The Elephant in the Room

As I begin to look at and try to make sense of the world of economics - how the system works and what all the jargon means - I sense that my overall reaction to our economic system is a foregone conclusion. With all this talk of economic recovery, renewed growth versus austerity measures to nurse this sickly economy back to health, I can’t help but feel distinctly uncomfortable with the notion that growth = good.

 

I am a passionate believer in the need for serious global action on climate change; I believe that the single greatest threat to our civilisation is ourselves. Our insistence on maintaining a certain standard of living in the West at the expense of those in developing nations, and the myth that general economic growth in its current form is an indefinite possibility is the equivalent of shutting our eyes to the reality of our situation and hoping for the best.

 

Some of the core aims of socialist movements throughout the years have placed economic growth as a central aspect of policy and ‘revolutions’, some through working inside a capitalist system, like our own Labour Party, or in an attempt to bring about a new economic system altogether. In either case, the overriding drive towards economic growth from a socialist perspective has been striving to provide jobs, wage increases and better living conditions for those on the bottom rung of the societal ladder in an attempt to create a more egalitarian society.

 

These motivations are honourable ones and should, without a doubt be behind much of what we do as Christian Socialists. However, the mode through which greater equality is achieved cannot be sustainably sought through increased production and economic growth.

 

The basic and obvious road block to economic growth as we know it today, is of course the finite resources available on planet Earth to continue current levels of production, let alone ever increasing productivity. As we continue to dig up and drill down into the planet that we stand on, that sustains the processes that enable us to live, in order to sell them to others as commodities for monetary return, I would suggest that humanity does not ‘grow’ but is threatened all the more.

 

Green campaign groups, climate scientists and others have, over the past 50 years or so, managed to get environmental issues on the agenda of governments across the globe who are now constructing and implementing ‘green policies’ to meet certain CO2 reduction targets and the like. These are important steps forward, and hopefully continued pressure on governments and businesses will ensure this progress is maintained. But that isn’t where the story ends.

 

Successive governments have tried to oil the economic machine, provide more jobs, and lure industries and investment into the country whilst keeping up the ‘green’ rhetoric. You don’t have to do a lot of thinking to realise that these two priorities inevitably clash, usually to the detriment of our environment. I recently posted an article on the CSM website about the work of the Jubilee Debt Campaign focusing on their battle with the Export Credit Guarantee Department, part of the Business dept. The campaign highlights not only the massive amounts of ‘global south’ debt owed to the ECGD but also its bias in encouraging businesses that specialise in producing and selling high carbon emitting products and services, because they are in high demand and create swift returns on investment.

This is the perceived battle: between short term financial gain to keep the economy afloat and long term action to restructure our economy in ways that ensure the survival of our species and the Earth for generations to come.

 

I for one am fed up, day after day, of reading statistics about over population, increasing carbon emissions, melting ice caps and expanding deserts, starving people and depleted carbon sinks, whilst simultaneously hearing politicians and others, probably with the greatest vested interests, defending and making the case for ever increasing levels of growth. Global Climate change is a present and deadly reality, as species of plants and animals are wiped out to create space for development, vital links in the life sustaining processes on our planet are put under increased pressure, threatening to sever altogether. The problem is not purely a matter of fitting more people onto the planet, as a UN spokesperson seemed to suggest on News-night recently. The problem lies with the rate of resources each person consumes; the rate is increasing as the population continues to grow unsustainably. For example, the ecological footprint of those living in London is over 200 times the size of the city itself.[1] 

 

If we are to have economic growth, in my opinion it must be focused on developing sustainable energy resources, transforming the way we go about business and life to leave as small a mark on our shared planet as possible. I am no expert, but there must be scope and plenty of jobs to be created in rolling out mass adaptations to properties, transport networks and energy production to improve the way we interact with the planet. Sure, it would cost a lot of money to initiate many reforms, but like any job creating industry, it has the scope to make money and boost the economy.

 

The other option, too radical for the majority to consider, is to start doing things another way. I’m not entirely sure what this other way would look like, many thinkers and activists have proposed alternative models of economics and society more sympathetic to the delicate balance of the environment, and each have their pros and cons.[2]

 

One thing in my view is inevitable though. As long as our society is built on an economics of excessive consumption and living beyond our means, our medium to long term future hangs in the balance.

 

People have become, to some extent, numb to the predictions of green campaigners and scientists prophesying doom if we don’t recycle more. We are generally more eager to hear about our rights and opportunities than our responsibilities to each other and the planet, but the truth is, we are all integrally connected to each other through our common environment. The sooner we can develop a discussion around the underlying systems that exacerbate our collective situation, the better.

 

No one is going to win elections whilst admitting that we will need to accept a relatively lower standard of living in the UK in order to advance social and climate justice. But the more people who see the folly of carrying on in the same way as always can raise their voices on this issue, the more that we can actively engage in the political processes that can make that difference and the greater chance there is of producing real change.     

 

     

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