On Limits to Growth
Preamble
WHEREAS the economies of Canada and of the world are predicated on growth, and are deliberately designed for growth based on increasing consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources, and that without this form of growth serious societal impacts are felt; and
WHEREAS exponential growth presumes no environmental limits; and
WHEREAS there are absolute limits in a finite world; and
WHEREAS we are rapidly approaching peak resource availability through the over-consumption of a large number of non-renewable and vital resources (not least oil); and
WHEREAS such limits will produce catastrophic results in an exponential growth economy,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada
- will promote a sustainable Canadian economy in dynamic equilibrium with its environment;
- will promote a sustainable Canadian economy that evolves to be better not bigger;
- will promote policies that recognize the serious constraints of a finite world;
- will promote policies that seek to restrain societal excesses -- industrial, commercial, resource extraction etc; and
- will develop public perception of the necessity of respecting these limits.
Background
"Growth" is referenced several times in the GPC's approved policy, but only once with respect to "economic growth". And that reference is from 1998 and only with respect to our international obligations: there is not a single reference to limiting our own Canadian growth.
The term "sustainable" occurs frequently throughout our policies, but not once with respect to overall economic growth. To borrow from the BC Greens, Green Book 2011, "A sustainable economy is healthy and resilient. It seeks to develop qualitatively without growing quantitatively, to get better without getting bigger."
This resolution addresses this absence, in providing an overarching focus to our economic policy.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
Preamble
WHEREAS the economies of Canada and of the world are predicated on growth, and are deliberately designed for growth based on increasing consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources, and that without this form of growth serious societal impacts are felt; and
WHEREAS exponential growth presumes no environmental limits; and
WHEREAS there are absolute limits in a finite world; and
WHEREAS we are rapidly approaching peak resource availability through the over-consumption of a large number of non-renewable and vital resources (not least oil); and
WHEREAS such limits will produce catastrophic results in an exponential growth economy,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada
- will promote a sustainable Canadian economy in dynamic equilibrium with its environment;
- will promote a sustainable Canadian economy that evolves to be better not bigger;
- will promote policies that recognize the serious constraints of a finite world;
- will promote policies that seek to restrain societal excesses -- industrial, commercial, resource extraction etc; and
- will develop public perception of the necessity of respecting these limits.
Sponsors
Background
"Growth" is referenced several times in the GPC's approved policy, but only once with respect to "economic growth". And that reference is from 1998 and only with respect to our international obligations: there is not a single reference to limiting our own Canadian growth.
The term "sustainable" occurs frequently throughout our policies, but not once with respect to overall economic growth. To borrow from the BC Greens, Green Book 2011, "A sustainable economy is healthy and resilient. It seeks to develop qualitatively without growing quantitatively, to get better without getting bigger."
This resolution addresses this absence, in providing an overarching focus to our economic policy.
Party Commentary