For decades the politicisation of human-induced environmental degradation has been considered a main driver of transformations in governance (and the state) Contributing to these broad debates have been two vocal literatures of ecological modernisation and sustainable transition studies. These have relied on changes in science and technology and more precisely ‘technological innovation’ to explain this transformation. Over time these dominant approaches have produced a world view of how technology, economy, ecology and society progress in an evolutionary path-dependent manner leading to an efficiency theory of politics. Yet, to replace this determinist vision of the governing of green transitions with one which is more focused on politics and choices, and leaves more room for public debate, we need to step outside this evolutionary way of thinking. Applying critical political sociology analysis and through empirical demonstration, we offer an alternative vision of the tension between capitalism and ecology.