Outline Economic growth vs. biodiversity conservation Biodiversity conservation and human welfare Technological progress Iron triangle Steady State Revolution

Endangerment Causes Urbanization Agriculture Water diversions (e.g., reservoirs) Recreation, tourism development Pollution Domestic livestock, ranching Czech et al Bioscience 50(7):

Causes (cont.) Mineral, gas, oil extraction Non-native species Harvest Modified fire regimes Road construction/maintenance Industrial development Czech et al Bioscience 50(7):

Economic Growth an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services typically expressed in terms of GDP facilitated by increasing: –population –per capita consumption

Time GDP K Natural capital allocated to human economy Natural capital allocated to economy of nature

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ESA Listings and GDP $10 $9 $8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $3 R 2 = 98.4

K Carrying Capacity Scenarios Individuals Time r-selection K-selection

K and r-selected Species

K Economic Carrying Capacity GDP Time r-selection K-selection

K and r-selected Economies

American GNP,

K Biodiversity Conservation and Steady State Economy GDP Time...maintain steady state economy below K. To conserve biodiversity...

Biodiverse Goods Food Fiber Medicine Genetic stocks Experimental subjects

Biodiverse Services Atmospheric regulation Water provision and purification Pollination Waste disposal Aesthetic pleasure

How important is biodiversity? Pending paper by Costanza et al. will estimate value of world’s biodiversity at $6 trillion dollars per annum; ~ one sixth GGP Key component of natural capital Natural capital the foundation of economic security

GGP K Human economy Economy of nature We Might Ask

Technological Progress Vernacular: invention, innovation Technical: increasing productive efficiency resulting from invention and innovation

KTKT GDP Natural capital allocated to human economy Natural capital allocated to non-human economy X natural capital allocable Time KUKU

X/2 conserved K1K1 K2K2 GDP Time X natural capital allocable KUKU Economic growth with technology level 2 Economic growth with technology level 1

Consider the Sources Research and development Corporate profit Economies of scale

K1K1 K2K2 GDP Time X/2 natural capital allocable KUKU X/2 converted Economic growth with technology level 2 Economic growth with technology level 1

The Great Debate: Is There a Limit? “Yes” Physiocrats Classical economists Ecological economists Ecologists “No” Neoclassical economists Corporations Politicians

= $ $ $ $

The “Information Economy” What is the information used for? How does one come to afford the information?

And yet we hear: “Some people just don’t get it. There is no conflict between economic growth and environmental protection!” Why do they persist?

Goals Replace national goal of “economic growth” with national goal of steady state economy. Replace bloating economy with steady state economy.

Revolutions Magnitude of change Pace of change “When evolution won’t cut it” Evolution combined with revolt

Steady State Revolution Academic, social Peaceable, not pacifistic Models –abolition of child labor –reduction of smoking

Academic Phase Replacement of neoclassical economic growth theory Refocusing of curricula More public outreach

Social Phase “Economic growth” reconstructed as economic bloating Dollar spent is dollar burned Castigation of the liquidating class

Class Structure of the Steady State Revolution Liquidating class Steady state class Amorphic class

Percentile: Expenditures Consumption Classes

Percentile: Expenditures Consumption Classes

Percentile: Expenditures Consumption Classes

Percentile: Expenditures Consumption Classes

Liquidators Steady Staters Amorphs

Amorphic Class Steady State Class Liquidating Class

Amorphic Class Liquidating Class Steady State Class

Economic Rationale “Trickle-down consumption” Redistribution of wealth compensates for reduced per capita consumption Reduction of waste Leads toward steady state economy

Liquidators Amorphs Ecological Capacity Poverty Line Some Steady Staters Most Steady Staters

Liquidators Amorphs Liquidators Amorphs Steady Staters Ecological Capacity Poverty Line Some Steady Staters Most Steady Staters

Political Rationale No “everyone revolt against everybody” Taps into predisposition Readily identifiable classes

Psychological Rationale Darwin, Veblen, Maslow Cure for “liquidator syndrome” Ratcheting effect toward sustainable ideology

Maslow’s Hierarchy 1) Food 2) Security 3) Love, affection, reproduction 4) Self-esteem 5) Self-actualization

Sociopolitical Rationale Ideological horse before the public policy cart Supplementary to policy prescriptions Replaces politicians, not system

Ethics I Equity (current, intergenerational) Consistent with religions: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Judaic “Devil in the details” of castigation Tolerance overrated

Ethics II “Why do they hate Americans?” – It’s the economy, stupid! – Conspicuous consumption not everything, but major thing SSR beats violent alternatives “Speaking truth to power”

K GDP Time