"Our collective impasse in addressing climate change is the fault not just of greedy oil executives. Policy makers want to avoid any decision that would result in economic hardship. So, they punt in favor of business as usual, and as a result the pathway to averting climate doom narrows that much more."

richardheinberg.com/museletter

#climateChange #greenGrowth #degrowth #economics

@Empiricism_Reloaded I don't think it's a stretch to equate a forced reduction in fossil fuels use with economic hardship. All the examples from history that I know of could only be described this way: oil crisis of 1970s, Cuba's Special Period or the recent supply shock triggered by the war in Ukraine and sanctions that followed.

I don't know much about Wales and the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Did they reduce their reliance on fossil fuels while improving wellbeing?

@jackofalltrades

The country of Wales is leading the way on . The One Planet Development policy proves that It's relatively easy to live a good lifestyle based on far less resources & power.

Do you think burning fuel that causes local & atmospheric air pollution improves health compared to non air polluting methods?

The Future Gen Act must include zero air pollution as part of it's methodology. That's much easier when the culture is using less resources

What's a good way to use less resources? SHARING

@Empiricism_Reloaded What were the effects of these policies? Did Wales reduce its reliance on fossil fuels? In what aspects did they improve wellbeing?

The Act was written in 2015 and GDP of Wales is still growing since then, with the only exception being 2020 when it dropped due to the pandemic. So not quite a #degrowth economy yet.

I'm not disagreeing with your prescriptions. I'm just curious in what way Wales is a good example of sustainability without economic hardships.

@jackofalltrades

You're looking at the problems not the solutions to those problems.

1. The policies need to be updated because many people can't afford to buy land - so as to improve it's ecological condition.

Then, and only then, when more people are living low ecological impact lifestyles, will we see the necessary reductions in the countries net greenhouse gas emissions.

It's that obvious!

@Empiricism_Reloaded How do you know that?

You said: "The country of Wales is leading the way on #sustainability. The One Planet Development policy proves that It's relatively easy to live a good lifestyle based on far less resources & power."

Do you have some proof for these claims? I would love for this to be true!

From my experience "low ecological impact lifestyle" is in fact what most people would call "economic hardship".

@jackofalltrades

Read the information I have linked to (& the weblinks) qoto.org/@Empiricism_Reloaded/

One Planet's Development is based on people living a low ecological impact lifestyle.

For example, people grow a percentage of their own food using methods (methods that don't use fossil fuels and improve the local ecosystem). Also constructing buildings using locally sourced materials ((low carbon construction).

"How do you know that?"

How do I know that a lifestyle that emits less greenhouse gas emissions and restores nature is how to mitigate climate change?

@jackofalltrades

Is "economic hardship" not flying on jets? Or not eating red meat? Or not buying new shoes every week? Or not cruising around the world on diesel ships?

Do you want to mitigate climate change or do you want to be a consumerist?

All I'm inferring is that you're supporting business as usual!

Aren't you? Sounds that way.

Mitigating greed (redistributing resources) will improve economic hardship for many and help to mitigate climate change.

@jackofalltrades

You're missing the point entirely!

The point is, regardless of what you want or your agenda, many people do want to live ecologically sustainable lifestyles. For example, a sharing economy.

So, at least, be a good person and don't try to stop us (with your ecologically degrading politics & economics as usual rhetoric).

The foolishness of not being able to perceive that the current economic model is the main problem.

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