Wolfgang Sachs Fairness in a Fragile World

FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN A FRAGILE WORLD --- THE Johannesburg Memo SACHS, P.31 The Rio Earth Summit sought to balance a dilemma: Northern desires to restrict development and protect the environment that increased poverty and Southern desires to spur development, increasing destruction of nature.

Johannesburg 2 Failure to achieve balance left pent up development pressure that overwhelmed the next summit. Raised challenge of how to address equity without destroying the environment. Need to address “envy,” “catching up,” “dignity” and “modeling”

Reduce Footprints of the Rich Justice requires preserving nature which requires curtailing consumption of rich –20% consume 70-80%, consume 45% meat and fish, 68% electricity, 84% paper and own 87% of cars –OECD (Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development) 75-85% over average ecological footprintOrganisation for Economic Co- operation and Development –Wealtiest 25% occupy earth equivalent ecological footprint –Globalized rich dominate localized 33% poor

Livelihood rights Development cures poverty vs. empower poor to thrive Export led displacement from land, joblessness, poverty, forced urbanization Sustainable livelihoods vs. expanding consumption of rich and corporate profit Myths: –poor cause environmental destruction, –economic growth removes poverty, –Economic growth eliminates poverty and environmental destruction.

Regenerative Economy Spoiled nature (scarcity), rather than no money, is now the primary cause of poverty. Increase Gross Nature Product not GNP. Preserve biodiversity. Lay off wasted kilowatts not people Use local knowledge---social capital Renewable energy shortens supply chains and keeps income and jobs local.

Role of Women Manage household, provide food, carry local knowledge, cultural memory and skills for survival Seed saving

Relationship to Nature Interconnections of people, plants and animals Contamination from chemicals Poor health from soil degradation, water problems Ecological agriculture cheaper, preserve soil, spiritual connection, stable livelihoods and relationships vs monoculture Restoration and water security

ENERGY Assume development means growth, growth means rising use of energy, which requires rising energy supplies. Poor left to use dung and other non-commercial energy sources Turn to advantage if use renewables and local building materials 4 steps to energy transition: –Conservation, –end fossil fuels and nuclear, –redesign systems for efficiency, –change lifestyle

CITIES More than 1/3 population heading to ½ 13% lack safe drinking water A quarter lack sanitation and garbage disposal Overcrowding and disease Air pollution Unpotable water Mudslides and floods, etc. Environmental injustices

Wealth-Poverty Connection Cannot eradicate poverty without reforming wealth Wealth in North must drop 80-90% in 50 years South must be dissuaded from “catch up” Wealth does not need to be redistributed but restrained Biomimicry, living systems, shift from products to services

2 Globalizations Corporate Globalization homogenizes world and allows unfettered competition and wealth Democratic Globalization based on flourishing plurality of cultures Model of leapfrogging into post-fossil age; underdevelopment is a blessing South can Leapfrog to solar economy!