Environmental Politics - Who’s Job Is It To Build A Good Future? David Risstrom.

Environmental Politics - Who’s Job Is It To Build A

Good Future?

Environmental Politics - Who’s Job Is It To Build A

Good Future?

David RisstromDavid Risstrom

Why Are We Here? You?

– Degree, status, expectation, security, don’t know, absolutely certain.

Me?– Asked by Darko.– Different hats.

Barrister, ACF Councillor 1999-2005, 2004 Victorian Green Senate candidate, ICLEI Vice President 2003-4, Melbourne City Councillor 1999-2004, BA, LLB, BSc(Hons), Director of social housing, purchasing and waste companies

– WASE male who doesn’t expect to be here forever– I want you to make a difference

Do you have opinions?Do you have opinions?

Questions are OK Discussion is OK I have been wrong before My former partners can confirm that

I would rather you thought than listened

Questions are OK Discussion is OK I have been wrong before My former partners can confirm that

I would rather you thought than listened

I’m doing architecture, not politicsI’m doing architecture, not politics

Architects help to structure our future– You will be unelected arbiters of people’s choices

We all help to construct architects

Whose decisions lead to people living in:– A MacMansion in Narre Warren?– A 1 bedroom unit in Docklands?– A 1984 Ford Falcon station wagon?– A grass hut in the Amazon basin?

Architects help to structure our future– You will be unelected arbiters of people’s choices

We all help to construct architects

Whose decisions lead to people living in:– A MacMansion in Narre Warren?– A 1 bedroom unit in Docklands?– A 1984 Ford Falcon station wagon?– A grass hut in the Amazon basin?

Ecopolitics, Green Politics, Environmentalism

Ecopolitics, Green Politics, Environmentalism

There are different forms of environmental politics

They all are based on how humans interact with other species and their environment

There are different forms of environmental politics

They all are based on how humans interact with other species and their environment

The majority of modern political thought and understanding assumed humans were capable of controlling their environment

– Liberal thinkers emphasised individual freedom and liberty

– Socialist thinkers saw individual freedoms creating practical inequality and loss of potential

The majority of modern political thought and understanding assumed humans were capable of controlling their environment

– Liberal thinkers emphasised individual freedom and liberty

– Socialist thinkers saw individual freedoms creating practical inequality and loss of potential

Modern political ideas were built on a confidence that influence over the environment constituted control

Humans are a powerful species

We have had great success in modifying the environment to our purposes

We are all involved with life and the battle with entropy

Modern political ideas were built on a confidence that influence over the environment constituted control

Humans are a powerful species

We have had great success in modifying the environment to our purposes

We are all involved with life and the battle with entropy

Combating entropy requires energy– In hunter gather societies, limited by hunting

success– Agriculture allowed better nutrition, bigger

brains – Industrial revolution allowed huge increase in

productivity– Agricultural ‘Green revolution’ hoped to combine

both

Combating entropy requires energy– In hunter gather societies, limited by hunting

success– Agriculture allowed better nutrition, bigger

brains – Industrial revolution allowed huge increase in

productivity– Agricultural ‘Green revolution’ hoped to combine

both

Environmentalism Environmentalism

1960s identified by many as catalyst of modern environmental thought

The world is less functional than we think– Rationalism and functionalism challenged

Cheap energy assumed to be relatively limitless– Coal, oil, nuclear, hydro and solar.

Effectively no limits to growth– Growth is good. More is better.

1960s identified by many as catalyst of modern environmental thought

The world is less functional than we think– Rationalism and functionalism challenged

Cheap energy assumed to be relatively limitless– Coal, oil, nuclear, hydro and solar.

Effectively no limits to growth– Growth is good. More is better.

