Gandhi and Ecological Justice – From Climate Crisis to Climate Jobs Dr. Vishwas Satgar, WITS University Activist and Member of the National Convening Committee.

Gandhi and Ecological Justice – From Climate Crisis to Climate Jobs

Dr. Vishwas Satgar, WITS UniversityActivist and Member of the National Convening Committee – Democratic Left Front

Learning from Gandhi in 21st Century

• Many pay lip service to Gandhi or find his example irrelevant – ‘age of shop until you drop’

• Not literal or dogmatic appreciation – think with and go beyond

• Not just anti-colonial leader but a leader against injustice including social and ecological injustice

• Draw on philosophy of non-violent struggle and alternative vision of non-violent society for Emancipation!

• The world is in crisis! What kind of crisis?

The Crisis of Business Civilisation – War on Human Beings and Nature

• World constructed by elites and the powerful• Dominant economic model – competition,

greed and individualism – through the market power of corporations organise the global and national economy – prone to unstable financial crises – it has failed!

• Interlock of financial crisis, food crisis, oil peak, securitisation and climate change

• Reproduction of society is become near impossible – unemployment, hunger, increasing fuel costs, loss of rights and freedoms

The Climate Crisis

• Earth goes through natural cycles of cooling and heating• International Panel on Climate Change – 2007human induced climate change – we are in a longer and more intense warming period• Historical and present accumulations of green-house gases – ( like carbon, methane) • Planet earth is warming!

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Source: South African Weather Services Annual Report 2008/2009Data from Global Atmosphere Watch at SA Weather Service, at

Cape Point

Origins of Human Induced Climate Crisis

• Climate change is not just a scientific question and problem – with human induced climate change it is a

social, political and historical question as well• Where has all the ‘green-house’ gases come from that started the climate shift?• Over 150 years of industrial development, the rich countries pollution – climate debt!• Human domination of nature through industrial production and consumption

Persistence of Climate Crisis

• Failure of UN-led climate negotiations – over 2 decades -US has not signed Kyoto Protocol, market solutions (Carbon Trading and Clean Development Mechanism) – since Cancun we are facing over 3 degree rise in global temperatures, for Africa about 4 degrees

• Power of transnational corporations – ‘maintain business as usual’ – want to use climate crisis to make profits – contesting the climate science with lies, disinformation, narrow agendas

• Climate denialism – many people are not willing to face up to the reality

Consequences of Climate Crisis

Climate change impacts on the poor, workers and middle classes the most :

•Less available water = more expensive water•Reduced food production = more expensive food•More frequent and intense droughts and floods = increased migration to more favourable areas (climate refugees) = more competition for resources including food, water and jobs

Those most affected are those already under stress; the rich will buy their way out of the problem.

Gandhi and the Struggle for Ecological Justice - I

• Respect and unity of all living things – human beings had reason and morality but not superior –

merely Trustees/Guardians of creation• Critique of western civilisation – undermined

indivisibility of humanity, exploitation, violence, rationalism

• Ethics - live with less, take only what we need from nature and not more

• Gandhi’s vision of a post-materialist and eco-socialist society – critique of capitalism and communism - guidelines, ‘trusteeship’, participatory democracy, rights/duties

Gandhi and the Struggle for Ecological Justice - 2

• We must attempt to end violence in the world – stop war against nature and its negative

consequences for the poor• Satyagrah against ecological injustice – non-

cooperation or civil disobedience - pursuade about truth in climate science and genuine alternatives

South Africa and climate change

Source : Jesse Burton, 2011

South Africa has an energy intensive economy primarily because of coal based energy production (electricity and coal-to-liquids) primarily to supply mining and minerals processing industries.

In 2009 South Africa was the 13th biggest CO2 emitter in the world – on par with China and significantly higher than world average.

