The transition towards a Green Economy and its implications for quality infrastructure

Project description

The world is moving towards a Green(er) Economy where environmental externalities are more systematically incorporated into existing frameworks of economic governance. New incentives systems – from carbon trading and environmental taxes to more stringent emissions standards and eco-labels – induce technological change. “Green” technologies related to renewable energy, energy storage, electric vehicles, organic farming, new materials etc. are gradually replacing unsustainable alternatives. Also, the shift to a green economy induces more stringent environmental standards, e.g. in terms of energy and water usage, carbon footprints, sustainable use of soils, fisheries and forest products. Metrological and laboratory services for new product categories and procedures for the conformity assessment of new standards need to be developed and embedded in national Quality Infrastructure Systems. In close collaboration with Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the National Metrology Institute of Germany, we conduct a technology and market foresight study engaging international expert communities. This is followed by four in-depth developing country case studies to identify quality Infrastructure needs for coping with and accelerating the green transformation.