Our Model of Growth is at the Heart of the Problem

The COP population sees very proactive NGO’s, activists, members of the social economy, and those that actually believe in the reasons for these discussions; on the other side are the hyper capitalists, mega banks, nuclearists (proposing nuclear as a green tech), petrol kings (supported by their army of 2456 lobbyists) and the “abaters” offering a life jacket to the fossil fuel industry, at risk of drowning in its own grime. On top of both, those officially called the “Parties”, also known as Governments, with their entourage of followers composed of advisors, consultants, friends, life partners, and relatives of various status, taking advantage of the occasion to visit Dubai, shop and take selfies while enjoying a Desert Safari.

This colorful and diverse group of folks were called upon to save the world from avoidable Climate Change disaster with discussions presided over by a Fossil Fuel CEO, representative of those most responsible for Climate Change. He is called upon to referee the discussion that would make him and his friends lose their job, Fossil Fuel Phase Out.

While discussions at all levels are very interesting and are visibly promoting a global holistic vision of strategies to address the Climate Crisis, its causes and affects (a key topic) was strategically avoided, negating the need for a revision of the economic and financial model that got us into this mess in the first place. No surprise for a COP located in the paradise of hyper capitalism and presided over by a key actor of the economic visions that caused the problem.

Technology advances at rapid pace, changing our lives completely (not always for the better). Our financial and economic models are still, however, rooted in outdated formulas and paradigms created to support the industrial revolution, its needs of growth to amortize investments in machinery fueled by geological hydrocarbons (Fossil Fuels), a culture of growth that could be accommodated on the planet the way it was 100 years ago. We were few, and we used little. Today we are eight billion people, hyper consume, burdened by climate crisis, its social, environmental and security threats are not a risk anymore, they are already a reality today.

If we do not address the remodelng of our vision of growth, focusing on quality of life and equitable distribution, and if we are not attentive to the true capacity of our resources and ability to manage them, we risk a transition to a system that, with different technologies, could produce other disasters, both social and environmental.