ABSTRACT
Building upon the role of organizations, green innovation theories are introduced including ecological modernization, environmental economic geography, and the technological innovation systems framework. Technology creation and commercialization environments are discussed including the role of industries, clusters, and regional innovation strategies. Case studies demonstrating the practice of green innovation include solar energy research and development at the National Renewable Energy Labs in the United States, an institutional innovation for biological diversity preservation in the form of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative in North America, and a water system innovation study in Oklahoma. Sustainable innovation processes are used to frame technology breakthroughs that are making electrified charging lanes on roads and highways possible by overcoming the traditional barriers of electric cars including charging time and capacity constraints. Progress towards green innovation can be measured by comparing gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) to CO2 emissions per capita. A critical discussion about the implications of GERD trends in different countries is used to emphasize the linkages between green innovation and sustainability transitions.
