Technology for sustainable Canada already exists, but faces obstacles
Len Smirnov
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: News
OTTAWA (CUP) - Canada has all the technology it needs to transform into a sustainable society, but faces numerous barriers to innovation and change, a new study says.
The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa (UofO) outlined this argument in a project entitled "Making it Happen: The Transition to a Sustainable Society", which proposes management solutions to environmental sustainability. A report on the findings of the project
was released and presented to a group of academics, public and private sector representatives, and students on Sept. 3 at UofO.
"The technologies already exist. They're already in the market," explained André Potworowski, project director and adjunct professor at the Telfer School of Management. "The issue is not a scientific one, it's a management one - how to get technologies implemented in the environment [field]."
The year-long project involved a review of the literature written on sustainable development over the past 30 years, four workshops with experts and technical practitioners, and discussions with the project's advisory board, which consists of five representatives from the UofO, consulting firms, and various levels of government. A team of three MBA students from the UofO conducted follow-up research for the project.
The project, which focused on energy conservation in the residential sector, identified more than 100 barriers that prevent Canadian communities from deploying environmentally sustainable technologies. These include legal, regulatory, and financial barriers, as well as personal habits.
"There is much more to come in terms of technological innovation, but for some time what has been holding up an accelerated rate of progress [. . . ] has been a lack of innovation in areas, such as financing, logistics, and institutional innovation," said Ralph Torrie, member of the project's advisory board and managing director of Navigant Consulting, who does consulting about industry regulations in Toronto.
The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa (UofO) outlined this argument in a project entitled "Making it Happen: The Transition to a Sustainable Society", which proposes management solutions to environmental sustainability. A report on the findings of the project
was released and presented to a group of academics, public and private sector representatives, and students on Sept. 3 at UofO.
"The technologies already exist. They're already in the market," explained André Potworowski, project director and adjunct professor at the Telfer School of Management. "The issue is not a scientific one, it's a management one - how to get technologies implemented in the environment [field]."
The year-long project involved a review of the literature written on sustainable development over the past 30 years, four workshops with experts and technical practitioners, and discussions with the project's advisory board, which consists of five representatives from the UofO, consulting firms, and various levels of government. A team of three MBA students from the UofO conducted follow-up research for the project.
The project, which focused on energy conservation in the residential sector, identified more than 100 barriers that prevent Canadian communities from deploying environmentally sustainable technologies. These include legal, regulatory, and financial barriers, as well as personal habits.
"There is much more to come in terms of technological innovation, but for some time what has been holding up an accelerated rate of progress [. . . ] has been a lack of innovation in areas, such as financing, logistics, and institutional innovation," said Ralph Torrie, member of the project's advisory board and managing director of Navigant Consulting, who does consulting about industry regulations in Toronto.
Be the first to comment on this story