Green Growth Policy, De-Growth, and Sustainability: the Alternative Solution for Achieving the Balance Between Both the Natural and the Economic System
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Building a Sustainable and Desirable Economy-In-Society- In-Nature
SCIENCE | ENVIRONMENT State of the World 2013 2013 STATE OF THE WORLD is Is Sustainability Still Possible? SUSTAINABILITY “State of the World 2013 assembles the wisdom and clarity of some of the earth’s finest thinkers, visionaries, and activists into a dazzling array of topics that merge to offer a compellingly lucid and accessible vision of where we are—and what is the wisest and healthiest course for the future.” OF THE WORLD STATE —NINA SIMONS, Cofounder, Bioneers Still Possible? “This edition forges a new path for the State of the World series, and for environmental thinking in general. A pivotal book that marks a defining moment for our species.” — RICHARD HEINBERG, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, and author of The End of Growth “State of the World 2013 is a powerful collection of articles, and the vision behind it is impressive. Here is a book that gets beyond ‘sustainababble’ and asks the tough, essential questions. It should make readers more determined than ever to do their part in avoiding planet-wide disaster—and better informed about how to do that.” — PETER SINGER, Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University, and author of Animal Liberation, One World, and The Life You Can Save Sustainability gets plenty of lip service, but the relentless worsening of key environmental trends reveals much of that attention to be “sustainababble.” From climate instability and species extinctions to approaching scarcities of freshwater, minerals, and energy, worrisome limits to human economic activity look more pressing each year—all while our political institutions seem impotent to address the challenge. THE WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE, in this edition of the celebrated State of the World series, takes an unflinching look at what the data say about the prospects for achieving true sustainability, 2013 what we should be doing now to make progress toward it, and how we might cope if we fail to do so. -
The Ecological Footprint Emerged As a Response to the Challenge of Sustainable Development, Which Aims at Securing Everybody's Well-Being Within Planetary Constraints
16 Ecological Footprint accounts The Ecological Footprint emerged as a response to the challenge of sustainable development, which aims at securing everybody's well-being within planetary constraints. It sharpens sustainable development efforts by offering a metric for this challenge’s core condition: keeping the human metabolism within the means of what the planet can renew. Therefore, Ecological Footprint accounting seeks to answer one particular question: How much of the biosphere’s (or any region’s) regenerative capacity does any human activity demand? The condition of keeping humanity’s material demands within the amount the planet can renew is a minimum requirement for sustainability. While human demands can exceed what the planet renew s for some time, exceeding it leads inevitably to (unsustainable) depletion of nature’s stocks. Such depletion can only be maintained temporarily. In this chapter we outline the underlying principles that are the foundation of Ecological Footprint accounting. 16 Ecological Footprint accounts Runninghead Right-hand pages: 16 Ecological Footprint accounts Runninghead Left-hand pages: Mathis Wackernagel et al. 16 Ecological Footprint accounts Principles 1 Mathis Wackernagel, Alessandro Galli, Laurel Hanscom, David Lin, Laetitia Mailhes, and Tony Drummond 1. Introduction – addressing all demands on nature, from carbon emissions to food and fibres Through the Paris Climate Agreement, nearly 200 countries agreed to keep global temperature rise to less than 2°C above the pre-industrial level. This goal implies ending fossil fuel use globally well before 2050 ( Anderson, 2015 ; Figueres et al., 2017 ; Rockström et al., 2017 ). The term “net carbon” in the agreement further suggests humanity needs far more than just a transition to clean energy; managing land to support many competing needs also will be crucial. -
Durham Research Online
Durham Research Online Deposited in DRO: 01 January 2015 Version of attached le: Published Version Peer-review status of attached le: Peer-reviewed Citation for published item: Chatzidakis, A. and Larsen, G. and Bishop, S. (2014) 'Farewell to consumerism : countervailing logics of growth in consumption.', Ephemera : theory and politics in organization., 14 (4). pp. 753-764. Further information on publisher's website: http://www.ephemerajournal.org/contribution/farewell-consumerism-countervailing-logics-growth- consumption Publisher's copyright statement: Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Additional information: Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Durham University Library, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LY, United Kingdom Tel : +44 (0)191 334 3042 | Fax : +44 (0)191 334 2971 https://dro.dur.ac.uk the author(s) 2014 ISSN 1473-2866 (Online) ISSN 2052-1499 (Print) www.ephemerajournal.org volume 14(4): 753-764 Farewell to consumerism: Countervailing logics of growth in consumption Andreas Chatzidakis, Gretchen Larsen and Simon Bishop Introduction The logic of growth is dominant in the contemporary political economy and in various notions of social and cultural prosperity (e.g. -
Environment Versus Growth — a Criticism of “Degrowth” and a Plea for “A-Growth”
