Day 9 - Robert Costanza: Overcoming our societal addiction to growth

ISC 2021 Summer School - Cognitive Challenges of Climate Change (sites.grenadin...)
Day 9
Talk by Robert Costanza: Overcoming our societal addiction to growth
MC: Alexia Ostrolenk, Ph.D Candidate in Psychiatric Science (UdeM); Science Communicator (ComScicon-QC, BrainReach)
Bio:
Professor Robert Costanza is a Vice-Chancellor’s Chair in Public Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is also currently a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Stockholm, Sweden, an Affiliate Fellow at the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont, and a deTao Master of Ecological Economics at the deTao Masters Academy in Shanghai, China. He is a Fellow in the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in the UK, and is an Overseas Expert in the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Professor Costanza’s transdisciplinary research integrates the study of humans and the rest of nature to address research, policy and management issues at multiple time and space scales, from small watersheds to the global system. His specialties include: transdisciplinary integration, systems ecology, ecological economics, ecosystem services, landscape ecology, integrated socio-ecological modeling, ecological design, energy analysis, environmental policy, social traps and addictions, incentive structures, and institutions.
He is co-founder and past-president of the International Society for Ecological Economics and was founding chief editor of the society’s journal Ecological Economics. He currently serves on the editorial board of ten other international academic journals. He is also founding co-editor in chief of Solutions a unique hybrid academic/popular journal and editor in chief of the Anthropocene Review.

[@AudioPervert1]

Basically economics, lifestyle, privilege and consumption is totally divorced from the ecosystem - We all live in a state of denial, ignoring the biophysical limits and reality of the world.

[@coolworx]

We're gonna have to learn to party like it's 1799.

[@kathleenshannon8284]

@@coolworx Forget party....we heading to doomsday parade!

[@shadetreader]

It's our societal addiction to capıtalısm that we must overcome. That is the root of clımate change. #CompostTheRich

[@StressRUs]

Our Hunter-Gatherer ancestors were integrated into their ecosystem, but have become nearly totally alienated as our numbers have grown by 3,000 times over just 10kyrs. Want proof of our long evolved connection to nature? Our stress system works as a population density regulator and has been well studied for over 70yrs. Want details? Stress R Us, a free PDF online. We have a fundamental physiological constraint, as well as ecological constraints. Stress R Us

[@j85grim4]

Considering we've decided the meaning of life is to stare into a screen, I'd say that's about right.

[@paulzozula1318]

All of Mr. Rees's presentations that I have listened to provide aspects of a refined and holistic description of our predicament. I can tell that this understanding is a heavy burden for him, as it appears that society will not be able to address crucial necessities.

[@adlerharry3280]

...heavy burden on him or all over all of us i would say

[@debpoarch6691]

Great video!! Lots of good info that I'll be following up on.

[@pascalw.paradis8954]

Humans are short sighted. We have cooked our goose. On the way to 3 degs with tips and feedbacks. Mother Earth wants us GONE. ❤️❤️🌎❤️❤️

[@SuperTonyony]

The idea that a human being can OWN a piece of land is idiotic.

[@jamesroutledge9639]

Waste control by individuals is not defined, yet that is the solution!

[@tomjohn8733]

Materialism, ownership, fame, wealth and power, it all so addicting, is it any wonder people turn to religion, god, alcohol , drugs etc to help then deal with this hopelessness, so very tragically depressing, yet even though deep down subconsciously know that the path they on is a self destructive one, like a person on a killing spree, knows it’s wrong but figures, the penalty for 1 murder is the same as if he killed a 100, most people after committing such atrocities kill them selves than face the consequences, like Hitler and Eva Braun, or a man who kills his wife and her lover, then takes his own life, or a person who has lost everything and has nothing left to live for, vanity vanity, humans addicted to his nature would rather stay the course knowing the future, only to kicks the can down the road for the next generation…sadly

[@SuperTonyony]

Truth!

[@shadetreader]

We keep leaving out one word that's the actual root of our problems: capıtalısm.

[@0532phillipjoy]

The decline of religion is correlated with the rise of materialism. People of faith have resources in their philosophy which, if drawn upon, can overcome selfishness and acquisitiveness and the many evils associated with endless and blinkered growth.

[@sentientflower7891]

Everything would be okay if we could only change human nature for 8 billion humans, 190+ nations and a dozen major world religions AND get in a time machine and travel back 70,000 years and provide this insight to those people so that this present world could be avoided altogether.

[@SuperTonyony]

You summarized the problem perfectly.

[@tomjohn8733]

If only…

[@AudioPervert1]

"Everything would be okay..." No. And get over the ifs and buts ....

