Leapfrogging Possibilities For Sustainable Consumption and ...

• radical innovations: discontinuous inventions that are usually the result of
deliberate research and development that lead to a radical departure from
previous production practice;
• changes of technological systems: far-reaching changes in technology as a result
of a cluster of radical innovations that affect several branches of an economy;
• changes of techno-economic paradigm : those technological systems that affect
directly or indirectly every other branch of the entire economy (such as the
information and communication technology revolution).
Leapfrogging can happen accidentally, situationally, or intentionally 44 . A situation that
fits well the first case is where the only systems around for adoption in the area under
consideration are better than legacy systems elsewhere. In the second case where
leapfrogging occurs situationally is where, for example, in a sprawling rural area
decentralized communication systems are adopted. The intentional one happens in the
case where policies by design are developed, for example, to promote the installation of
WiFi and free computers in poor urban areas.
4.2 Leapfrogging as an Opportunity for
poverty alleviation
Policies and actions supporting SCP can serve to bolster poverty reduction efforts and
support sustainable long-term growth. Measures which reduce inefficient use of energy
and other resources are particularly relevant in low-income countries where severe
resource scarcities mean that wastage has high opportunity costs. By conserving natural
resources and the revenues they generate and in particular avoiding degradation of soil
and other ecosystems, SCP measures can protect the incomes of the poor and enhance
food security (MDG 1). A more efficient and less polluting use of natural resources can
improve quality of life by preserving the regulating functions of ecosystems and reducing
environmental health problems (MDGs 4, 5 and 6). SCP also contributes directly to
ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7) and global partnerships (MDG 8) that
can support the development of innovative products and services that help to meet basic
needs in a more sustainable manner. In other words, SCP could help countries in the
South to ‘leapfrog’ to sustainable models of development 45 .
SCP could also help countries to develop new markets for sustainable products and new
sources of employment as well as to better position themselves as producers for export
markets. More efficient use of resources would enable businesses to achieve cost savings
for acquiring, processing and disposing materials. Sustainable products and services that
meet basic needs in an efficient manner could present viable business models and create
new local employment 46 .
44 Steffen (2006)
45 UNEP and UNDESA (2007)
46 Ibid
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