ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses Martin Janicke’s ecological modernisation theory. Janicke’s ecological modernisation theory – offers one of the few theoretical approaches available to comparative environmental policy studies. The national style of policy-making affects the potential for ecological modernisation. Countries where neocorporatist structures prevail are characterised by policy styles more amenable to new interests and ideas, and they promote a more open decision-making process. Institutional innovation capability reflects the policy style as it has become institutionalised over time. Problem pressure and policy style affect the choice and outcome of pollution-control strategies. As economic instruments have been applied to water policies in Germany, the Netherlands and France since the 1970s, these countries can usefully be compared with Danish water-pollution control policy which did not rely on economic instruments. In Germany and France there were also reductions, but despite a smaller levy France had achieved more significant reductions than Germany.
