Innovation in global public goods: Issues and challenges in provision of environment-monitoring services in Europe

Abstract

Global climate change has necessitated a co-ordinated response from policy-makers across the world. Though the imperative for action has been much discussed in policy circles, actions at the implementation level remain somewhat less well-developed. The European Commission through its Framework Programmes has taken the lead in the development of a set of innovative services that are geared towards monitoring of the environment for the benefit of European citizens. These services are, at present, rapidly moving towards an operational phase. This paper provides a critical appraisal of the effort of the European Union to develop a portfolio of operational and sustainable environment monitoring services. It also identifies key stakeholders and discusses their role in order to raise the issue of appropriateness of a system of innovation to support this type of initiative. The paper views these services as global public goods in nature, having dynamics of innovation that are qualitatively different from that witnessed in private goods and services.