[@dwen5065]

Yes, the problem is human nature and that was forged through millions of years of evolution, with refined details put into place during the past few hundred thousand years. How do you change that? We are social creatures so culture helps shape us and can lead to change, but biology forms firm bedrock contours. I think it will take several collapses for necessary changes to occur to give us a sustainable nature - best case. Alternatively, we may fail as a species but create AI-Robotics that blossom during a New Cambrian explosion. In retrospect, this may be viewed as our ultimate purpose. In any case, it is hard to feel guilt while simply expressing your nature. How much free will do we even have?

[@sentientflower7891]

@@dwen5065 extinction is coming for the human species and that is the dead end for all the technology anyone might dream about.

[@robertcox14]

Do not leave youtube unattended, it needs constant surveillance or else it falls into ads and crap you don't want to see.

[@shadetreader]

Use an ad-blockıng browser.

[@jakethorburn3407]

I am convinced that acedemics choose to ignore the development of Permaculture (literature and application internationally for 50+ years) and talk all around it. Is it possible someone like this has researched this much and not come across a systems theory and ethics based aproach to human design (permaculture as layed out by Bill Mollison and those that have followed) Please research and apply permaculture!

[@mansoor2536]

Close to what Bill Rees says

[@fregwich]

Wouldn't collapse be easier? (serious question)

[@room_threeothree]

- I resonate with your question.

[@jamesgrover2005]

It's easier to die than not to die?.... 🤔 I imagine many deeply depressed people feel that way, if you do, It's ok to not be ok, get help x

[@fregwich]

@@jamesgrover2005 Mass-death is not implicit in a planned, just, collapse. And, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

[@EcopiuM]

Correct. The end of the world is more believable than the west seeing the end of capitalism

[@hascleavrahmbenyoseph7186]

No, but listening to Robert Costanza got me feeling that way too, then I remembered we can build this Ark. Technology is the indirect cause of climate change. We need a new Global Economic Model GEM that supports a new definition of profit, and this 'profit' definition must map well with nature's economy. In nature, we have been paid in full, in advance, and our job is to gain sustenance without going into Overshoot. I recommend this definition: Profit = our gratefulness and loving care for our Environment, and for the sustenance that it provides to all of us. Clearly, this definition of profit does require a new GEM. The central part of the new Global Economic Model should be the EPA. EPA members will vote on the best 'Profit' definition that states sustenance is our only actual 'gain' without which we can't live, and states that the environment is our only source of sustenance. As the central hub of the new GEM, EPA members will establish, by vote, all directives related to both, the GEM and climate rescue strategies. Here are just some rough ideas of what the EPA directives might be: 1.) Population: Initially we need a one child per family directive. 2.) In place of income, jobs would have an 'equivalency rating'. Some jobs are still more important and more difficult than others. 3.) All equivalency ratings will increase at the same time if and when the environment becomes healthier. The lowest EquivRate must still be livable. 4.) Everyone who can work will be able, and required, to get jobs. No more expenses, so no more cutting jobs to reduce expenses; thus, virtually no more homelessness. 5.) No manufacturing of useless and unnecessary products. All products will be scrutinized by various rating methods. 6.) Whenever possible products should last a lifetime and or be easily upgradable, so we don't buy the same products repeatedly. 7.) EPA will direct "Work Force Flow". Example: Shoe manufacturer will produce 100yearLife shoes for 3 years, then reduce output to about 1/10 of full capacity, and the majority of shoe employees will be shifted to other work assignments by the EPA. Employees still keep their EquivRate in-between jobs. I know that this is just a rough outline of what we must do, but it's a good starting point. This is our Ark. Please help build it! Questions, suggestions and any comments for or against this idea will be very deeply appreciated. Thank you! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@oliviachipperfield6029]

Great stuff. Really interesting. I'm going to watch the TED talk with Nicholas Sturgeon ( not sure if I got the spelling of his name correct ).

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

You had correct yourself if you run drugs guns turn blind eye to child satanic abuse, there is no excuse.

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

Include twin murder especially when 5 weeks old

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

5 weeks old in the uterus

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

I was not here for impermanence

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

The name you need is Lindsay Euan Morven Fiona I was told the father Earl of Lindsay

[@A3Kr0n]

I can't watch another of these "if we act now" talks. We aren't acting now, we've never acted in the past and I don't see us acting in the future. We need to prepare for stone age 2.0.

[@SLefd]

Yes yes yeeees! Who's this WE they are all calling for? Come on.....8 billion and counting. Any given moment it takes only one of us f'ers to rain on the most prrfect parade of acting! For instance. To give just 1 reason why acting is to go in circles. What you probably do need, is to stop. Just stop - it'll be fine.