Ecological Economics 70 (2011) 881–890 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ecological Economics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolecon Analysis Environment versus growth — A criticism of “degrowth” and a plea for “a-growth” Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh ⁎ ICREA, Barcelona, Spain Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, and Department of Economics and Economic History, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola), Spain Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, and Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands article info abstract Article history: In recent debates on environmental problems and policies, the strategy of “degrowth” has appeared as an Received 21 May 2010 alternative to the paradigm of economic growth. This new notion is critically evaluated by considering five Received in revised form 21 September 2010 common interpretations of it. One conclusion is that these multiple interpretations make it an ambiguous and Accepted 28 September 2010 rather confusing concept. Another is that degrowth may not be an effective, let alone an efficient strategy to Available online 4 November 2010 reduce environmental pressure. It is subsequently argued that “a-growth,” i.e. being indifferent about growth, is a more logical social aim to substitute for the current goal of economic growth, given that GDP (per capita) is Keywords: Consumption a very imperfect indicator of social welfare. In addition, focusing ex ante on public policy is considered to be a Environmental policy strategy which ultimately is more likely to obtain the necessary democratic–political support than an ex ante, Equity explicit degrowth strategy. In line with this, a policy package is proposed which consists of six elements, some GDP paradox of which relate to concerns raised by degrowth supporters. -
Participating in Food Waste Transitions: Exploring Surplus Food Redistribution in Singapore Through the Ecologies of Participation Framework
Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cjoe20 Participating in food waste transitions: exploring surplus food redistribution in Singapore through the ecologies of participation framework Monika Rut , Anna R. Davies & Huiying Ng To cite this article: Monika Rut , Anna R. Davies & Huiying Ng (2020): Participating in food waste transitions: exploring surplus food redistribution in Singapore through the ecologies of participation framework, Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, DOI: 10.1080/1523908X.2020.1792859 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2020.1792859 © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Published online: 16 Jul 2020. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 79 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=cjoe20 JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & PLANNING https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2020.1792859 Participating in food waste transitions: exploring surplus food redistribution in Singapore through the ecologies of participation framework Monika Rut a, Anna R. Davies a and Huiying Ng b aDepartment of Geography, Museum Building, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; bIndependent Scholar, Singapore ABSTRACT KEYWORDS Food waste is a global societal meta-challenge requiring a sustainability transition Food waste; transitions; involving everyone, including publics. However, to date, much transitions research has participation; ecologies of been silent on the role of public participation and overly narrow in its geographical participation; Singapore reach. In response, this paper examines whether the ecologies of participation (EOP) approach provides a conceptual framing for understanding the role of publics within food waste transitions in Singapore. -
Dec Issue # 76 What You Have Missed! MARINA BARRAGE’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY FINALE 26-28 Oct 2018
Dec Issue # 76 What you have missed! MARINA BARRAGE’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY FINALE 26-28 Oct 2018 The end of October has held particular significance for PUB since 2008 – on 31 October 2008, the Marina Barrage was officially opened after decades of hard work and planning, realising former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of a freshwater reservoir in the city. In celebration of this milestone, a 3-day carnival was held from 26-28 October, bringing people a slew of fun and excitement. There were over a hundred stalls for the shopaholics, foodies, and activities for families and even our environmentally-conscious friends! There were specially-curated foods reminiscent of the Barrage’s crest gates and gigantic pumps, both of which work to maintain consistent water levels in the Marina Reservoir and alleviate flooding in low-lying areas of the city. Free river cruises for the public to appreciate the efforts that go into keeping the reservoir waters clean beautiful. The Barrage came alive at night with twinkling fairy lights and the sounds of bustle, when shoppers did what they did best and sourced for their kicks. Many stalls boasted self-designed and handmade items, and the prices of the little trinkets sure were easy on the pocket! With 2018 designated as the year of Climate Action, and the Marina Barrage an icon of water security and sustainability, it only made sense that there be a Sustainable Zone at the Finale! Members of the public could sign up for activities and workshops to try their hand at upcycling everyday items into useful stuff, like milk cartons into coin pouches, and throwaway wallpaper samples into wallets! Image credit: Terra SG The highlight of the three days was when Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, graced the celebrations on 27 October. -
