Planetary Improvement explores the rise of an environmental politics no longer predicated upon saving the planet from capitalism, but instead upon saving the planet with capitalism. Through an ethnographic investigation of early stage cleantech entrepreneurship in New York City, the book examines the complicated and contested politics of technological innovation that have led to a widespread investment – psychically as well as financially – in visions of technological salvation meant to “save the planet”. As venture investors impose market discipline upon entrepreneurs and inventors hoping to ... More

Planetary Improvement explores the rise of an environmental politics no longer predicated upon saving the planet from capitalism, but instead upon saving the planet with capitalism. Through an ethnographic investigation of early stage cleantech entrepreneurship in New York City, the book examines the complicated and contested politics of technological innovation that have led to a widespread investment – psychically as well as financially – in visions of technological salvation meant to “save the planet”. As venture investors impose market discipline upon entrepreneurs and inventors hoping to make a positive environmental impact, visions of what clean technologies can accomplish are dramatically attenuated, channeled into incremental gains within already existing markets. “Planetary improvement” is a powerful imaginary connecting these incremental gains to planetary transformation, offering a vision of how innovation, technology and economic growth can and should solve environmental problems. Though it is common to conceptualize entrepreneurs as the creative vanguard of capital, Planetary Improvement instead shows how capital, or the investors operating in its name, are interested in entrepreneurs that are willing to renounce control over their work. While many see innovation as something that capital spurs or actively encourages, the book shows how capital captures and stifles– as much as it creates – visions of sociotechnical possibility and transformation. Along these lines, Planetary Improvement asks how to think about untethering innovation from the imperative to maximize profits at all expense. Can we envision ways to produce socially, to be innovative, creative and caring, while beholden to a different set of responsibilities altogether?