The clock is ticking. Not just on climate change, but on shopping days to Christmas. Could there possibly be a connection? Actually, yes, and more than you might suppose.
In December 2009, there’s just 84 months left before we enter a new, more perilous phase of global warming.
On current trends, at the end of that time the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere mean it will no longer be "likely," to use the IPCC scientists’ measure of risk, that we will stay below the crucial barrier of 2 degrees temperature rise.
Writing this, however, there’s much less time left to get Christmas presents for all my friends and family. But, given the first countdown, why should I even think about the second?
The reason is that it takes us to the heart of the failed economic system that is driving climate change.
Christmas is just an extreme example of the pervasive false promise at the heart of consumer societies. This is the idea that once you’ve got your basic material needs sorted out -- a roof, food, clothes and sufficient comfort -- simply having more stuff will make you happy. It doesn’t. And in wealthy nations like the United Kingdom, it hasn’t done so for decades.
While the economies of European and other industrialized countries have grown on an upward curve, simultaneously increasing their carbon emissions, levels of life satisfaction have generally flat-lined. As we run faster, and work longer hours to earn the money to by bigger TV sets and upgrade to the latest mobile phone, it can actually do the opposite, and undermine our well-being.
At one level, consumerism only works by provoking dissatisfaction. It makes you think that the thing missing in your life is a gadget, new car or trip abroad. When, in fact, its much more likely that you are time-poor, and you well being would be raised by having more time to spend with friends and family, or learn a new skill, go for a walk in the wood or join a club. Like an unwanted guest at a festive party, consumerism comes between you and what you would really benefit from doing.
Apart from the environmental impact, and getting lost on the path to greater well being, there’s another reason to be suspicious of the orgy of materialism that has co-opted the very natural desire to have a party in the middle of winter (an entirely honourable tradition going far back beyond Christian times).
In a new book called "Scroogenomics," the economist Joel Waldfogel demonstrates that, even in conventional economic terms, most typical gift buying at Christmas destroys economic value. This is because, unless you know someone incredibly well, and know exactly what they want, your gift will be worth less to them than what you paid for it. At best the exchange might break even.
It’s not such a radical notion. Just think of the endless, jumpers and books that will never be worn or read, and the orange cream chocolates that make you feel queasy.
You can of course, creatively redirect your healthy urge to give, and sidestep the environmentally damaging consumer trap. Make a card to show you care, then donate money instead to a charity or campaign group you trust working on tackling climate change or poverty. That will probably increase real social, economic and environmental value, not destroy them. It’s a lesson that could be taken one step further.
Amazingly, in spite of all the damage they have caused to the global economy, bankers are still expecting bonuses this Christmas totalling billions of dollars. Yet, not only do they not deserve it -- for example, a new study by NEF reveals that low-paid hospital cleaners are worth more to society than bankers -- all the research tells us it won’t make them happy. Why not instead, take all that money, and put it into a pot to pay for a global green new deal to kick our collective carbon addiction and help with the worst of global warming?
Andrew Simms is the co-author of “The New Economics” and the policy director and head of climate change and energy at NEF, the New Economics Foundation. His article was posted originally at TakePart.com and is reprinted with permission.
Image CC licensed by Flickr user kevindooley.