Green Economy Or Green Utopia? Rio+20 and the Reproductive Labor Class
Green Economy or Green Utopia? Rio+20 and the Reproductive Labor Class Ariel Salleh University of Sydney [email protected] Sociologists use the concept of class variously to explain and predict people's relation to the means of production, their earnings, living conditions, social standing, capacities, and political identification. With the rise of capitalist globalization, many sociologists focus on the transnational ruling class and new economic predicaments faced by industrial workers in the world-system (see, for example, Robinson and Harris 2000). Here I will argue that to understand and respond to the current global environmental crisis, another major class formation should be acknowledged - one defined by its materially regenerative activities under "relations of reproduction" (Salleh 2010). The salience of this hypothetical third class is demonstrated by the 2012 United Nations Rio+20 summit and its official "green economy" negotiating text The Future We Want (UNCSD 2012). Clearly, the question that begs to be asked is - who is the "we" in this international document, and whose "utopia" does it serve? Part of the answer is found in a recent G20 media release, suggesting that "current high energy prices open policy space for economic incentives to renewables [...] investors are looking for alternatives given the low interest rates in developed countries, a factor that presents an opportunity for green economy projects” (Calderon 2012). The UN, together with the transnational capitalist class, looks to technology and new institutional architectures to push against the limits of living ecologies, and these measures are given legitimation as "economic necessity." Yet empirically, it is peasants, mothers, fishers and gatherers working with natural thermodynamic processes who meet everyday needs for the majority of people on earth. -
Degrowth ‘From Below’? the Role of Urban Social Movements in a Post-Capitalist Transition
_ Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute Degrowth ‘from below’? The role of urban social movements in a post-capitalist transition Research Paper Degrowth ‘from below’? The role of urban social movements in a post-capitalist transition Research Paper No. 6, March 2019 MSSI’s Research Papers series is aimed at showcasing new and exciting sustainability knowledge. The papers are referenced and are subject to an internal academic review process. The Institute hopes this scholarship will stimulate thought and discussion within the University of Melbourne and in the broader community. Authors Dr Samuel Alexander is a Research Fellow with the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute and a lecturer with the Office for Environmental Programs, University of Melbourne. He is the author of thirteen books, including Degrowth in the Suburbs (2019, co-authored with Brendan Gleeson), Wild Democracy (2017), Prosperous Descent (2015) and Sufficiency Economy (2015). Professor Brendan Gleeson is the Director of the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, at the University of Melbourne. Brendan has made significant scholarly contributions in urban and social policy, environmental theory and policy. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, three of which have won national and international prizes, and numerous journal articles. Acknowledgements Thanks to John Wiseman and Robert Perey for sharing very helpful feedback on a draft of this paper. Cover Image Photo credit: permablitz.sintra 02 17042011 121/flickr/creative commons Citing this paper Please cite this paper as Alexander, S. and Gleeson, B. 2019, Degrowth ‘from below’? The role of urban social movements in a post-capitalist transition, MSSI Research Paper, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, The University of Melbourne. -
“Degrowth”, Racial Inequality and Sustainability
Sustainability 2013, 5, 1282-1303; doi:10.3390/su5031282 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Essay The World is Yours: “Degrowth”, Racial Inequality and Sustainability Brian Gilmore College of Law, Michigan State University, 610 Abbott Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; E-Mails: [email protected]; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-202-549-2277 Received: 30 October 2012; in revised form: 7 January 2013 / Accepted: 7 February 2013 / Published: 20 March 2013 Abstract: In French economist Serge Latouche’s 2009 book, Farewell to Growth, Latouche discusses “degrowth” in great detail, but he also explains how racial bias (and bias in general) in the world today has no place in a post-GDP world that embraces the principles outlined in “degrowth” or, as he calls it, décroissance. Latouche writes in Farewell to Growth that “we resist, and must resist all forms of racism and discrimination (skin color, sex, religion, ethnicity)”, biases he insist are “all too common in the West today.” Latouche’s ideas are important for considering “degrowth”, because racial bias and the historical problems presented by that bias, in the United States, continues despite efforts to address it in a significant manner. The World is Yours discusses “degrowth” , economic growth and racial inequality, seeking to not only provide a better understanding of the recent social, legal and political meaning of these terms, but also the difficulties presented by these ideas today in a world increasingly committed to economic growth, even at the expense of human existence. How can a new economic paradigm be pursued that is more sustainable? Will African-Americans and other groups of color and nations of color accept “degrowth” if the US begins to implement a real sustainable agenda that addresses racial inequality? Keywords: degrowth, racial inequality, wealth gap, sustainability, restorative justice 1. -
