Growth is a disease for which it thinks it is the cure.
Despite awareness of the impending crisis, humanity’s emissions continue to climb, pushing the planet toward a climate change and catastrophic warming. Societies have known the risks and solutions for over 40 years. However, the direct relationship between economic growth and consumption is largely ignored. Ultimately almost everything we consume has a carbon footprint. The earth is finite and continuous growth is impossible.
The world has passed through the threshold of 1.5ºC global temperature increase on pre-industrial temperatures. The impact is happening now. The prospect of the more serious 2ºC increase by 2030 is real.
Politicians obsess about economic growth with no consideration for the environment. Despite their fine words about climate change and environmental policies, the economic growth dogma prevails. An example of a short-term simplistic growth solution is the UK Government attempting to build our way to growth, casting aside environmental concerns.
In the recent Commons debate on the Climate and Nature Bill, Clive Lewis, Labour MP and co-sponsor of the bill, said: “What kind of growth do we want? What are we growing? Are we growing pollution in our rivers? Are we growing roads that go through ancient woodlands? Yes, that is growth but not the kind of growth we want. You cannot have growth on a dead planet, politicians need to understand that. You can’t say climate will come after growth; it is all interlinked.”
People care about their survival yet continue on a suicidal course swallowing the growth pill. People naturally dislike change, especially when the benefits are in the future and uncertain, so they focus on the short term, conveniently ignoring the longer term. Politicians are afraid to admit this as it will lose votes.
A belief system of continuous growth lies at the centre of humanity’s inability to respond to climate change. The belief that economic growth is essential for human progress, that a rising population is desirable, and that human inventiveness and scientific innovation will solve most problems. We need to wake up from this complacent slumber and think differently.
It could start with politicians taking the lead instead of acquiescing to the current growth dogma.
Peter Bloyce, Old Basing