Role of technology and innovation in agriculture to climate change

It is argued that over the next few decades we will see a transition from a petrochemical industry into a cleaner biological industry. Yet surprisingly, hardly any international conferences on climate change have put the role of biotechnology on the agenda. At the same time, national governments continue to subsidise agriculture, the coal industry and many other industries that have some economic or political importance. In many cases they are also exempt from CO2 emission permits.

In my research I investigate possible reasons for these inconsistencies by analysing the public debate on climate change from a political economic point of view. In this context, I focus on the gate-keepers who set the global agenda on climate change but may also have their own agenda reflected through their respective institutional affiliations and personal commitments.