A Menu for Change
A Menu for Change Using behavioural science to promote sustainable diets around the world The Behavioural Insights Team / A Menu for Change 2 The Behavioural Insights Team / A Menu for Change Toby Park, Head of Energy & Sustainability, The Behavioural Insights Team [email protected] Acknowledgements This report has benefitted from several individuals’ contributions. With particular thanks for substantive research support and contributions to early content and the structure of the report, to Emma Garnett (University of Cambridge) and Brittney Titus (University of Oxford), both supporting us while at placement at BIT. With thanks also to Elisabeth Costa (BIT), Dr Filippo Bianchi (BIT), Dr Jessica Barker (BIT), and Dr Christian Reynolds (University of Sheffield) for their valuable feedback and comments. This is a long report. We hope you’ll read it cover-to-cover, but if not, it’s written to allow you to dip into individual sections. Look out for the short orange descriptions at the beginning of each chapter to keep track of where you are. Sections 1.1-1.2 introduce the problem, and make the rationale for shifting global diets. This will be familiar ground for environmental scientists. Section 1.3 looks at the current state, and emerging trends, in diets around the world, and Section 1.4 highlights the many historical occasions when diets have radically changed through technological innovation or deliberate intervention from government and industry. Section 1.5 acknowledges the sensitivities of this topic, and offers some reflections on how we might navigate public and political consent. We don’t have all the answers here but give a series of recommendations for building public support and developing effective policy. -
Publicized Private Action As the Anti-Greenwashing Mechanism in Modern Society
Is Twitter the New FTC and EPA? Publicized Private Action as the Anti-Greenwashing Mechanism in Modern Society CLAIRE FISCHER* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................. 315 I. Background ............................................. 316 II. Current Regulation and Enforcement Efforts ..................... 319 A. Federal Regulation and Enforcement ....................... 319 1. Federal Trade Commission .......................... 319 2. Environmental Protection Agency ..................... 320 3. Food & Drug Administration ........................ 321 4. U.S. Department of Agriculture ....................... 322 B. State Regulation and Enforcement ........................ 323 C. Nongovernmental Enforcement .......................... 324 D. private right of action for competing companies ... 324 III. Analysis ............................................... 325 A. Greenwashing Enforcement: then and Now . 325 1. Executive Action Trending Away from Environmental Protection ...................................... 326 2. Disempowerment of Federal Agencies ... 327 B. Use Of Private Lawsuits To Pick Up The Government's Slack . 328 1. The (Not So) Honest Co.: The Reward of Private Action . 328 2. La Croix: The Risk of Private Action ... 330 3. Common Law as a Gap Filler (and Nudge) for Federal Regulation ...................................... 331 IV. Conclusion ............................................. 332 INTRODUCTION Consumers are using their wallets to enact environmental and social change, now more than -
Towards Green Growth Summary in English
Towards Green Growth Summary in English • Green growth means fostering economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies. To do this it must catalyse investment and innovation which will underpin sustained growth and give rise to new economic opportunities. • A return to ‘business as usual’ would be unwise and ultimately unsustainable, involving risks that could impose human costs and constraints on economic growth and development. It could result in increased water scarcity, resource bottlenecks, air and water pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss which would be irreversible; thus the need for strategies to achieve greener growth. Towards Green Growth - ISBN 978-92-64-094970 © OECD 2011 Sources of green growth Green growth has the potential to address economic and environmental challenges and open up new sources of growth through the following channels: • Productivity. Incentives for greater efficiency in the use of resources and natural assets: enhancing productivity, reducing waste and energy consumption and making resources available to highest value use. • Innovation. Opportunities for innovation, spurred by policies and framework conditions that allow for new ways of addressing environmental problems. • New markets. Creation of new markets by stimulating demand for green technologies, goods, and services; creating potential for new job opportunities. • Confidence. Boosting investor confidence through greater predictability and stability around how governments are going to deal with major environmental issues. • Stability. More balanced macroeconomic conditions, reduced resource price volatility and supporting fiscal consolidation through, for instance, reviewing the composition and efficiency of public spending and increasing revenues through the pricing of pollution.