Transcript Ethics as the grounding of a new paradigm of ecological

Sustainable Ōtautahi
Christchurch
www.soc.org.nz
May 2015
SOC’s Aim
LONG TERM STRONG SUSTAINABILITY:
All people have their basic needs satisfied,
so they can live in dignity,
in healthy communities,
while ensuring the minimum adverse impact
on natural systems,
now and in the future
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Strong Sustainability
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Ethics, values, and 'word views'
Values - Prerequisite and foundation
Stability, diversity, and resilience
Preserve integrity of ecological systems
Integrity: ability to recover & re-establish
Human society: part of ecosystems
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Unique Opportunity
Do it Properly, Do it Now
Which do we Choose?
Strong vs Weak Sustainability
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A Risk Management Approach
“It would be highly imprudent to ignore such projected
scenarios just because they must be expressed in terms
of probabilities rather than certainties.” (p1)
“In the intermediate term (over the next 30-40 years)3 ,
New Zealand will face significant adaptive
requirements to cope with these shifts in climate and
there will need to be a consequent readjustment in
expectations of frequency of extreme events.” (p2)
New Zealand’s changing climate and oceans: The impact of human activity and implications for the future : An
assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, July 2013
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Climate change: CO2
• Global temperature has risen by nearly 0.7°C since 1950, mostly
due to CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use.
• Boundary: atmospheric concentration no higher than 350 ppm CO2.
• Current: 400 ppm CO2 and rising.
• Future: OECD projections based on current use are 685 ppm.
• Must keep under 450 ppm to avoid global average temperature
increases above 2°C .
• Methane impact is 25 x greater over 100 year period.
May 2015
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What do we believe?
This
Or This?
Unemployment is 2.26%
Dept Statistics HLFS 3/2015
June 2014: 2.9% (March
15:3.1)
“We know their names”
Peter Townsend CEO Canty Employers Chamber of
Commerce, 10/10/2014
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10599844/Coun
cil-CEO-navigates-spaghetti
May 2015
15-24:
7.5% / 4,500 (9.2/5,600)
25-54:
2.0% / 4,100 (1.9% /3,800)
55+:
1% / 900 (1.5% / 1,200)
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What do we believe?
This?
Christchurch rates:
“historically lower than
those charged by other
Councils”
(LTP p 24)
Or This?
Property Rateable Value:
$600,000
Rates - 2014/15
ChCh : $2,657 inc GST
(LTP p 86)
Claims based on averages.
Akld: $2,310 inc GST
(Annual Plan p 214) plus water.
May 2015
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What do we Believe?
LTP p 23
• Orion New Zealand is
required to operate
within a strict statutory
framework. The
Council’s influence is
therefore
limited. (Emphasis
added.)
May 2015
Tale of Two Networks
Wellington Electricity Ltd
“It was madness to
privatise it.”
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Tale of Two Natural Monopolies
Water
1990:
Opex/Levies - $22.2m
Depr Historical Value:
$180m
58,782 litres, $0.374/1000l
2010:
Opex/Levies - $26.1m
52,939l, $0.493/1000l
Increase 17.5% (32% / unit)
CPI increase 54%
May 2015
Electricity Lines Company
1990:
Opex/Levies: - $36m
Depr Historical Value:
$168m
2011:
Revenue: $148m
Cost: $142.5M
Increase: 296%
Dividends:
$100m or $800pa /mwc
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Asset Sales
• Proven cause of price rises
• Reduces conservation and resilience
• Will reduce ability to respond to climate
change – not strong sustainability.
• Against requirement of LG Act (s10(b)):
– to meet the current and future needs
of communities … in a way that is most
cost-effective for households and
businesses.
May 2015
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Democracy Vital
• Primary statutory purpose (s10(a)):
– to enable democratic local decisionmaking and action by, and on behalf
of, communities
• Reason to stay – being involved in
creating the future.
• All inclusive – internal and external.
• Let us decide the tragic choices.
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Unique Opportunity - Do it Properly, Do it Now
Take time to get it right:
• Reduce and defer
• Develop principles to guide
decision making
Enhance democratic process
• Apply engagement policy
• Genuine collaboration:
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Partner with the public
Develop alternatives
Take tragic choices to the
election
Go through the Funnel
• Develop a new plan
• Give us a reason to stay
• Give us a future
Creating a (better) future
May 2015
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