[SPN-Discussion] The Green New Deal and Sustainability

[matthew Polsky]

Ira:

As you might have guessed, I agree with you about this. I hope some in the SPN community (in which I was one of the original members) also respond.

Your marrying of sustainability explicitly into the Green New Deal framework is needed and welcome after so many years of sustainability getting ignored in policy circles. Liked seeing the mention of the historic PCSD, which risks getting lost to history--a tragedy, so worth trying.

Really, really liked the inclusion of CSR into this. You’re the only person I know, other than me, to do this.  As you might know, my class and I published a near-comprehensive look at a green economy on steroids last year. It mentioned many sustainable business concepts, including some of the ones you mentioned, but not-so-much in the clean energy area. Therefore, I see it as a nice complement to the Green New Deal, and have tried to send it to AO-C as just that. For some reason, though, people just don’t get the idea of aiming to make sustainable business a much bigger part of the economy. Here’s that report, https://www.ramapo.edu/mass/files/2018/06/PolskyA_Green_Economy_for_NJ.pdf.

Adding a CSR core/component could make a stunning response to critics who are already calling the Green New Deal: “socialism.” How could it be socialism if companies are voluntarily improving society and/or the environment? It doesn’t easily fit that framework.

I hope AO-C or her people are open to this.

I also like the link to change management and have never seen that one before although I maintain my reservation about use of the term “expert.” (I was called one today and rejected it for “dabbler.”) My only other very minor quibble is I would have added the word “help” between “A sustainability framework can” and “reconcile competing economic, environmental and social needs.” These issues can be difficult, but I’ve long thought sustainability has unusual potential to bridge gaps. But success is not guaranteed.

My final thoughts pick up on a sentence in your email that accompanied the article in some outlets: “We may not agree on all aspects of sustainability but I believe there is common ground on the basic concepts, principles and approaches.” I hope you are right, but, if not, at least three areas don’t prove to be deal-killers: These are:

  *   The absence of a carbon tax from most New Green Deal proposals. The former itself has some variants (e.g. I’m not crazy about the version that kills much environmental regulation in exchange for a full refund. I’d also prefer keeping some of the revenues for green infrastructure and basic green R&D, but most likely the latter won’t fly)
  *   Shellenberger has written a couple of recent critiques against the Green New Deal. Some of his points (not all) that renewables and efficiency by themselves won’t be sufficient (or even counter-productive) are worthy of engagement.  Perhaps there is the possibility of a creative win/win here with some place, perhaps conditional and/or with some caveats, for next generation nuclear
  *   Don’t know if carbon sequestration made the cut in this version of the Green New Deal. It belongs in there in certain forms, like developing soil quality.


I’ll send something to my centrist New Jersey Congressperson, whom I doubt has endorsed the Green New Deal, as well as Senator Booker, who has. (The above “Green Economy on Steroids” report actually had an eloquent quote from him on CSR.)

Thanks for catalyzing this,

Matt

P.S. If you address my class later this semester, this could be a good topic I can try to save for you.

From: SPN-Discussion <spn-discussion-bounces at lists.sustainabilitypractice.net> on behalf of Ira Feldman via SPN-Discussion <spn-discussion at lists.sustainabilitypractice.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2019 5:21 PM
To: spn-discussion at lists.sustainabilitypractice.net
Subject: [SPN-Discussion] The Green New Deal and Sustainability


For the SPN community...

My op-ed on the Green New Deal and Sustainability was published today in The Hill, a Washington, DC based news organization focusing on issues before Congress.

You can find it here: <https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/429246-the-green-new-deal-is-it-sustainable>.

I am convinced that now is the time for those of us who understand sustainability — and see its relevance as a policy framework — to be heard.  It is important for sustainability leaders in the US to step up and put to use our insights to advance the integration of environmental protection, economic development and social justice — the three dimensions of sustainability.  We may not agree on all aspects of sustainability but I believe there is common ground on the basic concepts, principles and approaches.  I intend to remain active in this space in the run up to 2020 and beyond, so I would really like to hear your thoughts about next steps.

Sincerely,  IRA


Ira Feldman
ira at greentrack.com<mailto:ira at greentrack.com>
202-669-1858
skype: irafeldman
LinkedIn: <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ira-feldman-4b9a27/>.

===

president & senior counsel
greentrack strategies
<www.greentrack.com<http://www.greentrack.com/>>.

founder & managing director
Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (tm)
<www.curriculumforsustainability.org<http://www.curriculumforsustainability.org/>>.

co-founder & managing director
Adaptation Ledger (tm)
<www.adaptationledger.com<http://www.adaptationledger.com/>>.













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