A Critical Conversation on Climate Change ... - Green Choices

ways forward 331‘Tinkering around theedges won’t solve theproblem. Just beatingthe carbon lobby won’tsolve the problem. Fullsocial pricing and betterinformation distributionare not enough. Usingresources wisely willrequire institutionalchange.’Gar Lipow, 2006All right, no need to go on about it. But could you spell out the thinking surroundingthe strategies you mention?First, sweeping public works programmes could help reorganiseNorthern societies’ infrastructure away from fossil fuel dependencyin a way that pollution trading and taxes are incapable of doing. Suchprogrammes could, for example, revamp transport systems; decentraliseelectricity networks to make them more efficient, reliable, secureand receptive to solar, wind and micro-hydro power; 2 and helpoverhaul inefficient heating systems.Phasing out subsidies for fossil fuel exploration, extraction, refining,transport and use is a second climate-friendly structural shift thatcannot be made through trading schemes but only through collectivedecision-making. The subsidies in question underwrite a hugerange of activities from domestic and foreign pipeline developmentto superhighway construction, airport expansion, long-distance shipping,military operations, tax exemptions for aviation and bunker fuelusers, low-cost credit and insurance for fossil fuel firms and consumerrebates for sports utility vehicles. 3 Powerful enough political movementscould shift such towards a coherent programme of, for example:renewable energy development; community-based planningfor lower-carbon lifestyles; support for local movements protectingland, forests and smallholder agriculture; better insulation and heating;promotion of public debate and exchange on climate change; andjust treatment for those who would otherwise suffer from the transitionto less carbon-intensive industry, including fossil fuel workersand the poor. If coordinated regionally, increased support for renewableenergy development could well spur global change more rapidlythan negotiations at the United Nations, since it would threatenthe competitiveness of countries that continued to insist on extremefossil -fuel dependence. 4 Cutting off public subsidies for the export ofclimate- and people-unfriendly technologies would have the virtuousside effect of supporting local efforts to defend low-carbon lifewaysagainst large-scale and often corruption-ridden projects involvingfossil fuels. 5But wait a minute. Aren’t fossil fuels the cheapest source of energy for Southerncountries?It’s not so simple – not when the history of subsidies is taken accountof, costs such as health impacts, crop losses, and pollution damage arefactored in, and fuel price risks are acknowledged. 6Moreover, most foreign-backed fossil fuel projects in the South don’tprovide cheap energy to the South itself, but rather result in fossil