The BIG Society and the The BIG Society and the EnvironmentEnvironment

North West Environment LinkNorth West Environment Link

October, 2010October, 2010

Dr Kate RawlesDr Kate Rawles

University of Cumbria, andUniversity of Cumbria, andfreelance Outdoor Philosopherfreelance Outdoor Philosopher

kate@outoorphilosophy.co.ukkate@outoorphilosophy.co.uk

The big picture – biodiversityThe big picture – biodiversity

Millennium Ecosystem Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005Assessment, 2005

Loss of biodiversity more Loss of biodiversity more rapid in last 50 years than rapid in last 50 years than any time in human historyany time in human history

Already 100-1000 x faster Already 100-1000 x faster than background ratethan background rate

60% ecosystem services 60% ecosystem services examined are degraded or examined are degraded or being used unsustainablybeing used unsustainably

24% earth land surface 24% earth land surface cultivatedcultivated

www.maweb.org/en/index.aspxwww.maweb.org/en/index.aspx

‘‘Nature not a luxury to be Nature not a luxury to be enjoyed at weekends’enjoyed at weekends’

Loss of biodiversity isn’t Loss of biodiversity isn’t just about ‘charismatic just about ‘charismatic mega-fauna’mega-fauna’

Threatening ability to meet Threatening ability to meet basic needsbasic needs

The way we humans are The way we humans are currently meeting our currently meeting our needs is putting our own needs is putting our own future as a species at riskfuture as a species at risk

United Nations United Nations Environment Programme Environment Programme (2007) (2007) Global Environment Global Environment Outlook GEO4 Outlook GEO4 environment for environment for developmentdevelopment

www.unep.org/geo/geo4.aspwww.unep.org/geo/geo4.asp

The Big Picture - climate changeThe Big Picture - climate change ““A greater threat than terrorism”A greater threat than terrorism” Sir David KingSir David King

IPCC Report, 2007IPCC Report, 2007

Higher temperatures: 1.6 – 6.4 Higher temperatures: 1.6 – 6.4 degrees C by 2100degrees C by 2100

Sea-level rise: 14 – 43cm by 2100 Sea-level rise: 14 – 43cm by 2100 [MUCH greater if Greenland melts!][MUCH greater if Greenland melts!]

Different weather patterns and Different weather patterns and increase in severe weather eventsincrease in severe weather events

RAPID changeRAPID changewww.ipcc.ch/

Human consequencesHuman consequencesStern Report, 2006Stern Report, 2006

Could reduce world GDP by 20%Could reduce world GDP by 20% Taking action now will cost 1% - Taking action now will cost 1% -

3% world GDP3% world GDP

IPCC Report, 2007IPCC Report, 2007

Scarcity of food, water, landScarcity of food, water, land Spread of disease eg malariaSpread of disease eg malaria Millions affected by drought or Millions affected by drought or

floodflood

Biggest impact on the poorestBiggest impact on the poorest Extreme drought rising from 3% Extreme drought rising from 3%

earth to 30% by 2100 (UK Met earth to 30% by 2100 (UK Met office, 2006)office, 2006)

Large parts of the earth Large parts of the earth uninhabitable – agriculture uninhabitable – agriculture impossibleimpossible

Environmental refugeesEnvironmental refugees

Response:Response: Minimise risk of ‘runaway’ Minimise risk of ‘runaway’

or ‘dangerous’ climate or ‘dangerous’ climate changechange

Keep rise in average Keep rise in average global temp to 2 degrees global temp to 2 degrees above 1990 levelsabove 1990 levels

350ppm – 450ppm350ppm – 450ppm

80-90% reductions in 80-90% reductions in CO2e in industrialised CO2e in industrialised countries by 2050countries by 2050

50% reduction globally50% reduction globally 2020 targets critical2020 targets critical

Underpinning Problem:Underpinning Problem:

Porritt: conflicting Porritt: conflicting imperativesimperatives

Biological: to live within Biological: to live within limitslimits

Political: to aspire to Political: to aspire to improve our material improve our material standard of living, year standard of living, year after yearafter year

Jonathon Porritt (2007) Jonathon Porritt (2007) Capitalism as if the Capitalism as if the World MattersWorld Matters

‘‘Humanity is no longer Humanity is no longer living off nature’s interest, living off nature’s interest, but drawing down its but drawing down its capital’ capital’ WWF WWF Living PlanetLiving Planet

Three planet earth problem Three planet earth problem

If everyone on earth If everyone on earth enjoyed an average enjoyed an average Western European Western European standard of livingstandard of living

We would need (two or) We would need (two or) three planet earths three planet earths

WWF Living Planet Report, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 WWF Living Planet Report, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 www.wwf.org.uk/livingplanetreportwww.wwf.org.uk/livingplanetreport

Good planets are hard Good planets are hard to find!to find!

The big societyThe big society ““The big society is…The big society is…

Where people, in their Where people, in their everyday lives, in their homes, everyday lives, in their homes, in their neighbourhoods, in in their neighbourhoods, in their workplace…their workplace…

Don’t always turn to officials, Don’t always turn to officials, local authorities or central local authorities or central government for answers to the government for answers to the problems they face…problems they face…

But instead feel both free and But instead feel both free and powerful enough to help powerful enough to help themselves and their own themselves and their own communities.”communities.”

