Week 4: Green-growth-in Asia-Pacific

I appreciate the notion that "economic growth is an outcome, not a goal". It seems true to me that the pattern in American culture IS to focus on economic growth as a goal rather than an outcome. A good example of this can be seen in our personal lives. As children and young adults we are encouraged to get a "good" job that can provide material wealth, rather than focusing on work that is meaningful to us and benefits the community at large.

I don't know where this presentation was given but I really appreciate seeing his list of "What needs to be sustained" in a discussion of economics. In it he includes: 

•The community of life – from Earth Charter

•Human life - survival

•Societies/communities/cultures

•The quality of human life

•The realisable potential of each human life

•Nature/ other species/ biodiversity

•Life support infrastructure

•Resource supply infrastructure

•The social/economic value of non-renewable resources

•The ability of society to function, despite resource depletion 

I think these are all concepts that should be considered by economists, chemists and developers alike!

Lastly, I appreciate his acknowledgement of the crisis we stand before but also of the opportunity. He encourages the use of compassion, wisdom and creativity to move through it and I agree!

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