The Liaison with Local Government Group would like to thank other TB&H Groups that have responded to Brighton and Hove Council's Core Strategy, the document containing the proposed policies which will steer development in our city for the next 20 years. Since this is largely an economic document, it is a good occasion to review the approaches to economic planning presented by The New Economics Foundation at the workshop given to members of Transition Brighton and Hove a few months ago. Participants were encouraged to think about our city's resource usage rather than numerical growth targets.
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Those who have read our Council's Core Strategy will have noted the emphasis in the Executive Summary, right at the head of the document (page 2 - directly after 'Contents'), on meeting the growth targets required by the draft South East Plan. These are based on a projected population of 295,700 by 2026, and involve the creation of 8,000 new jobs over the next ten years, and the provision of 11,000 new homes.
At the same time, it is observed somewhat later (on page 88 of this long document) that Brighton and Hove was ranked 57th out of 60 in a WWF report, making the city's ecological footprint one of the worst in the UK requiring 3.47 planets or 6.25 global hectares per person. Activities in our city emit about 1.373 million tonnes of CO2 every year, with the domestic sector alone accounting for 48% of emissions (mostly from energy use). The city is also within a 'highly water stressed' region with above average per capita consumption, according to the Environment Agency. A target which we may find it difficult to comply with, is the Government's national commitment to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010.
A CORE STRATEGY based on 'The New Economics', would have the urgent need to cut CO2 written into the head of the Executive Summary, and would consequently be less ridden with conflicting spatial strategies. Moreover, it would need to take a much fuller snapshot of how the city is currently using labour and non-renewable resources, instead of limiting its policies to the changes needed both to meet growth targets and to minimize the extra damage done to the environment in becoming a more densely populated city. A CORE STRATEGY based on 'The New Economics' would monitor closely how land, labour and capital are deployed NOW, and would RE-ALLOCATE. Policies would provide incentives to move those in wasteful occupations (catering for wasteful lifestyles) into activities which are compatible with sustainable living. Employment policies would put people first, for example, by seeking to move people on supermarket checkouts into co-operative ventures where food is seen as more than a bar-code. Those whose idea of leisure involves unnecessary journeys in cars, would be given incentives to change their behaviour.
But until electorates demand real actions to reduce CO2, Council planners will be wary of upsetting political masters who may stand to lose votes.
Events (e.g. higher oil and food prices) will be on the side of those trying to raise awareness of the need for The New Economics. The following resources may also be helpful:
There are some good video-clips posted on http://www.youtube.com/ featuring the late E. F. Schumacher, one of the most influential, inspiring and clear-minded pioneers of The New Economics:
Land use and speculation Participatory Democracy
Will Buddhist Economics work in the West?
Local production and Micro-climate
Appropriate Technology Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Michigan University 1 Michigan University 2
Dialogue with Schumacher: one two three four five six seven
Questions & Answers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Buddhist Economics
E. F. Schumacher's Essay (included in Part 1 of "Small is Beautiful" on a a system of economics for planning a sustainable society in which people matter.
English French Spanish German Japanese Links to Other Languages
Think About Land
'Think about Land' - a talk given by Dr. E. F. Schumacher, originally published by The Catholic Housing Aid Society.
The New Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. We aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues. We work in partnership and put people and the planet first.
The Green Economics Institute
The Green Economics Institute aims to bring together thinkers, activists, practitioners, academics and policy makers, people in business wanting to work for a real change in outcomes, economists and campaigners, writers and opinion formers in order to educate and exchange information and ideas and to provide the tools for beneficial change to occur.
The Green Economics Institute undertakes, encourages and supports research into Green Economics issues, perspectives, methods, tools and instruments, economic theoretical discourses and disciplines in order to facilitate change in the way people are affected by the economy and their relationship to it. It will seek out and encourage best practice and innovation in Fair Trade and sustainability and exchange ideas and examples and cases.
The New Economics - an alternative approach to planning Brighton and Hove