David CameronDavid Cameronwww.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/

2010/07/big-society-speech-535722010/07/big-society-speech-53572

Government’s contribution:Government’s contribution: ““If it unleashes community If it unleashes community

engagement we should do it”engagement we should do it”

Government must …Government must … ““Get rid of centralised Get rid of centralised

bureaucracy that wastes bureaucracy that wastes money and undermines money and undermines morale”morale”

““Foster and support a new Foster and support a new culture of voluntarism, culture of voluntarism, philanthropy, social action”philanthropy, social action”

Provide informationProvide information Finance: pay by results; Finance: pay by results;

connect private capital to connect private capital to investment in social projectsinvestment in social projectswww.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-

transcripts/2010/07/big-society-speech-transcripts/2010/07/big-society-speech-5357253572

Environmental perspective - Environmental perspective - positivespositives

Copenhagen: very clear that we Copenhagen: very clear that we need ‘ground-up’ leadership need ‘ground-up’ leadership

‘‘Leadership from the middle’ – Leadership from the middle’ – powerfulpowerful

Already lots of good stuff Already lots of good stuff happening that can be happening that can be positioned as ‘big society’ and positioned as ‘big society’ and supportedsupported

Aspects of environmental Aspects of environmental agenda fit extremely wellagenda fit extremely well

Integration of environmental and Integration of environmental and social issues often particularly social issues often particularly effective at community leveleffective at community level

Treating people as assets rather Treating people as assets rather than problems a good startthan problems a good start

Strong communities central to Strong communities central to less materialistic visions of less materialistic visions of quality of life and ‘one planet quality of life and ‘one planet living’living’

Environmental perspective - Environmental perspective - challengeschallenges

Aspects of environmental agenda Aspects of environmental agenda that just don’t fit - global, abstract, that just don’t fit - global, abstract, long-termlong-term

Aspects that cannot be tackled Aspects that cannot be tackled locally – need regulatory change, locally – need regulatory change, fiscal incentives etc fiscal incentives etc

Aspects that may well not be seen Aspects that may well not be seen as ‘problems communities face’ or as ‘problems communities face’ or not priorities not priorities

Potential loss of strategic thinking eg Potential loss of strategic thinking eg re conservation networks and re conservation networks and corridorscorridors

Big Society may not be best placed Big Society may not be best placed to protect environmental interests to protect environmental interests against the power of the state or against the power of the state or commercial interestcommercial interest

No requirement for big society to No requirement for big society to achieve large cuts in carbon achieve large cuts in carbon emissions eg – asking people to emissions eg – asking people to police their own large car use!police their own large car use!

Big Society = good stuff where have critical mass of informed Big Society = good stuff where have critical mass of informed engaged citizens. BUTengaged citizens. BUT

Poverty, unemployment, inequality are structural issues - cannot be Poverty, unemployment, inequality are structural issues - cannot be solved at local level alonesolved at local level alone

Inequalities in time, money, education, self-esteem etc lead to Inequalities in time, money, education, self-esteem etc lead to inequalities in ability to engage with big societyinequalities in ability to engage with big society

Focus on short term, immediate, pressing local problems – Focus on short term, immediate, pressing local problems – encouraged by pay-by-results fundingencouraged by pay-by-results funding

Critical approach to consumerism unlikely to be encouraged by Critical approach to consumerism unlikely to be encouraged by private finance!private finance!

““Unless we change our direction, we are likely to end up Unless we change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.”where we are headed.”

Susan Joy HassolSusan Joy Hassol

Implications of a Warming ArcticImplications of a Warming Arctic

Concluding questionsConcluding questions Need major shifts in norms, values, behaviours and structures including political and Need major shifts in norms, values, behaviours and structures including political and

economic. Ie Big Society has to be in context of Big Transition. How?economic. Ie Big Society has to be in context of Big Transition. How?

How do we ensure it is properly resourced?How do we ensure it is properly resourced? How do we make it strategic and joined up?How do we make it strategic and joined up? How do we inform and educate members of Big Society?How do we inform and educate members of Big Society? How do we ensure decision-making democratic and representational?How do we ensure decision-making democratic and representational? How do we deal with structural inequities?How do we deal with structural inequities? To what extent can three-planet living be tackled from the ground up?To what extent can three-planet living be tackled from the ground up? How do we give Big Society teeth?How do we give Big Society teeth?

Some useful references:Some useful references: Green Alliance (2010) Green Alliance (2010) Inside TrackInside Track ‘Big Society: what does it mean ‘Big Society: what does it mean

for environmental action?’ Issue 26 Autumn 2010for environmental action?’ Issue 26 Autumn 2010 New Economics Foundation (2010) ‘Ten Big Questions about the New Economics Foundation (2010) ‘Ten Big Questions about the

Big Society’Big Society’ http://greenlivingblog.org.uk/2010/10/14/what-can-the-http://greenlivingblog.org.uk/2010/10/14/what-can-the-

environmental-agenda-add-to-the-big-society/environmental-agenda-add-to-the-big-society/