Tuesday 23 September 2014

Innovative New Grammar of Living Ideas for Climate Policy


The current state of policy is that the focus is mainly upon limiting incremental growth of temperature. So far the results have not been satisfying. There is a high probability that temperature rise would exceed the 2 deg C cap fixed much earlier than 2100 and also the greenhouse gas emissions budget is very likely to be exceeded within another 30 years. Hence the implementation is tardy and the extreme climate events over the past few years, the frequency and amplitude of which are increasing bear ample testimony to that.

The present approaches are a set of compromise formulations on how to curb climate change. There are far too many climate skeptics and vested interests like big industry who are diluting and thwarting the measures to be adopted. Hence now time has come to adopt bold strategies. It’s possible the tipping point has been reached and mankind is hurtling towards a certain apocalyptical climate crash. Hence there is an urgent need for research on new integrated approaches which are antithetical to all that we have deemed as human and technological progress so far which are actually the very root causes of environmental degradation and climate change. It will be a herculean task to get the major economic powers to agree on this agenda.

The major indicators of economic growth, progress and power are based upon higher levels and increases of mainly GDP, industrial production, electricity, transportation and urbanization. Unless there is dramatic cutback in these parameters there will be further environmental degradation. The decision on cutting back all these parameters is almost impossible now since the conditioning of humanity and society is so deeply ingrained in wanting all modern comforts and amenities that anything inimical to that will be unacceptable. Hence it is imperative that a totally innovative approach based upon de-conditioning of humanity and back to nature policy is adopted globally to save the planet and humanity from the ravages of climate in the next few decades.

The key features of the innovative policy idea being proposed both at the levels of individuals/society and economies/Governments.

1.      Yoga and similar practices like mindfulness, etc for all which will help leading simple lives and curb dehumanisation. Counseling for reducing human needs.
2.      Psychological counseling for all to cope with new lifestyles and give up pleasures of present lives. Deconditioning, de-schooling, unlearning and yoga for leading simple lives. Limit wealth accumulation. Ban in phased manner by 2020 of high energy based urban lifestyles. New low energy technologies.
3.      Reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2020. Top polluting sectors electricity & heat, industry and transportation which together constitute about 54% of total global emissions to be targeted for even higher reductions since agriculture and allied activities (about 14%) which are essential for human survival cannot be expected to reduce their emissions much. This will entail downsizing or shutting down several industries which are not integrally essential for human survival. Along with this need for realignment of employment among low carbon emitting sectors. Basic idea is that most industries are manufacturing products & services which are not essential for human survival. Reduction of usage of air conditioning, cars, refrigeration would be necessary for human survival. Hence most of our need for higher incomes is for buying goods and services which are not basic and essential.
4.      Reduce inessential transportation and travel by 50% by 2020.
5.      Reduce use of water and conservation of water. Scarcity of potable water a major threat to humanity.
6.      Reduce urbanisation. Move towards rural and nature. Strict imposition of green indices for all residential, office and factory buildings.
7.      Reduce deficit financing of all countries and high debt leveraging of individuals (spawning consumerism).  
8.      Population reduction and maintaining balance between working and dependant population ratios. Legalise euthanasia and unnecessary prolonging of life.
The impact that the NGL innovative policy idea could have if adopted:
Impact will be multifold. Change in individual mindsets so that human yearning for high energy lifestyles is curbed. Once human wants and needs are reduced demand for material wealth will decline and transition to simple lifestyles will be easier. Simultaneously reduction of carbon emission by gradual downsizing shutting down of high carbon emitting industries will have impact in retarding climate change. Hence we tackle both demand and supply facets for carbon emission and environment degradation. This is the best we can do now. 
The research approach needed to develop the idea:
Literature reviews for working out alternative scenarios of climate change: worst case, best case with present incremental approaches, and a most likely scenario by 2050 and 2100.
Simulate with climate specialists a scenario if there could be massive 50% rollback of carbon emissions by 2020 along with radical water usage reduction and conservation, population control, de-urbanisation, etc outlined above. Find out impact on temperatures, sea level changes, poles and glacier melting, etc by 2050 and 2100 and whether there could be reduction of temperatures and extreme climate events.
Arrive at gaps between scenarios in 1 and 2 above.
Literature reviews and research on:
                                                     i.     Rewinding human lifestyles and society towards basic pre industrial, back to nature and small is beautiful. Manifesto for new low carbon lifestyles and mass counseling strategies.
                                                    ii.     Rollback of GDPs based upon de-industrialisation, low energy lifestyles, de-consumerism, re-employment for those in downsized / shut down sectors/industries. Structural readjustment of all economies both developed and developing in terms of sectors, inputs-outputs, income-expenditure.
                                                   iii.     Evolve alternative integrated measures and indices of development in place of present GDP based ones, which can factor human development index, climate and nature friendly societies, de-conditioning, etc.
                                                   iv.     Euthanasia and optimum world population for maintaining steady state equilibrium of food, basic requirements, nature and climate.
                                                    v.     Evolve green metrics for all communities, work places and production factories.
Present above findings to various segments of societies (stratified random samples) and selected Governments in form of summary reports and questionnaires to obtain their feedback and acceptance levels.
Integrate feedback and research in order to evolve most suitable strategies for New Grammar of Living.

Finalise New Grammar of Living for implementation from 2016.

Swami Sarvapriyanda

https://youtu.be/Fi-XTOIxSPo