A Blancmange of Sustainability
If it wasn’t so serious, I’d be wetting myself with laughter right now.
At the top of the cliff are clustered all the countries of the world. You first, one says. No sir, you first, say the others. They all push and jostle, each trying to get as close as possible to the edge without actually jumping off.
We must all jump together they say, nodding their heads wisely as though being a leader was something to be ashamed of. What’s more, we won’t jump right now, but we’ll half jump in forty years’ time. If we’re all in agreement that is.
What’s so laughable is that most of these countries are market economies, basing their entire rationale upon commerce and the trading of products and ideas.
This isn’t just an industrial picture: the UK, for instance, is leading the way in gene therapy and embryo manipulation. Rather than producing pig-iron to be exported abroad, this is all about enhancing skills and producing techniques which can then be used to bolster the country through the international knowledge economy.
So why doesn’t the same go for sustainability and emissions? Heck, if your country “broke the code” and managed to get hyper efficient renewable solutions to our carbon reliant lifestyles, you’d be laughing. All the other slowcoach countries would come clamouring to your door for the solutions.
Yet no-one will jump. Despite being guaranteed that they will be able to fly, no one will jump. They’re a bunch of scardy cats, with as much conviction in their own policies as a warm blancmange .
I have only two posts in this blog which I’ve never finished, and both are about stimulating an economy through the introduction of sustainability friendly carrots. For example as well as taxing petrol so highly, cut VAT on LPG car conversions etc.
The first country to introduce such measures will find itself in an enviable position. It will find its economy starting to pick up as spending goes into products which will save people money in the long term. And any incentives to encourage innovation and attract entrepreneurs should bear fruit within a decade.
The down side? Well, for starters a country will have to give up serious amounts of tax revenue. Get the beancounters in, because most countries should have a surplus coming in from the high price of oil. Stiff regulation will also have to be brought in, to force the pace of innovation.
Whisper it quietly, but a country may also have to become uncompetitive for a time, falling behind its oil guzzling competitors for a short time.
However, the G8 are currently thinking about maybe…possibly…half-jumping in 2050. If a country was to take the courageous step and fast track serious renewable incentives and strong regulations (eg. banning plastics in food packaging), there is a good chance they could be ahead of this thumbs-in-the-backside brigade within 40 years.
In the meantime the cliff all these countries are clustered at the top of is continuously being undermined by the rising sea levels. Let’s hope that someone jumps before it collapses beneath them.
Site Tags: sustainability, emissions, regulation
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Chris,
You have hit a bulls eye. I am afraid the so called governments run by leaders of myopic selfishness may not drive the change that is required to reduce emissions. The sustainable development which includes a broader canvas of inclusive change is being handled in isolation. The governments found alternative for oil in form of biofuel by replacing food production. Food crisis once loomed large, they are talking of curbing biofuel production. 16% of Europe is water deficient and US is no better in water shortages. There is no direction - the EU has not met its targets. US is reeling under recession and spineless leadership. Asia has its share of problems and is adding to energy demand exponentially. Kyoto protocol needs to be revisited in a years time. The situation in Australia is grim. We need a international leader of iron will who will lead this change.
Is humanity fast forwarding to its doom?
Srini
June 8th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Srini,
Thank you very much for your thoughts. There can be no question that we will tackle sustainability eventually; right now it’s a question of damage limitation .. if we tackle the issues now some semblance of our lifestyles may be preserved. If it’s left then more and more will be eroded.
The real scary thought is that politicians are abdicating leadership to the corporate world. This means that whatever Brave New World we end up in, it will be shaped even more by big business.
This is the real lack of leadership I feel so deeply: abandonment of the people in favour of a few corporate entities.
Chris