Transcript Gandhi Trust, Vishwas Satgar. ppt

Gandhi and Ecological Justice –
From Climate Crisis to Climate Jobs
Dr. Vishwas Satgar, WITS University
Activist and Member of the National Convening Committee –
Democratic Left Front
Learning from Gandhi in 21st Century
• Many pay lip service to Gandhi or find his
example irrelevant – ‘age of shop until you drop’
• Not literal or dogmatic appreciation –
think with and go beyond
• Not just anti-colonial leader but a leader
against injustice including social and ecological injustice
• Draw on philosophy of non-violent struggle and
alternative vision of non-violent society for Emancipation!
• The world is in crisis! What kind of crisis?
The Crisis of Business Civilisation – War on Human
Beings and Nature
• World constructed by elites and the powerful
• Dominant economic model – competition,
greed and individualism – through the market
power of corporations organise the global and
national economy – prone to unstable
financial crises – it has failed!
• Interlock of financial crisis, food crisis, oil
peak, securitisation and climate change
• Reproduction of society is become near
impossible – unemployment, hunger,
increasing fuel costs, loss of rights and
freedoms
The Climate Crisis
• Earth goes through natural cycles of cooling and heating
• International Panel on Climate Change – 2007
human induced climate change – we are in a longer and more
intense warming period
• Historical and present accumulations of green-house gases
( like carbon, methane)
• Planet earth is warming!
Source : Stern Review : Economics of Climate Change, 2007
Source: South African Weather Services Annual Report 2008/2009
Data from Global Atmosphere Watch at SA Weather Service, at Cape Point
Origins of Human Induced Climate Crisis
• Climate change is not just a scientific question and
problem – with human induced climate change it is a
social, political and historical question as well
• Where has all the ‘green-house’ gases
come from that started the climate shift?
• Over 150 years of industrial development,
the rich countries pollution – climate debt!
• Human domination of nature through industrial
production and consumption
Persistence of Climate Crisis
• Failure of UN-led climate negotiations – over 2 decades
-US has not signed Kyoto Protocol, market solutions
(Carbon Trading and Clean Development Mechanism)
– since Cancun we are facing over 3 degree rise in
global temperatures, for Africa about 4 degrees
• Power of transnational corporations – ‘maintain
business as usual’ – want to use climate crisis to make
profits – contesting the climate science with lies,
disinformation, narrow agendas
• Climate denialism – many people are not willing to
face up to the reality
Consequences of Climate Crisis
Climate change impacts on the poor, workers and
middle classes the most :
•Less available water = more expensive water
•Reduced food production = more expensive food
•More frequent and intense droughts and floods =
increased migration to more favourable areas (climate
refugees) = more competition for resources including
food, water and jobs
Those most affected are those already under
stress; the rich will buy their way out of the problem.
Gandhi and the Struggle for Ecological
Justice - I
• Respect and unity of all living things –
human beings had reason and morality but not superior –
merely Trustees/Guardians of creation
• Critique of western civilisation – undermined
indivisibility of humanity, exploitation, violence,
rationalism
• Ethics - live with less, take only what we need from
nature and not more
• Gandhi’s vision of a post-materialist and eco-socialist
society – critique of capitalism and communism guidelines, ‘trusteeship’, participatory democracy,
rights/duties
Gandhi and the Struggle for Ecological Justice - 2
• We must attempt to end violence in the world –
stop war against nature and its negative
consequences for the poor
• Satyagrah against ecological injustice – noncooperation or civil disobedience - pursuade
about truth in climate science and genuine
alternatives
South Africa and climate change
South Africa has an energy intensive economy primarily
because of coal based energy production (electricity and
coal-to-liquids) primarily to supply mining and minerals
processing industries.
In 2009 South Africa was the 13th biggest CO2 emitter in the
world – on par with China and significantly higher than
world average.
Source : Jesse Burton, 2011
The minerals-energy complex
Anglo
Exxaro
Xstrata
Arcelor Mittal
BHP-Billiton
Lonmin
PROFIT
Coal input
Aluminium
Iron and steel
Ferrochrome
Manganese
Gold
Coa
Platinum
Minerals-sands
Policy processes
• IRP
• Carbon tax
• Planning Commission
PROFIT
Cheap
electricity
Source: Jesse Burton
Sasol
Eskom
CTL +
chemicals
71 Mt/yr
Emissions
of 230 Mt/yr
South Africa and climate change
In 2007 South Africa’s per capita emissions of CO2 was 8.8
tons, but this masks deep disparities.
