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What are the fist steps one should take in order to become an ecopreneur?

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How has the adaptations of solar panels changed the environment, do you think the solar panels industry has a long future?

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Swedish energy company commits to big wind energy investment 

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Swedish energy company commits to big wind energy investment 

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28/03/2017

Vattenfall has unveiled plans to invest Skr17bn (€1.8bn) in onshore and offshore wind power over the next two years as part of a strategy to focus on renewables.

The Swedish utility plans to make growth investments of Skr28bn between 2017 and 2018, most of which targeting wind, solar power and electricity distribution.

This new investment plan reflects a strategic shift that is in line with the company's goal of becoming entirely fossil-free, it said.

The figures can be found on Vattenfall's Annual and Sustainability Report 2016, published today.

The company sold its lignite operations in Germany last year, lowering its share of fossil-fuel generation to 25% from about 50% before.

"A more sustainable energy system is currently being created as the electricity market continues its shift towards fossil-free generation," chief executive Magnus Hall said.

"This system is closer to customers and combines efficient, large-scale production with decentralised solutions.

"Today we are exceptionally well positioned to develop Vattenfall's business in line with these trends."
Image: Vattenfall

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28/03/2017 Vattenfall has unveiled plans to invest Skr17bn (€1.8bn) in onshore and offshore wind power over the next two years as part of a strategy to focus on renewables. The Swedish utility plans to make growth investments of Skr28bn between 2017 and 2018, most of which targeting wind, solar power and electricity distribution.

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Hi Annika,
Deconstructing Ecopreneurship makes distinctions between entrepreneurs and ecopreneurs, focusing on how ecopreneurs are motivated to start an enterprise by the desire to create social change. However, are they not still limited to what is financially viable (what investors will invest in and what the market will support)? What are some strategies that ecopreneurs could use to nudge capitalistic society to consume less/more responsibly?

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Hi Annika,
I enjoyed your writings and thoughts on this idea of ecopreneurship, but it also seemed a bit fantastic. Particularly in the reflection in "Deconstructing Ecopreneurship", the individual being described does not seem very relatable, and so I wonder, who could be used as an example of a true ecopreneur, per your description? Perhaps by giving a known example, it would be easier to understand the ideal being promoted.

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After reading the literature I was wondering if you think people who work in the energy industry are more inclined to create eco-activism in the workplace than people who work in other industries?

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What are your thoughts on company’s that pollute who work with environmentalism? On the one hand it seems preferable that companies work with environmental issues rather than don’t. On the other hand it seems dangerous/concerning that a company that contributes to climate change appears to be helping the environment. How can companies work with environmentalism or CSR in a way that helps the world, but still doesn’t justify or glorify the company? Additionally, on an individual level, can you promote environmentalism even if you work for a corporation that harms the environment? Can a balance be reached between the juxtaposition of helping and harming the environment?

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Some human beings prefer to initiate change outside of an existing system, or in contrast try to induce changing mechanisms within the system.
If one works within a company in a CSR department, how can one induce long-lasting, sustainable change without contradicting oneself and only be part of a company's greenwashing department?
How does one in this context dissolve existing structures within a company and get everyone on the boat?
Thank you!

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When it comes to companies which are inherently poluting like for example an oil company, would the ultimate act of activism against that not be not working for a company like that? In the end you are earning your money from pollution. A company without employees wouldn't be company.

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Dear Annika,
After reading the literature and about the many different types of eco/entrepreneurs, I questioned the amount of labels that seem to have been put on people.

For example, do you think the distinction between economic and ecological entrepreneurship could be a dangerous one? Why should entrepreneur have to choose between money and the environment - there must be ways of succeeding in both spheres simultaneously. Could this language be creating a false dichotomy that you cannot be both economically successful alongside eco-friendly behaviour - perhaps leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy of people labeled “economic entrepreneurs” (in comparison to "ecological entrepreneurs") to not even bother considering the environmental impacts of their actions as they have already been labelled as someone who doesn't care?

