ne wo ks ini ia i es (Figu e 1). Based on his, he
de elopmen o “science ci izen ecosys ems” eme ges as an addi ional p econdi ion o an
e ol ing and dynamic p ocess o science ci izens’ in ol emen . Fo example, acili a ed
access o high-pe o mance compu ing and so wa e ocused on AI and science (OECD,
2023) cons i u es a c ucial elemen o such an ecosys em as well as he a ailabili y o open
esea ch da a ac oss a ious ields (e.g., clima e) h ough he o mula ion o ede a ed
da a in as uc u es (e.g., GAIA-X) and he la ge-scale c ea ion o indable, accessible,
in e ope able, and eusable (FAIR) da a (ibid.).
Economies 2025, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 o 21
esea ch da a ac oss a ious ields (e.g., clima e) h ough he o mula ion o ede a ed
da a in as uc u es (e.g., GAIA-X) and he la ge-scale c ea ion o indable, accessible, in-
e ope able, and eusable (FAIR) da a (ibid.).
Figu e 1. The wo le els and he sub-ca ego ies o he wo-p onged policy app oaches. Sou ce:
own p ocessing.
In pa icula , wi h espec o he la e , he pa h o a “science socie y” is igh ly in e -
linked wi h he ac i e encou agemen and engagemen o ci izens oles ega ding he use,
adop ion, and di usion o echnologies and in o ma ion, in addi ion o he assessmen o
clima e policies and ela ed measu es. Following on om ha , he in ol emen o “science
ci izens” would ac i ely con ibu e o he policymaking as well as o he p og ess o ech-
nology and science, wi h he aim o be e add ess sus ainabili y challenges o local, e-
gional, and global conce n.
8. Conclusions: An Open Discussion o a Sus ainable Science Socie y
This pape aims o explo e new app oaches o ackling challenges ela ed o he cli-
ma e c isis h ough in e disciplina y pe spec i es and no el ypes o in e en ions ocus-
ing on he ole o he ins i u ional amewo k and new echnologies. Concu en ly, he
p esen pape p o ides no el insigh s in o new di ec ions ela ed o he mul i-laye as-
pec s o designing and implemen ing policy app oaches o ackle clima e c isis wi h he
use o eme ging echnologies and ins i u ional econ igu a ions. Fo example, he de el-
opmen o ac ions ocusing on acili a ing he engagemen o ci izens owa d he accele -
a ion o scien i ic disco e ies has been a co e issue ela ed o da a collec ion and p o-
cessing ac i i ies (Bonney e al., 2016). Mo eo e , he e is a as po en ial o ci izens con-
ibu ion h ough he exploi a ion o da a, ad anced algo i hms, and A i icial In elligence
(OECD, 2023). Da a p o ided by science ci izens migh con ibu e o he mo e effec i e
solu ions o cu en socie al challenges in se e al a eas, such as clima e change and in ec-
ious diseases.
Technological di ec ion is an impo an aspec o he oppo uni ies p o ided o us-
e s o con ibu e o social ac i i ies, such as science o clima e moni o ing. F om his pe -
spec i e, se e al u u e esea ch di ec ions could eme ge unde he spec um o he ech-
nologies h ough which ci izens can ac i ely con ibu e o he science domain. Fu he
a enues o esea ch include, among o he s, he need o iden i y and de elop ci izens
inclusi e echnologies and echnological applica ions ha acili a e he collec ion and
sha ing o da a and ideas om he c owd and ci izens ac i i y. O e all, he iden i ica ion
o he majo p e-condi ions o he o mula ion o “science ci izen ecosys ems”, including,
in e alia, digi al in as uc u es, ede a ed open da a, new inclusi e and accessible ech-
nological applica ions, and science ci izens engagemen , cons i u e a majo a ea o u he
esea ch.
This pape aims o elucida e new app oaches ha in ol e p ac ical s eps and policy-
ele an ools. The p ac ical s eps o ope a ionalize he “science ci izen” concep in ol e
he design and deploymen o opic- ocused policy ini ia i es o suppo ci izen
Figu e 1. The wo le els and he sub-ca ego ies o he wo-p onged policy app oaches. Sou ce:
own p ocessing.
In pa icula , wi h espec o he la e , he pa h o a “science socie y” is igh ly in e -
linked wi h he ac i e encou agemen and engagemen o ci izens’ oles ega ding he use,
adop ion, and di usion o echnologies and in o ma ion, in addi ion o he assessmen
o clima e policies and ela ed measu es. Following on om ha , he in ol emen o
“science ci izens” would ac i ely con ibu e o he policymaking as well as o he p og ess
o echnology and science, wi h he aim o be e add ess sus ainabili y challenges o local,
egional, and global conce n.
