Environmental partnerships in sustainable energy

Abstract Partnerships between environmental organizations and the private sector are fairly new. They are an expression of a professional approach in the environmental movement and a private sector vision of the environment as a business opportunity. Focusing on the field of sustainable energy production, this article considers which functions the partnerships perform and which conditions determine their success. The conclusion is that, although partnerships may shake up the market, their potential is still constrained by their ad hoc character, their limited knowledge of the market, the exclusive nature of the arrangement and the lack of international coordination. Interestingly, partnerships call upon the government for policy to help them make further breakthroughs in the development of sustainable products. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.