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In "Deconstructing Ecopreneurship" you discuss in the Reflection section the characteristics needed for becoming a true ecopreneur. While you say that most people have ecopreneurial qualities, it might be difficult for some people to really turn inward and go beyond awareness. How might we overcome these barriers? Or is ecopreneurship not for everyone?

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I am a careful supporter of the idea that in order to change a system/practise one is critical towards, the most efficient way is to engage yourself in that very system or practise and then transform it from within. Would you agree with this? Or is it far too easy to be transformed oneself, and instead adapt to the existing  frameworks for reasons like the ones that have been highlighted by my collegeues here already (e.g. green washing, job security etc.)

Also, do you think there is a specific strategy one can keep in mind when attempting to be a "change agent from the inside"?

Thank you!

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My question is in regards to the article 'Deconstructing Ecopreneurship' - Here the both of the terms commercial ecopreneurs and green-green ecopreneurs were introduced.

I was wondering what your view was on the importance of this differentiation in the wider context of still achieving sustainable development policies?

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Hi Annika!

I'm really looking forward for your talk. I have been working with business incubators for ecological concerned businesses and social businesses and it has been really nice and they DO make a change WHILE still making money, so to me they are still in the neoliberal side of things, how would you separate them? from ecopreneurship? In  Deconstructing Ecopreneurship it still sounded to me like this version of businesses

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In your article Wind Power Activism you draw the picture that certain employees of Vattenfall are behaving like activists, in their struggle to align their eco-ethical selve with the non-ethical parts of the company, by working with wind turbines.
But where's the activism in this action? Only because they're choosing to work with wind turbines, or rather projecting their hope for a sustainable future on the companies few wind turbine project and with that affirming themselves as "providers for the low-carbon world the wanted", is highly questionable.
I don't see the change they're causing with that behaviour, not within themselves by satisfying their bad conscience, neither how the companies policies would change that way.
Maybe you can make your point a bit clearer.

Thank you for your time!

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Hi Annika!

During your ethnographic work at Vattenfall, did you observe any inconsistencies between workers responses and/or behavior in their different roles at work? For example, when talking to you vs. managers, bosses, colleagues

One interesting observation from your 'Wind Power Activism' article was that a younger employee referred to himself as "we" (generation) will change the future.... Any other larger observed opinions or patterns due to time in life, age, position in company, interest, background?

Thank you for your time and I very much so look forward to meeting you on monday!

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How can workers be protected when speaking out against workplace issues?

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How can workers be protected when speaking out against workplace issues?

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Hej Annika,

It is often be those working within a corporation that sees its negative effects the most and the people responsible for doing them.

What inclinations are there for workers to advocate for change within their place of work when no one wants to take responsibility? When loosing their job and income is at risk, how are they or can they be protected for speaking up?

Is there certain strategies that such an actor can utilise that lower their risk of loosing their job and the resistance they might face?

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Hej Annika,

In 'Deconstructing Ecopreneurship', one of the attributes of an ecopreneur mentioned is; combining the personal obligation to environment with economic development.

I have the impression that a business becoming 'green', or environmentally friendly, often isn't very economically beneficial in its process, since structures, systems and materials needs to be changed and improved and so on. And that might make businesses not as interested in making those changes. Is it then better, easier, more and more likely to happen, not to change an already existing business to become more environmentally friendly, but to start a new one that in the future could become it's replacement?

Tack!
Ida

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When it's not in the hands of the employer

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When it's not in the hands of the employer

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Hej Annika,
during my studies, I've always worked in restaurants and cafés and have been faced with a lot of waste, such as food waste but also the excessive use of paper towels or one-time gloves and other environmentally unfriendly behaviour, such as the disproportionate use of plastic. When confronting my employer with such issues, they always blamed hygenic rules to limit them in their actions. First, I'm not sure whether this is not just an excuse to not rethink their behaviour, but secondly, I wonder what I as an individual can do if my employer blames a higher institution.