Emissions from the top 4% of the population (in terms of
income distribution) account for more than the total
emissions of the bottom 80%.
The poorest electrified households account for 0.45% of
Eskom sales, contributing to only 0.2% of total emissions
for 2010.
Source : Jesse Burton, 2011
South Africa and climate change
Electricity generation produces more than 40% of South
Africa’s carbon emissions.
Of that, energy intensive industries use about 40%.
There is also disparity in allocation of electricity between :
•Wealthy and poor members of society
•Electricity for people’s needs and electricity for highly
energy-intensive industry (which has not resulted in
diversification of the economy or expansion of labourintensive employment)
Source : Jesse Burton, 2011
South Africa and climate change
Challenge : decarbonise the industry but ENSURE that
electricity price does not become prohibitive for the
majority of consumers.
Source : Jesse Burton, 2011
1 800
1 600
Growth without Constraints
1 400
Mt CO2-eq
1 200
1 000
800
34
42%
600
400
Required by Science
200
-
Source : Andrew Marquard, 2011
South Africa and climate change
Are we too late?
Current emissions : about 540 Mt CO2e
Copenhagen pledge commits to : roughly 500 Mt CO2e
Medupe (2012-2014) & Kusile (2015-2017) : 55 Mt CO2e
Unemployment in South Africa
South Africa’s official unemployment rate is 25%, one of
the highest in the world.
At the height of the US Great Depression (1929),
unemployment was at 25%.
What was considered a crisis then is our normality now.
We lost about 1 million jobs with global financial crisis
In 2010 alone we have lost 395 000 jobs
Unemployment in South Africa
Of 17,4 million economically active people,
12,9 million are employed
The official definition of “employment” includes anyone
who receives some form of monetary gain.
It includes : car guards, beggars, sex workers, hawkers,
subsistence farmers and fisherfolk, even people who
receive handouts.
The more accurate unemployment figure is closer
to 35%.
And it’s getting worse - e.g. about 170,000 fewer jobs in
the second quarter of this year than in the first. We are
moving from job shedding to jobless economy !
Unemployment in South Africa
Unemployment and inequality reduce people’s ability to
enjoy a decent quality of life and access basic needs
such as water, energy, food and housing.
Unemployment and related poverty lead to : crime,
domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug abuse, depression,
ill health, unplanned pregnancies, gangsterism….. things
that are associated with a “value-less” life.
Impoverished households produce impoverished children.
Poverty perpetuates poverty.
Gandhi, Work and Climate Jobs
• Right to work – part of his vision
of a non-violent society
• Gandhi believed in the dignity of work as the basis of
swaraj – rural craft industry
• Self autonomy or realisation and contribution to
interdependent society
• Support for climate jobs
From Climate Crisis to Climate
Jobs
There is powerful inspiration for the transformation of our
economy to one that protects people and the environment
when two of South Africa’s biggest threats to security and
stability, climate change and unemployment, are
confronted together.
The Million Climate Jobs Campaign presents tangible
solutions to the ecological and economic crises, and
advocates for the South African government to create jobs
in combating climate change.
Authentic, meaningful solutions to climate change
offer vast opportunities for decent work in a new
low-carbon economy.
“Climate jobs are
decent, primarily people and publicly-driven
jobs
that directly reduce the causes and impacts
of climate change”
Climate jobs are about reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and enhancing resilience to the impacts of climate change
of all peoples, especially the poor and vulnerable.
The One Million Climate Jobs Campaign grew out of a
series of informal discussions in labour and social
movements about how to jointly address two of the key
crises facing South Africans : unemployment and
climate change.
DLF conference in January 2011
About 40 organisations/institutes played a role in
developing the Campaign.
Initiated in March 2011 at a workshop hosted by the
Alternative Information and Development Centre.
Endorsed by COSATU in June 2011.