The minerals-energy complexThe minerals-energy complex

AluminiumIron and steelFerrochromeManganese

GoldCoa

PlatinumMinerals-sands

AngloExxaroXstrata

Arcelor MittalBHP-Billiton

Lonmin

Coal input

Eskom

Cheapelectricity

CTL + chemicals71 Mt/yr

Emissions of 230 Mt/yr

Policy processes• IRP• Carbon tax• Planning Commission

PROFITPROFIT

PROFITPROFIT

Sasol

Source: Jesse Burton



In 2007 South Africa’s per capita emissions of CO2 was 8.8 tons, but this masks deep disparities.

Emissions from the top 4% of the population (in terms of income distribution) account for more than the total emissions of the bottom 80%.

The poorest electrified households account for 0.45% of Eskom sales, contributing to only 0.2% of total emissions for 2010.



Electricity generation produces more than 40% of South Africa’s carbon emissions. Of that, energy intensive industries use about 40%.

There is also disparity in allocation of electricity between :•Wealthy and poor members of society•Electricity for people’s needs and electricity for highly energy-intensive industry (which has not resulted in diversification of the economy or expansion of labour-intensive employment)



Challenge : decarbonise the industry but ENSURE that electricity price does not become prohibitive for the majority of consumers.

Source : Andrew Marquard, 2011


Are we too late?

Current emissions : about 540 Mt CO2eCopenhagen pledge commits to : roughly 500 Mt CO2e

Medupe (2012-2014) & Kusile (2015-2017) : 55 Mt CO2e

Unemployment in South Africa

South Africa’s official unemployment rate is 25%, one of the highest in the world.

At the height of the US Great Depression (1929), unemployment was at 25%.

What was considered a crisis then is our normality now.

We lost about 1 million jobs with global financial crisis

In 2010 alone we have lost 395 000 jobs


Of 17,4 million economically active people, 12,9 million are employed

The official definition of “employment” includes anyone who receives some form of monetary gain. It includes : car guards, beggars, sex workers, hawkers, subsistence farmers and fisherfolk, even people who receive handouts.

The more accurate unemployment figure is closer to 35%.

And it’s getting worse - e.g. about 170,000 fewer jobs in the second quarter of this year than in the first. We are moving from job shedding to jobless economy !


Unemployment and inequality reduce people’s ability to enjoy a decent quality of life and access basic needs such as water, energy, food and housing.

Unemployment and related poverty lead to : crime, domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug abuse, depression, ill health, unplanned pregnancies, gangsterism….. things that are associated with a “value-less” life.

Impoverished households produce impoverished children.

Poverty perpetuates poverty.

Gandhi, Work and Climate Jobs

• Right to work – part of his vision of a non-violent society

• Gandhi believed in the dignity of work as the basis of swaraj – rural craft industry

• Self autonomy or realisation and contribution to interdependent society

• Support for climate jobs

There is powerful inspiration for the transformation of our economy to one that protects people and the environment when two of South Africa’s biggest threats to security and stability, climate change and unemployment, are confronted together.

The Million Climate Jobs Campaign presents tangible solutions to the ecological and economic crises, and advocates for the South African government to create jobs in combating climate change.

Authentic, meaningful solutions to climate change offer vast opportunities for decent work in a new low-carbon economy.

From Climate Crisis to Climate Jobs

“Climate jobs are decent, primarily people and publicly-

driven jobs that directly reduce the causes and

impacts of climate change”

Climate jobs are about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to the impacts of climate change of all peoples, especially the poor and vulnerable.

The One Million Climate Jobs Campaign grew out of a series of informal discussions in labour and social movements about how to jointly address two of the key crises facing South Africans : unemployment and climate change.

DLF conference in January 2011

About 40 organisations/institutes played a role in developing the Campaign.

Initiated in March 2011 at a workshop hosted by the Alternative Information and Development Centre.

Endorsed by COSATU in June 2011.