[@BelisarioHRomo]

I have an idea, the developed countries that have used all the oil so far, will not be allowed to burn a single barrel of oil…only those countries whose turn is now, will be able to use oil. let see what happens.

[@deathmetalcakefarts2751]

Many other countries don’t possess the infrastructure to even utilize oil but that’s an important aspect you’ve raised that not every country has even benefited during arguably the biggest energy rush our species has seen🙏👍

[@wenkeadam362]

Nice ideas, how do you think we will get there?

[@shadetreader]

We can only get there by abolıshıng capıtalısm.

[@jakethorburn3407]

Learning and practicing permaculture.

[@radman1136]

You sound like a nice enough guy professor. The fact that you find it necessary to distill this topic down to assigning "value" in U.S. dollars to discuss it, in fact the very existence of such a field as "ecological economics", is the very essence of the reason that we are going to go extinct. Way sooner than your myopic GDP charts are indicating. After we're gone what do your prognostications say about values then?

[@FredHosea]

I think you've missed the many points he made that aren't remotely dictated by the obsolete definition of progress as growth of GDP. He doesn't "distill the topic down" to US dollars, but uses dollars and the false measures of GDP to give a commonly understandable metric to the absolute inadequacy and destructiveness of the traditional metrics of progress. Sorry to see your're missing out on the brilliant critique he's put together.

[@samjackson8354]

B courage

[@richardford9321]

There is no such thing as social capital. It has no objective reality and cannot be put in a bank, doesn't earn interest and is just another way of having some worthless bureaucrat telling us to be less greedy. In other words see how to survive with little or nothing. And we will never regulate climate. It is the milieu we live in and rolls on impotently as complex systems do unaffected by any tinkering we do. And once and for all carbon emissions have no definable relationship to temperature such that carbon emissions can rise with no effect on temperature. How about we cut the bullshit ?

[@polarbianarchy3333]

It is an wconomic addiction to the right to rule with brutal morality... The society comes from that dynamic. Okay, now go back and do the research

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

Evans should be read Euan

[@0532phillipjoy]

This is a bit naive as it implies but does not directly address the darker realities of human nature. There will always be those who seek advantage by opting out of the communitarian approach.

[@publicdomain1103]

Shakeup! XR

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

Lots of assets on Evans boat as proof please look when

[@hascleavrahmbenyoseph7186]

We can build this Ark. Technology is the indirect cause of climate change. We need a new Global Economic Model GEM that supports a new definition of profit, and this 'profit' definition must map well with nature's economy. In nature, we have been paid in full, in advance, and our job is to gain sustenance without going into Overshoot. I recommend this definition: Profit = our gratefulness and loving care for our Environment, and for the sustenance that it provides to all of us. Clearly, this definition of profit does require a new GEM. The central part of the new Global Economic Model should be the EPA. EPA members will vote on the best 'Profit' definition that states sustenance is our only actual 'gain' without which we can't live, and states that the environment is our only source of sustenance. As the central hub of the new GEM, EPA members will establish, by vote, all directives related to both, the GEM and climate rescue strategies. Here are just some rough ideas of what the EPA directives might be: 1.) Population: Initially we need a one child per family directive. 2.) In place of income, jobs would have an 'equivalency rating'. Some jobs are still more important and more difficult than others. 3.) All equivalency ratings will increase at the same time if and when the environment becomes healthier. The lowest EquivRate must still be livable. 4.) Everyone who can work will be able, and required, to get jobs. No more expenses, so no more cutting jobs to reduce expenses; thus, virtually no more homelessness. 5.) No manufacturing of useless and unnecessary products. All products will be scrutinized by various rating methods. 6.) Whenever possible products should last a lifetime and or be easily upgradable, so we don't buy the same products repeatedly. 7.) EPA will direct "Work Force Flow". Example: Shoe manufacturer will produce 100yearLife shoes for 3 years, then reduce output to about 1/10 of full capacity, and the majority of shoe employees will be shifted to other work assignments by the EPA. Employees still keep their EquivRate in-between jobs. I know that this is just a rough outline of what we must do, but it's a good starting point. This is our Ark. Please help build it! Questions, suggestions and any comments for or against this idea will be very deeply appreciated. Thank you! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@dougalalanmurphy6532]

State 7 protocol

[@BobQuigley]

Us-r-nature, nature-r-us. In each DNA code find pieces of all other carbon based DNA code. Now build the religion that encompasses DNA. Good luck!

[@ronricard249]

"sustainable well-being" ... touchy feely ... communist