Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:22
by
eromerof 
in Save our planet (437 views and 0 comments)
Willy Brandt: “Democratic socialism has the ability to make new beginnings possible”.
Democratic socialism has been able to respond to new challenges and to a new a state of affairs through equality and social justice. Just as pacifism or feminism were integrated as new elements in the cluster of socialist values, the time has now come to include sustainable development as a central element of our socialist thinking and political practice.
The Left should take into account the consequences of environmental degradation for our planet and introduce solidarity as a fundamental principle in the implementation of a model of sustainable development that is fairer and more responsible. The challenge for the 21st century no longer is to achieve a better redistribution of wealth and fight for equal opportunities but also to respond to the more complex challenge of making the environment healthier both at local and global level. Ecosocialism should therefore be understood as a question of solidarity between and among generations, both in time and space.
A NEW MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT
Europe has paved the way for environmental policies aiming at ‘cleaning up’ the environment. However setting limits to polluting emissions or working on water and waste management is not enough. Even a greater efficiency of plans and programmes adopted in the framework of a preventive environmental policy would not suffice.
Likewise, the creation of Natura 2000 and the adoption of a whole batch of measures for the preservation of green areas and species are not enough to preserve our biodiversity.
It is now urgent to define a new generation of environmental policies that should be mainstreamed in all European areas (energy, mobility, agriculture, industry, RDI, and tourism, etc.) and which should orient them towards an economically sustainable, environmentally healthy and socially fair model of development.
A NEW CULTURE
Consumerism and inefficient production patterns are major obstacles to overcome the present model. After having satisfied basic fundamental needs, the increase in consumption does not lead to greater happiness. New social and economic development goals should be set, which are no longer based on GDP and energetic consumption per capita as “progress” indicators. Welfare should be measured according to new parameters that are based on the true quality of life of citizens, such as the air or water quality, the number of parks and gardens in their cities (or of protected natural areas) or the access to healthcare, education and culture for the whole population.
TRANSFORMING A PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY
The present environmental challenge can become an opportunity for progress. Fighting against climate change, mitigating its effects and adapting to the global changes that are occurring can put Europe at the forefront of a new era of social and economic progress. By anticipating measures against climate change, we can decrease its related costs and in addition, it can put Europe at the helm of such strategic sectors as energy or transport.
Find a Spanish version at manifiesto2009.es
Ignacio Henares is a biologist, a PSOE activist and a member of the manifiesto2009.es network.
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