13 Dark Optimism - Life After Economic Growth: A Future Worth Fighting For!

Planet in Crisis

“Growth CAN’T continue, but growth MUST continue on this current paradigm.” This is why we’re “never going to get any meaningful, adequate climate policy through our current political system and our current culture,” according to Shaun Chamberlin, author of The Transition Timeline: For a Local, Resilient Future and executive producer of the film The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?

“On the one hand, if growth stops, we’re looking at a collapse type scenario, but on the other hand, if growth doesn’t stop, we’re gonna continue growing to the point where we destroy the ecosystems on which all life on Earth depends.” This is the dilemma addressed in this fascinating presentation.

These are frightening and confusing days. As we have rearranged our daily lives in response to the coronavirus pandemic, other interlocking crises continue to worsen, from biodiversity collapse to food security to climate catastrophe. In these tumultuous times, what does it make sense to do? Is there still a realistic future worth aiming for? And how do we deal with despair?

Shaun Chamberlin quit his job in 2005 to give his full attention to the unfolding crisis, and has learned to live meaningfully in relation to these dark times. The 30 minute talk is followed by 30 minutes of Q&A / open conversation.

Shaun Chamberlin was one of the earliest Extinction Rebellion arrestees. He leads Sterling College's online programme Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time. He is managing director of The Fleming Policy Centre, and has previously served as chair of the Ecological Land Co-operative, a director of the campaigning organisation Global Justice Now, and an advisor to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, as well as co-authoring the All Party Parliamentary report in favour of carbon rationing.

Scientists Warning Europe presents and promotes science endorsed solutions which will lead to a just transition for our World to a sustainable and equitable future. Learn more, sign up for updates, and support our work at https://www.scientistswarningeurope.org.uk

This podcast series is made possible through the generous help of The Overpopulation Podcast and the GrowthBusters podcast about limits to growth.

LINKS:

Scientists Warning Europehttps://scientistswarningeurope.org.uk/

Transition Towns movement https://transitionnetwork.org/

The Transition Timeline: For a Local, Resilient Future – by Shaun Chamberlin https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6418846-the-transition-timeline

Shaun Chamberlin’s website https://www.darkoptimism.org/

Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time – The Deeper Dive online course https://sterlingcollege.edu/course/surviving-the-future/

Lean Logic: A Dictionary for the Future and How to Survive It – by David Fleming (free online version) https://leanlogic.online/

The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation? – film http://www.flemingpolicycentre.org.uk/film/

The Sequel: Life After Economic Growth – essay by Shaun Chamberlin https://www.tikkun.org/the-sequel-life-after-economic-growth

All Three World Scientists’ Warningshttps://scientistswarningeurope.org.uk/warnings

Planet in Crisis Pre-COP Video Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyl1v07bfIaLHtXjYBtaca3YdlPaKC9Vx

GrowthBusters podcast http://www.growthbusters.org/podcast/

The Overpopulation Podcasthttps://www.populationbalance.org/podcasts

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