Truffula

Sustainable Citizenship

sustainability

Seyfang (2005) has confirmed something I've been pondering for a while: sustainable consumption is inherently flawed, particularly due to the Jevons paradox (amongst other issues), yet it is a necessary part of the solution. If there is an alternate economic system, which is both economically and politically viable, it would appear to be a long way off for the mainstream. Yes, we have alternative models, with the development of local economies, sharing economies, various types of commune and individual-level abstinance from consumption, but none of these are yet ready for prime time in a wholesale fashion (or perhaps, rather, they are ready but the mainstream is not). I was recently discussing political policies with a fairly politically-aware friend, slightly left-of-centre, who balked at the idea of a particular Australian Greens policy:

"The pursuit of continuous material-based economic growth is incompatible with the planets finite resources. In order to provide for the needs of present and future generations, economic management should prioritise improving the quality of life rather than the production and consumption of material output." (Emphasis mine).

The notion of moving away from production/consumption is inherently unpalatable to many in the current economic climate, who cannot envision a path away from this model that doesn't involve massive economic upheaval or loss in quality of life. Alternative models are still radical, which is not to say they are unviable, but that, with the exception of spontaneous revolutions, radical ideas take a while to reach broad acceptance. The shift in mentality from "consumer" to "ecological citizen" will take some time— especially if we keep referring to people at large as "consumers".

In the meantime, we have sustainable consumption as a model to lower impacts faster than people can change their actual consumption levels, and with minimal economic disruption, and as Seyfang has discovered, greenwash aside, it can also help to engender the kinds of thinking that might lead to broader behaviour change.

And in the long term, if the mainstream can reach levels of material and energy efficiency in the realm of Cradle to Cradle, perhaps we can achieve truly sustainable consumption.

This article is a response to:

Gill Seyfang, “Shopping for Sustainability: can sustainable consumption promote ecological citizenship?”, Environmental Politics, 14 (2005), 290-306