In the Economy group we work towards promoting a resilient and sustainable climate, ecology and humanity friendly economy in Teignbridge and further afield.
Our prime purpose is to bring 20th century thinking about our economy, with its addiction to GDP growth and false principles of government affordability, into the hot light of the 21st century in which we need to focus on enabling all people to thrive within the means of the planet, regardless of whether a number on a computer rises or falls.
So we aim to provide advice and resources on these issues to our members in the hope that they will feel enabled to pass the information on to others, to sow seeds of doubt every time a politician or BBC economics editor mentions the need for economic growth or questions how the government can pay for an essential public service or facility.
If you are interested and can contribute please either use the contact form or visit us on facebook or twitter.
65% OF WOMEN’S WORKING HOURS EXCLUDED FROM GDP GLOBALLY "In an age of climate crisis, growing inequality and economic turmoil, there is a strong case that this outdated metric [GDP] should no longer be the dominant compass guiding policy making. It fails to distinguish whether economic activity is harming or benefitting people and the planet. Government policies and budgets… Read More...
What is ACT’s economy group for? Much of the advice ACT offers can best be described as “how to live sustainably”, ie living in a way that does not jeopardise the needs or wellbeing of others, future generations or the environment. It often involves satisfying needs rather than wants and considering “sufficiency” when we consume. ACT’s… Read More...
Economic growth measure fails on green front The UK economy shrank by 9% in 2020 but bounced back in 2021, growing by 7.5%. This year, it is expected to grow by 3.6%. These numbers matter a lot to the government, but there is increasing debate about how relevant they are to setting economic policies to tackle the… Read More...
IPCC Working Group lll report on mitigation of climate change António Guterres Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels. Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness. Christiana Figueres The IPCC report tells us we are on a suicidal path.… Read More...
Call for new approach to measure progress towards net zero The Environmental Audit Committee has written to both the Chancellor and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to ask for estimates of greenhouse gas emissions to be published alongside GDP figures to indicate whether economic growth and slashing emissions can be achieved together. This follows the committee’s inquiries in February… Read More...
Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry on Aligning the UK’s economic goals with environmental sustainability: Part 2 – 2 March 2022 Following Part 1 of the enquiry this part questioned witnesses on how environmental sustainability could be incorporated better into the economic measurements that guide Government policy. The full inquiry of over an hour can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv however we have separated out the following clips covering the discussions around… Read More...
Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry on Aligning the UK’s economic goals with environmental sustainability: Part 1 – 9 Feb 2022 A fascinating in depth inquiry into how government policy could move away from GDP as the prime measure of national prosperity to encompass other, more meaningful, measures for social and environmental wellbeing and to consider issues such as a post-growth world, non-monetary capital and inequality. The remit of the Environmental… Read More...
Why are climate and nature getting the short straw with government spending? 1. Introduction When considering how to mitigate the effects of the climate and nature emergency, or what has to be done to adapt to the effects we can’t mitigate sufficiently, the talk will mostly involve a myriad of practical things like switching to renewable energy, electrifying transport, changing the way… Read More...
Why are climate and nature getting the short straw with government spending? 2. The banks, the government, and that Money Tree Back in the late 1970s, after qualifying as an accountant, I went to work for a large city practice. I was told by those who had experience of them that, if I valued my will to live, I should avoid bank… Read More...
Why are climate and nature getting the short straw with government spending? 3. The mythical government purse Back in the 1970s & 80s, my prime function as an accountant revolved around the concept that tax was an overhead not an obligation and so, according to clients and my bosses, it was my job to keep their tax bills as low as possible.… Read More...