8. Conclusions: An Open Discussion o a Sus ainable Science Socie y
This pape aims o explo e new app oaches o ackling challenges ela ed o he clima e
c isis h ough in e disciplina y pe spec i es and no el ypes o in e en ions ocusing on
he ole o he ins i u ional amewo k and new echnologies. Concu en ly, he p esen
pape p o ides no el insigh s in o new di ec ions ela ed o he mul i-laye aspec s o
designing and implemen ing policy app oaches o ackle clima e c isis wi h he use o
eme ging echnologies and ins i u ional econ igu a ions. Fo example, he de elopmen
o ac ions ocusing on acili a ing he engagemen o ci izens owa d he accele a ion o
scien i ic disco e ies has been a co e issue ela ed o da a collec ion and p ocessing ac i i ies
(Bonney e al.,2016). Mo eo e , he e is a as po en ial o ci izens’ con ibu ion h ough
he exploi a ion o da a, ad anced algo i hms, and A i icial In elligence (OECD,2023).
Da a p o ided by science ci izens migh con ibu e o he mo e e ec i e solu ions o cu en
socie al challenges in se e al a eas, such as clima e change and in ec ious diseases.
Technological di ec ion is an impo an aspec o he oppo uni ies p o ided o
use s o con ibu e o social ac i i ies, such as science o clima e moni o ing. F om his
pe spec i e, se e al u u e esea ch di ec ions could eme ge unde he spec um o he
echnologies h ough which ci izens can ac i ely con ibu e o he science domain. Fu he
a enues o esea ch include, among o he s, he need o iden i y and de elop ci izens’
inclusi e echnologies and echnological applica ions ha acili a e he collec ion and
sha ing o da a and ideas om he c owd and ci izens’ ac i i y. O e all, he iden i ica ion o
he majo p e-condi ions o he o mula ion o “science ci izen ecosys ems”, including, in e
Economies 2025,13, 23 17 o 21
alia, digi al in as uc u es, ede a ed open da a, new inclusi e and accessible echnological
applica ions, and science ci izens’ engagemen , cons i u e a majo a ea o u he esea ch.
This pape aims o elucida e new app oaches ha in ol e p ac ical s eps and policy-
ele an ools. The p ac ical s eps o ope a ionalize he “science ci izen” concep in ol e he
design and deploymen o opic- ocused policy ini ia i es o suppo ci izen engagemen ,
da a collec ion, da a sha ing, and collabo a ion. Mo e esea ch p og ams and la ge-scale
ini ia i es could u he mobilize ci izen pa icipa ion in science ac i i y o build-up back-
g ound knowledge and enhance he use o science educa ion. The consolida ion and
deploymen o new policy ools and ac ionable s eps (e.g., in eg a ed sys ems and open
in e ope able da a pla o ms wi h which o collec , analyze, and p edic clima e c isis
ends and challenges h ough ad anced algo i hms and opic- ocused la ge language
models/LLMs) include he inco po a ion o inclusi e echnological di ec ions in o he co e
esea ch and unding p io i ies o esea ch and echnological and inno a ion policies.
Then, he success ul in eg a ion o op-down and bo om-up s a egies cons i u es a majo
p e-condi ion o he o mula ion o a la ge-scale and long- e m s a egic o ien a ion no
only o ackle bu also o p edic challenges and o p e en la ge-scale clima e c isis e ec s.
Expanding and acili a ing he ole o ci izens and socie y a la ge could be a nea - u u e
policy goal o opic- ocused policy app oaches.
Following his pe spec i e, his pape aims o also elucida e he impo ance o hose
no el app oaches o ackling “g and social challenges”. Acco ding o Voeg lin e al. (2022),
“g and socie al challenges (GSCs) ep esen complex, mul i-le el, mul i-dimensional p ob-
lems ha equi e conce ed e o s by a ious ac o s (public, p i a e, and non-p o i – o
be success ully add essed” (Voeg lin e al.,2022, p. 1). In his espec , science ci izens’
policy ini ia i es migh acili a e he con ibu ion o ci izens owa d add essing eme g-
ing challenges. Mo eo e , he science ci izens’ policy ini ia i es migh be aligned wi h
he deploymen o obus inno a ion ecosys ems, as he la e equi es comp ehensi e
app oaches o engaging and mobilizing egional ac o s and iden i ying hei needs and
p io i ies owa d sus ainable de elopmen (Manioudis & Angelakis,2023).
