1. The Ecological Case for Universal Basic Income
Dr. Jim Mulvale
University of Manitoba
NABIG Congress, Hamilton ON
25 May 2018

2. Ecological Case for UBI
UBI is a necessary (but not sufficient) step if we are to achieve two fundamental preconditions for an ecologically sustainable economy in a just and equal society:
Ending overall economic growth
Achieving a radical redistribution of income and wealth

3. We must end our addiction to economic growth as the presumed basis of prosperity and economic betterment of the middle and working classes, and as the path out of poverty
 The “full employment economy” was a foundational assumption and aspiration (never achieved) of Keynesian welfare state regimes

4. Public policies required for a green economy in a just and democratic society
universal basic income
adequate and affordable housing
local food security as an alternative to global agribusiness
labour market restructuring for green jobs and care work

5. Public policies required for a green economy in a just and democratic society (cont’d)
public transportation that is low/no carbon
zero (overall) population growth
land-use planning and habitat protection
ecological education
green health care and prevention / health promotion strategies

6. What sort of UBI do we need?
For a green economy and a just society, our medium- to long-term goal as the basic income movement must be a ‘thick’ (truly universal and adequate) version of UBI