The world needs an economic system that recognises the limits of, and is compatible with, the natural systems of the planet and the aspirations of the whole of humanity.
That’s the theme of Stroud District Green Party’s next Cloud Café online debate, on Wednesday September 13 from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Elizabeth Lee, organiser of the event, said: “The mainstream political parties are all battling over who can create the most ‘economic growth’, without taking any account of the impact growth has on our environment and our climate. As just one example, Labour’s housing plans would blow the entire carbon budget.
“Everything that we make and consume depends on the resources and energy provided by the natural world. Continually increasing resource extraction, industrial throughput and waste production is entirely incompatible with ecological sustainability. Only Greens have the courage to consider the consequence of this for social and global justice.”
The event will discuss how a truly sustainable economic system can be achieved given the current populist political upsurge and the influence of multi-nationals.
Following presentations from expert speakers, there will be opportunity for questions from the audience. Everyone is welcome. To register to attend on the night or to receive a recording to watch later, go to:
https://actionnetwork.org/events/cloud-cafe-economic-growth-or-sustainable-development/
The speakers are:
Charith Gunawardena, a councillor for the London Borough of Enfield until May 2022. He is a retired director of Buhler UK Ltd, which makes high-tech machinery for the global food industry.
Charith frequently writes for Sri Lanka’s media on its sovereign debt crisis and on the importance of taking steps to mitigate the abuses of the unjust global economic order. He holds an MBA and an M.Phil in Engineering.
Molly Scott Cato, a Professor of Green Economics from Stroud who has published widely on topics relating to green economics and the need for a just and sustainable economy. As the Green Party’s Spokesperson on Economy and Finance she also has experience of trying to explain the need to respect planetary boundaries in a media environment where economic growth has become a fetish.
Mark Bryan, a Reader in the Department of Economics at the University of Sheffield. His research investigates the links between the labour market, health and disability, and wellbeing. As well as carrying out academic research, he has worked on policy-related projects for government and private-sector organisations, and is an expert on statistical techniques to assess the impacts of policy changes on the economy.
He is interested in the economic rationale for a UBI, both now and in a possible future society, and in particular how a UBI might interact with the labour market. He co-authored the UBI Lab Sheffield proposal for a UBI pilot.