Unsustainable development on a grand scale
It was reported on the BBC News today that China’s growth has slowed from 8.1% to 7.6% over the last three months. Big deal. What does this matter? Either way, it is completely unsustainable!.
I am afraid this prompted another rant from me (albeit subject to a 400-character limit):
“Even at 7% p.a. this would result in a doubling of China’s economy in 10 years. That means a probable doubling of its consumption of the Earth’s resources. In what sense can this ever be considered sustainable? Quantitative growth is not – nor can it ever be – the answer. What the Earth needs is Qualitative development. Economists and politicians need to stop lying to themselves and us.”
The former World Bank economist, Herman E Daly (yes him again), once lamented that: “Anyone who asserts the existence of limits is soon presented with a whole litany of things that someone once said could never be done but subsequently were done”; but insisted that “Continuing to study economies only in terms of the [exchange value of money] is like studying organisms only in terms of the circulatory system, without ever mentioning the digestive tract.”
I am sorry but, apart from saying that it is time the World woke up to reality, I cannot be bothered to say anything else; but I am going to repeat this video:
Yes, the denialism is rampant. How to change this narrative? How to get the commitment to sustainability to be more than just lip service? Ranting is a start but–what’s next?
Jennifer Browdy de Hernandez
13 July 2012 at 17:31
Apart from emailing my elected unrepresentatives (which I am also tired of doing) – I think is civil disobedience a la Dr J. E. Hansen… whom I emailed recently and within about 30 minutes (early morning in NY) got a really nice reply… It brightened my day no end (and his I suspect). Thanks, as ever, for taking the time to comment.
Martin Lack
13 July 2012 at 17:57
I love that video! We can’t watch it enough.
jpgreenword
13 July 2012 at 20:50
Agreed, it’s very compelling.
Paul Handover
15 July 2012 at 17:06
yes, growth has been the only pillar of sustainable development that received real attention. Social wellbeing and environment were left far behind since the Earth Summit in 1992. see also http://www.nelemarien.info/20-years-of-unsustainable-development/
Nele Marien
3 October 2012 at 04:50
Hola Nele! Many thanks for visiting and commenting; and thank you for providing that link to your own essay – which is absolutely excellent.
Martin Lack
3 October 2012 at 11:29
[...] the same title. I am completely indebted to Nele for bringing this to my attention yesterday; in completely unsolicited comment on something I posted here in July. I was so impressed with the power and clarity of Nele’s [...]
20 years of unsustainable development « Lack of Environment
4 October 2012 at 00:02