I think that is one of the three key learning point for the Greens in the 2st century. You've put your finger right on it.
I'm very influenced by the late, great JK Galbraith and his key realisation was that the demand for economic growth is largely driven by the job destroying qualities of technology coupled with a lack of social justice (aka redistribution of weath or a more equal sharing of leisure time). So there is a constant political demand for economic growth so that people displaced out of one job have another job to go to so they are not dependent on awkward conversations about redistribution. Therefore, if you want to reduce the demand for economic growth for sustainability reasons you have to address social justice.
The second lessons being that economic growth does not necessarily imply environmental damage, increased energy usage or extra carbon and that environmental stewardship will be easier to sell if it comes with intelligently considered sustainable growth.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2015-05-08 03:49 pm (UTC)I think that is one of the three key learning point for the Greens in the 2st century. You've put your finger right on it.
I'm very influenced by the late, great JK Galbraith and his key realisation was that the demand for economic growth is largely driven by the job destroying qualities of technology coupled with a lack of social justice (aka redistribution of weath or a more equal sharing of leisure time). So there is a constant political demand for economic growth so that people displaced out of one job have another job to go to so they are not dependent on awkward conversations about redistribution. Therefore, if you want to reduce the demand for economic growth for sustainability reasons you have to address social justice.
The second lessons being that economic growth does not necessarily imply environmental damage, increased energy usage or extra carbon and that environmental stewardship will be easier to sell if it comes with intelligently considered sustainable growth.
Third - science is our friend.