Congress of South African Trade Unions

Rural People’s Movement University of Stellenbosch : Sustainability Institute

National Council of Trade Unions New Women’s Movement University of Witwatersrand : Society, Work and Development Institute

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa

Abahlahi baseMjondolo University of KwaZulu-Natal : Centre for Civil Society

National Union of Mineworkers Youth Agricultural Ambassadors University of Witwatersrand : School of Economics and Business Sciences

South African Municipal Workers’ Union

Civil Society Research and Support Collective

University of Cape Town

South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union

South Durban Community Environmental Alliance

University of KwaZulu-Natal : Farmer Support Group

Food and Allied Workers Union Earthlife Africa Johannesburg Africa Centre for Biodiversity

Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa

Earthlife Africa Cape Town Rosa Luxemburg Foundation

Alternative Information and Development Centre

Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Initiative

Oxfam Australia

Trust for Community Outreach and Education

GroundWork WWF

Progressive Youth Movement Environmental Monitoring Group 350.org

Cooporative and Policy Alternative Centre

Geasphere Institute for Zero Waste

Umphilo waManzi International Alliance on Natural Resources in Africa

Democratic Left Front

Some of the organisations involved

At the first workshop of the One Million Climate Jobs Campaign in March 2011, participants agreed to undertake :

Research for a proposal to create climate jobs in South Africa

Popular education and mobilisation, with a focus on COP17

Development of the Campaign beyond 2011

Civil Society Solutions to jointly address unemployment and climate

changeRenewable energy and energy efficiencySafe and efficient public transportAgroecologyZero wasteSustainable and energy efficient housing and constructionGood water managementEcosystem protection and restoration

Effectively, new economic pathway that is sustainable and not energy intensive

Good pro-people development

Preliminary research results

25 August 2011

Research Contributions

Acknowledgements

Jeff RudinAndrew Marquard

Researchers :Jacklyn Cock, John Mawbey, Vernon Collis, Maxwell Mudhara, Mercia Andrews, Mariam Mayet, Jane Barrett, Jesse Burton, David Hallowes, Dick Forslund, David Sanders, Louis Reynolds, Muna Lakhani, Mary Galvin, Gray Maguire, Jennifer Stern, Laura Fails, Brian Ashley, Jeff Rudin, Niall Reddy.

Overview of Research Results

Direct and indirect jobs that cut emissions Public Transport: 384 644 (usage and expansion)Agro-ecology: 400 000 (in Gauteng alone)Renewables: 103 000 (in production and efficiency)Housing and Construction : 80,000-90,000 jobsEcosystem Restoration : 330,000 jobsZero Waste : 270,000 jobsWater Conservation:?Tourism : ?

So far over 1 million jobs !

PAYING FOR One Million Climate Jobs

Source : Dick Forslund, Niall Reddy, Brian Ashley

R72 billion in wages for one million jobs (ave wage = R6,000)

R7 billion in employers’ insurance and pension contributions

R55 billion in infrastructures, materials, rent and interest (this figure dependent on other research results.

Creating all these jobs will generate numerous direct and indirect benefits for the economy that will allow the government to recoup a large portion of the spending.

Financing Climate Jobs

Tax on speculative flows – financial transactions

Redirecting existing capital allocations from Eskom

Carbon tax for the wealthy

Broadening tax base and collection rates – climate jobs!

Just transition

- Restructuring of economy – reduce emissions and create jobs

- (i) shallow transition – just deal with hugh carbon emitters and some lifestyle change;

- (ii) deep transition – households, communities, economy, government

- - people driven - deepen democracy- - new relations of production – worker cooperatives, worker control and nationalisation, community trusts and

associations- Participatory planning

Satyagraha Campaigning for Climate Jobs

• Launch of Climate Jobs Booklet 1 – early November – call to set up local climate jobs forums

• Conference of the Unemployed - Tahrir Square at Union Building in November – non-violent and fasting

• Local non- violent actions outside local government, DOL etc

• COP17 march international day of action – December 3• International conference for climate jobs – December 4• Phase II – next year – further research and mass

mobilisation

Thank you

Gandhi and Ecological Justice – From Climate Crisis to Climate Jobs Dr. Vishwas Satgar, WITS University Activist and Member of the National Convening Committee.

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