ABSTRACT

The evolution of human society can be charted by the amounts of energy it has consumed, and by the resulting environmental problems that have resulted. Of particular note is the global warming issue, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which have attracted significant attention, resulting in mandates governing fossil fuel consumption and other environmental technology developments. These developments have, in turn, increased awareness of the need for social science research into understanding how we can facilitate further low-carbon innovations. The historical evolution of social science research for sustainable societies has been explored in depth (Smith et al.,2010). In their paper, research topics ranging from the success or failure of special new technologies, to the relationships between ‘green engineering’, economics and society were discussed from various viewpoints, including how the concept of environmental innovations should be promoted at national and corporate levels, how the economical rationality of ‘green engineering’ should be explained, and so forth.