2.2
Economics context: steady-state or bust
“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.” – Schopenhauer, German philosopher.
Manchester has a real opportunity to show genuinely new thinking on climate change, blazing a trail for true sustainability in the 21st century. However following this path will require both determination and humility.
The Industrial Revolution, born in Manchester, launched the relentless growth of our economies with a reliance on the ever-greater use of coal, gas and oil. We know that we cannot go on like this.
If Manchester wishes to be a part of the post-industrial revolution, then it will have to challenge its habits, its hopes and its vested interests. The challenge is enormous, but surely no larger than what faced the brave Mancunians who campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade, for the 8 hour working day, or votes for women. In all those cases, and others, the people supporting the status quo predicted the end of civilisation if the campaigners got their way. Civilisation didn’t end, but it might just, if we don’t get the steady state economy built. Now.
While the Call to Action (Catalytic Action 6) suggests:
“The City Council recognises that development adds to Manchester’s carbon footprint, both in the ‘embodied energy’ that is used simply in the process of constructing buildings and infrastructure and in the additional emissions generated by extra residents. However, it rejects the suggestion that this argues for reducing the pace or quantum of development in Manchester.”
We would quote the following, from a recent Sustainable Development Commission report entitled ‘Prosperity Without Growth: The transition to a Sustainable Economy’:
“A return to business as usual is not an option. Prosperity for the few founded on ecological destruction and persistent social injustice is no foundation for a civilised society. The current economic crisis presents us with a unique opportunity to invest in change. To sweep away the short-term thinking that has plagued society for decades. To replace it with considered policy capable of addressing the enormous challenge of delivering a lasting prosperity.
“For at the end of the day, prosperity goes beyond material pleasures. It transcends material concerns. It resides in the quality of our lives and in the health and happiness of our families. It is present in the strength of our relationships and our trust in the community. It is evidenced by our satisfaction at work and our sense of shared meaning and purpose. It hangs on our potential to participate fully in the life of society.
“Prosperity consists in our ability to flourish as human beings – within the ecological limits of a finite planet. The challenge for our society is to create the conditions under which this is possible. It is the most urgent task of our times.”
Practical Actions:
-
The Council should fund a series of public meetings and debates during the course of 2009, ensuring the widest possible participation from academia, business, the Trade Unions, the “third sector” and Manchester citizens. This process should culminate in a report on steady-state economics and its meaning for Greater Manchester.
This process and report could draw on the work of international figures such as Herman Daly, formerly an economist with the World Bank. For his recent analysis of the “credit crunch” see here http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/81/the_crisis.html also the Post Carbon Institute http://www.postcarboncities.net
International figures should be invited to participate only via tele-conferencing. Even if they are able to fund their own travel to Manchester, they should be respectfully declined.
Nationally it could draw on the work of the new economics foundation. http://www.neweconomics.org, the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission http://www.sd-commission.org.uk and Zero Carbon Britainhttp://www.zerocarbonbritain.com
Locally it could draw on the work of the New Green Deal for Manchester.
http://greendealmanchester.wordpress.com/ and other local initiatives and expertise, such as Urbed http://www.urbed.coop
The Community Strategy for 2015 and beyond should use this work as its underlying assumption.
The Council should fund places for local campaigners and residents to attend the Centre for Local Economic Strategy’s two day conference in July.
“Over two days the Summit will examine how we deal with local economic challenges and develop the new approaches to strategy, policy and delivery required to create resilient local economies. The event attracts speakers including Government Ministers, key public officials and senior people from regional and local government.”
http://www.cles.org.uk/information/103505/cles_summit/
0
Leave a comment