Thanks!
Vera

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Hi Annika!
Thanks for visiting us. In certain professions such as lawyers, accountants/auditors and medical doctors, professionals are obligated to follow a moral code of conduct. These people can loose their jobs of they violate the moral code. Do you think the use of moral codes in more professions is a way forward in terms of acheiving sustainability?

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In "Deconstructing Ecopreneurship" you touch on the fact that labels like this can oftentimes be misused for marketing purposes. A further worry in that direction might be that when we opt in to the use of expressions that draw heavily on the already established framework that puts the emphasize on growth, economy and other capitalist ideals we risk that the apple does not fall far from tree.

To put it more bluntly: Entrepreneurship has a nice ring to it, and is associated with good things. But it's also associated with capitalist ideals like great profitability and strong economic growth. I worry that the word ecopreneur will, by merit of its association to the framework of the growth society, be used to describe someone with a regular entrepreneurial spirit with green face paint RATHER than someone who is highly concerned with environmental integrity and social impacts of business.

Do you agree with this? Or do you think that the familiarity of words like ecopreneurship makes it ideal for a new "greener" framework?

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The empirical-rational strategy for changing human systems 

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The empirical-rational strategy for changing human systems 

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In this week’s change theory (4 general strategies for changing human systems) one of the strategies is the empirical-rational strategy. The idea here is that a person can change if two conditions are met: (1) the change is rationally justified (if it is in the person’s self-interest) and if the change agent demonstrate the befits of change.

My questions is if this idea is something you work with and how? The reason why I chose this strategy is because I feel like that’s the one I’d respond to best. Do you have any ideas on how to rationally justify and demonstrate the benefits of sustainable living?

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New Organisational Forms and Greenwashing

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New Organisational Forms and Greenwashing

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Dear Annika,

On the Uppsala University webpage I've read that your main area of study is 'new organisational forms,' and I was wondering what those new organisational forms include? What makes them 'new' and how do they operate?

Furthermore, I've read that you are working on 'alternative entrepreneurship,' as green and sustainable entrepreneurship. Being a student of Sustainable Development, the issue of green and sustainable entrepreneurship has been subject to many of our debates. I was wondering what your thoughts are on green and sustainable entreprepeneurship, and more specifically how you can distinguish those forms of entrepreneurship from green washing? How do you, and how does the consumer, recognizes the difference between these two?

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Hej Annika,

How can one avoid being “preachy” in the workplace? How can one involve other side I’m the activism so it isn’t you against everyone else, rather a sharing of communal interests?
I look forwards to our talk!
Thanks,
Lilly.

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Sexual harassment, rape, and abuses by the senior UN workers and Oxfam international in Chad, Haiti, Sudan, Central African Republic, Congo name it. All the women who faced sexual harassment three of 15 lost their jobs. The sexual harassment involves both women working in the UN and young girls who these organizations claim to protect. A whistle-blower who reported the UN employees’ engagement in sexual abuses in Haiti and the Central African Republic face retaliation.  Do you think that it is worth paying to practice activism in the workplace which involves job insecurity?

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Sexual harassment, rape, and abuses by the senior UN workers and Oxfam international in Chad, Haiti, Sudan, Central African Republic, Congo name it. All the women who faced sexual harassment three of 15 lost their jobs. The sexual harassment involves both women working in the UN and young girls who these organizations claim to protect. A whistle-blower who reported the UN employees’ engagement in sexual abuses in Haiti and the Central African Republic face retaliation.  Do you think that it is worth paying to practice activism in the workplace which involves job insecurity?

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## Narice Ninyesiga
https://www.devex.com/news/leaked-un-staff-survey-shows-fears-over-whistleblowing-ethical-accountability-92234

https://hotair.com/archives/2018/01/19/report-united-nations-rife-sexual-harassment-assault/

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How do you know where to draw the line in terms of activism in the workplace? What if it comes across as offensive and your job is at risk?