Some of the organisations involved
Congress of South African Trade Unions
Rural People’s Movement
University of Stellenbosch :
Sustainability Institute
National Council of Trade Unions
New Women’s Movement
University of Witwatersrand : Society,
Work and Development Institute
National Union of Metalworkers of
South Africa
Abahlahi baseMjondolo
University of KwaZulu-Natal : Centre
for Civil Society
National Union of Mineworkers
Youth Agricultural Ambassadors
University of Witwatersrand : School of
Economics and Business Sciences
South African Municipal Workers’ Union
Civil Society Research and Support
Collective
University of Cape Town
South African Transport and Allied
Workers’ Union
South Durban Community
Environmental Alliance
University of KwaZulu-Natal : Farmer
Support Group
Food and Allied Workers Union
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg
Africa Centre for Biodiversity
Public and Allied Workers Union of
South Africa
Earthlife Africa Cape Town
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
Alternative Information and
Development Centre
Southern African Faith Communities
Environmental Initiative
Oxfam Australia
Trust for Community Outreach and
Education
GroundWork
WWF
Progressive Youth Movement
Environmental Monitoring Group
350.org
Cooporative and Policy Alternative
Centre
Geasphere
Institute for Zero Waste
Umphilo waManzi
International Alliance on Natural
Resources in Africa
Democratic Left Front
At the first workshop of the One Million Climate
Jobs Campaign in March 2011, participants agreed
to undertake :
Research for a proposal to create climate jobs in South
Africa
Popular education and mobilisation, with a focus on
COP17
Development of the Campaign beyond 2011
Civil Society Solutions to jointly address
unemployment and climate change
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Safe and efficient public transport
Agroecology
Zero waste
Sustainable and energy efficient housing and construction
Good water management
Ecosystem protection and restoration
Effectively, new economic pathway that is sustainable and
not energy intensive
Good pro-people development
Preliminary research results
25 August 2011
Research Contributions
Acknowledgements
Jeff Rudin
Andrew Marquard
Researchers :
Jacklyn Cock, John Mawbey, Vernon Collis, Maxwell
Mudhara, Mercia Andrews, Mariam Mayet, Jane
Barrett, Jesse Burton, David Hallowes, Dick Forslund,
David Sanders, Louis Reynolds, Muna Lakhani, Mary
Galvin, Gray Maguire, Jennifer Stern, Laura Fails, Brian
Ashley, Jeff Rudin, Niall Reddy.
Overview of Research Results
Direct and indirect jobs that cut emissions
Public Transport: 384 644 (usage and expansion)
Agro-ecology: 400 000 (in Gauteng alone)
Renewables: 103 000 (in production and efficiency)
Housing and Construction : 80,000-90,000 jobs
Ecosystem Restoration : 330,000 jobs
Zero Waste : 270,000 jobs
Water Conservation:?
Tourism : ?
So far over 1 million jobs !
PAYING FOR One Million Climate Jobs
R72 billion in wages for one million jobs (ave wage = R6,000)
R7 billion in employers’ insurance and pension contributions
R55 billion in infrastructures, materials, rent and interest (this
figure dependent on other research results.
Creating all these jobs will generate numerous direct and indirect
benefits for the economy that will allow the government to recoup
a large portion of the spending.
Source : Dick Forslund, Niall Reddy, Brian Ashley
Financing Climate Jobs
Tax on speculative flows – financial transactions
Redirecting existing capital allocations from Eskom
Carbon tax for the wealthy
Broadening tax base and collection rates – climate jobs!
Just transition
- Restructuring of economy – reduce emissions and create
jobs
- (i) shallow transition – just deal with hugh carbon emitters
and some lifestyle change;
- (ii) deep transition – households, communities, economy,
government
- - people driven - deepen democracy
- - new relations of production – worker cooperatives,
worker control and nationalisation, community trusts and
associations
- Participatory planning
Satyagraha Campaigning for Climate Jobs
• Launch of Climate Jobs Booklet 1 – early November – call
to set up local climate jobs forums
• Conference of the Unemployed - Tahrir Square at Union
Building in November – non-violent and fasting
• Local non- violent actions outside local government, DOL
etc
• COP17 march international day of action – December 3
• International conference for climate jobs – December 4
• Phase II – next year – further research and mass
mobilisation
Thank you