The u u e esea ch di ec ions o u he del e in o he concep o he “science ci izen”
include h ee in eg a ed a eas: (i) which echnologies and echnology a eas migh be mo e
compa ible wi h encou aging he in ol emen o ci izens in he science domain and he
hema ic a eas o clima e moni o ing, (ii) which majo ins i u ional and legal undamen al
pa ame e s will acili a e and encou age ci izens o pa icipa e in “science ci izen ne wo ks”
and con ibu e o science ac i i y, and (iii) which a e he app op ia e policy ools wi h
which o o mula e “science ci izen ecosys ems” wi h he pe spec i e o u he es ablish
compu ing in as uc u es, o enhance AI-based ools and ad anced algo i hms, o p o ide
access o open da a, mul imodal da a sys ems, and open pla o ms, o u he de elop
and adop accessible, inclusi e, and collabo a i e echnological applica ions, and o es-
ablish suppo i e legal amewo ks, ci izen ne wo ks, policy ini ia i es, and measu es
and o ganiza ional con igu a ions. The la e is also in e linked wi h he pe spec i e o
he ope a ionaliza ion o he “science ci izen” concep h ough he deploymen o “science
ci izen ecosys ems”. These ecosys ems could be based on he capaci y o socie ies o build
a amewo k o ac ion poin s o pu sue clima e moni o ing, p o ide inpu s o clima e
science, and hus con ibu e o ackling clima e c isis e ec s. O e all, he eme gence o
“science ci izen ecosys ems” could c ucially con ibu e o socie ies’ clima e esilience by
app oaching science as a public good wi h widely bene icial ou comes.
Au ho Con ibu ions: All au ho s con ibu ed equally o he sec ions o he pape (concep ualiza ion;
me hodology; w i ing—o iginal d a p epa a ion and e iew and edi ing). All au ho s ha e ead
and ag eed o he published e sion o he manusc ip .
Economies 2025,13, 23 18 o 21
Funding: This pape was inanced by he unding p og am “MEDICUS” o he Uni e si y o Pa as.
Uni e si y o Pa as, Special Accoun o Resea ch Funds, Funding numbe : 83744.
In o med Consen S a emen : No applicable.
Da a A ailabili y S a emen : This pape did no use da ase s. No new da a we e c ea ed o gen-
e a ed du ing his s udy. The seconda y da a p esen ed in his pape a e a ailable in he ele an
s udies/ epo s p o ided in he Re e ences.
Con lic s o In e es : The au ho s decla e no con lic s o in e es .
No es
1
Fo GEF see: h ps://www.im .o g/en/Publica ions/S a -Discussion-No es/Issues/2023/01/11/Geo-Economic-F agmen a ion
-and- he-Fu u e-o -Mul ila e alism-527266 (accessed on 2 July 2024).
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3A ailable a : h ps://science.nasa.go /clima e-change/e idence/ (accessed on 8 Augus 2024).
4A ailable a : h ps://eu -lex.eu opa.eu/legal-con en /EN/TXT/?u i=CELEX:32021R1119 (accessed on 3 Sep embe 2024).
5A ailable a : h ps://ec.eu opa.eu/in o/s a egy/p io i ies-2019-2024/eu opean-g een-deal_en (accessed on 1 June 2024).
6
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_
en (accessed on 1
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7
The ou pilla s o he Plan a e: a p edic able and simpli ied egula o y en i onmen , speeding up access o inance, enhancing
skills, and open ade o esilien supply chains. A ailable a : h ps://commission.eu opa.eu/documen /41514677-9598-4d89-a5
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10
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11 A ailable a : h ps://www.wipo.in /pc /en/ (accessed on 21 Augus 2024).
12
The s udy is based on he EPO’s dedica ed classi ica ion scheme o clima e mi iga ion echnologies. The analysis consis s o 372
c oss-sec ional classes ha co e speci ic clean ene gy echnologies ha ha e been applied o o e 3 million documen s (EPO &
IEA,2021).
13
Acco ding o he epo (EIB & EPO,2024), clean and sus ainable echnologies, o en e e ed o as clean ech o g een ech, in ol e
a b oad ange o p ocesses, p oduc s, and se ices ha aim o educe o elimina e nega i e en i onmen al impac s.
14
Low-ca bon ene gy echnologies, including hose o gene a ing powe om enewable sou ces and ene gy s o age solu ions, a e
he mos p e alen in he clean ech pa en landscape, accoun ing o 78,000 o he o al 244,000 pa en amilies eco ded be ween
2017 and 2021 (EIB & EPO,2024).
15
Based on he da a o EIB and EPO (2024)’s epo , clean and sus ainable manu ac u ing (mo e han 43,000 IPFs be ween 2017 and
2021) and clean ech solu ions ela ed o buildings, ICT, and adap a ion o clima e change a e ollowing while clima e- iendly
hyd ogen- ela ed echnologies, was ewa e ea men and was e managemen , sma g ids, ca bon cap u e and s o age a e he
smalle sec o s wi hin clean and sus ainable echnologies (less han 10,000 IPFs be ween 2017 and 2021). In geog aphical e ms,
he epo desc ibes wo dis inc ecen phases in clean ech pa en ing (i) he pe iod 2006–2012, d i en mainly by he EU and Japan
(27% and 26% o he o al inc ease in IPFs); and (ii) 2017–2021, led by China (70% o he su ge in IPFs applica ions), ollowed by
he EU (16%) (ibid.).
16
A ailable a h ps://un ccc.in / iles/essen ial
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backg ound/backg ound
_
publica ions
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h mlpd /applica ion/pd /con eng.pd
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19
A ailable a h ps://a chi e.ipcc.ch/docs/MOU
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22
A ailable a : h ps://un ccc.in / clea /misc
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