1970s Limits to Growth debate crystallised

OPEC oil shock

Loss of confidence in nuclear age

Environmental degradation

Sustainable development

Climate change

1970s Limits to Growth debate crystallised

OPEC oil shock

Loss of confidence in nuclear age

Environmental degradation

Sustainable development

Climate change

Current era: – “We are all environmentalists now”– Unlimited economic growth still seen as normal– Inequality increasing– Population limits a political ‘no go’ zone– Increasing recognition humans rely on a healthy

environment– Limited willingness to live sustainably– Uncertainty about the future

Current era: – “We are all environmentalists now”– Unlimited economic growth still seen as normal– Inequality increasing– Population limits a political ‘no go’ zone– Increasing recognition humans rely on a healthy

environment– Limited willingness to live sustainably– Uncertainty about the future

Population Consumption Peak Oil Climate Change Water shortages Loss of productivity More may bring ‘Affluenza’

Population Consumption Peak Oil Climate Change Water shortages Loss of productivity More may bring ‘Affluenza’

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Findings

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Findings

What should we do?What should we do?

We don’t know

Biggest political problem in thousands of years

Successes and difficulties in gaining political power– 2004 Federal election

We don’t know

Biggest political problem in thousands of years

Successes and difficulties in gaining political power– 2004 Federal election

Who has the power to secure sustainability?

Who has the power to secure sustainability?

Who?

Why?

Can they?

Do we want to?

Who?

Why?

Can they?

Do we want to?

Conflict between individual gain and public goods– The Tragedy of the Commons

The Boiling Frog Principle – Largest mass extinction in 65 million years– 10 million species. May lose half– Our main concern is if humans are one of them– I like frogs

Conflict between individual gain and public goods– The Tragedy of the Commons

The Boiling Frog Principle – Largest mass extinction in 65 million years– 10 million species. May lose half– Our main concern is if humans are one of them– I like frogs

Who has the power to secure sustainability?

Who has the power to secure sustainability?

Do we need to give up any choices or freedoms to live more sustainably?– Debatable– Denied– Uncomfortable– Pessimistic?

Do we need to give up any choices or freedoms to live more sustainably?– Debatable– Denied– Uncomfortable– Pessimistic?

Living sustainably creates more freedoms

More generous view of life

Intergenerational equity

Green politics still primarily emphasises democracy and participation

Living sustainably creates more freedoms

More generous view of life

Intergenerational equity

Green politics still primarily emphasises democracy and participation

Natural EnvironmentNatural Environment

Alpine National Park– Tourism, cows and cattlemen

Recognition of Wilderness as a Land use– Wasteland– Terra nullius based on utilitarianism– Urban areas under higher demand

Alpine National Park– Tourism, cows and cattlemen

Recognition of Wilderness as a Land use– Wasteland– Terra nullius based on utilitarianism– Urban areas under higher demand

Urban Environment - MelbourneUrban Environment - Melbourne

Residential energy saving project Attempt to introduce 5 star rating in 1999 60L Commercial Buildings Partnership $5M Sustainable Melbourne Fund Triple Bottom Line Assessment Green Purchasing and Building Energy Demand Management

Residential energy saving project Attempt to introduce 5 star rating in 1999 60L Commercial Buildings Partnership $5M Sustainable Melbourne Fund Triple Bottom Line Assessment Green Purchasing and Building Energy Demand Management

2020 Zero Net Greenhouse Gas Target Queen Victoria Solar Panels Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Development Solar Cities Bringing Sustainable Living Fair to Melbourne Green Map for Melbourne Bagging Melbourne (in a nice way!) Growing Green ‘Watermark’ Water Campaign

2020 Zero Net Greenhouse Gas Target Queen Victoria Solar Panels Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Development Solar Cities Bringing Sustainable Living Fair to Melbourne Green Map for Melbourne Bagging Melbourne (in a nice way!) Growing Green ‘Watermark’ Water Campaign

A Privileged One in Six BillionA Privileged One in Six Billion

You are among the most powerful people on Earth Think about how your assumptions influence you Empathising is useful Decide if you want to make a difference My suggestions are at www.davidrisstrom.org Do something about it Do what you think is right!

You are among the most powerful people on Earth Think about how your assumptions influence you Empathising is useful Decide if you want to make a difference My suggestions are at www.davidrisstrom.org Do something about it Do what you think is right!

Thank youThank you