Dave Gardner
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I want to submit that, based on all the scientific reports of late (IPBES Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Living Planet Report, IPCC 1.5 Degrees Celsius report, World Scientists Warning: Second Notice – and just observing the empirical evidence, it’s pretty clear that just stabilizing human population is not going to get us out of the woods. We cannot settle for doing that. Here’s a brief interview I did on World Population Day that covered the solution I’m submitting – a global campaign alerting all to the fact we are overpopulated and encouraging couples to choose smaller families – moving to a one-child norm as quickly as possible.
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While progress has been too slow, at least it is finally becoming “okay” to discuss responsible family size decisions. The GrowthBusters team filmed this video
- https://www.growthbusters.org/love-kids-dont-have-more/
as we approached random strangers on the street to see if they were ready for this conversation. We got surprisingly little pushback. It’s a start. Sharing this video is one way we’re working to make small families the new norm.
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I’m glad to see activity picking up at MAHB, and Graham Pyke’s post is very useful. I’ll be lauding it later this week at http://www.growthbiasbusted.org. Two tiny nits, in my view, about the 3rd paragraph from the end, which in no way detract from the value of this post:
1. It’s not that “there is little incentive to do the right thing.” There is PLENTY of incentive. Access to food, water, and a comfortable climate – survival, even – are big incentives. What’s lacking is a rational assessment and response on the individual level.
2. Likewise, I don’t believe the threats are “external” to the market-based system. They are very real and will impact the system. The problem, in my view, is again one of human perception, compounded by how slowly the threats unfold and how dispersed. They will without a doubt have profound impacts on every business.
Finally, I believe good information is an essential part of the solution, but it appears that is not adequate. I support the concept and project being announced, but I believe MAHB members need to also continue work to understand the emotional and psychosocial mechanisms that are also at work here. After all, as Graham Pyke points out, we’ve had the information for a long time, and done virtually nothing with it. Our worship of economic growth has trumped reacting rationally to the information we’ve had.
Dave GardnerDirector of the documentaryGrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth -
That is a serious problem. No one dares go up against the Holy Grail of economic growth during election season. So, from a media and messaging perspective, my take is wait until after the elections, but be planning some effective moves for post-election. Keep in mind this forum is about media and messaging, not necessarily political strategy, lobbying, etc.
Lorna, thank you for joining this forum and encouraging others to participate. I am guilty of not promoting it enough, but hope to become more active here now that my year of promoting GrowthBusters is nearly behind me. -
Lorna, I always read with great interest what you write. I know you are very smart and experienced in all matters environmental. My two cents here is that you may be wasting a lot of energy complaining about Bill McKibben. I know you’ve tried to convince him to do these things. I doubt that public beatings will change his mind. If he doesn’t see his role the way you do, then that leaves a void you or someone else can fill. I understand there are a few bills related to climate change somewhere in process. Is there no one championing them?
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