Ann Ferguson, David Farrow, Sarah Newsam, Julie Begg
Our discussion group met recently in Castlemaine to discuss Drawdown, a book edited by Paul Hawken which, based on extensive research, presents 100 costed approaches judged to be the most effective ways for limiting global warming.
Our discussion was broad-reaching, including the need to challenge core values and assumptions that seem to be at the heart of our inability to embrace the changes needed to alter the trend toward dangerous climate change.
Looming large among these are the concepts of continuing compounding economic growth and increasing ‘standard of living’ (frequently inferred from per capita GDP with no reference to wealth distribution). Aside from the illogic of compounding growth in resource consumption on a finite planet, this approach is causing increasing destruction of nature (in the broadest sense), increasing pollution and increasing pressure on global temperatures. As many prominent environmentalists have said, for those who can afford it, one of the most radical actions a person can take is to reduce their income (hence their consumption). Realistically, many are not in such a fortunate position and a move away from high-consumption lifestyles only available to some would require more equitable wealth distribution mechanisms such as, for example, a Universal Basic Income.
These are complex issues that require thoughtful and detailed discussion.
While Lisa Chesters (Midland Express, August 7) quite reasonably points to the fact that Castlemaine appears to be “smarter but poorer”, it may also be the case that some here who are in a position to do so are choosing to work less, and embrace more the values implied by starting to rethink our currently destructive, one-track economic paradigm.
