Results from Barcelona 2010 on the topic resources and extraction

Resources and Extraction

The following are the results of the GAP at the Degrowth Conference 2010 in Barcelona that are particularly relevant for this working group

The document first presents a summary, including links to other working groups (in red & capital), and then the complete results of those Barcelona working groups with some relations the current one

Summary:

The exploitation of natural resource should be limited, and a cap on the extraction of fossil fuels and non-renewable resources should be introduced (HUMAN NATURE – reduce resource consuption, ADVERTISING – reduce consumption). Public subsidies for extractive industries should be abandoned and the social and environmental cost associated with them paid by companies. (SOCIAL METABOLISM, INDICATORS). A global moratorium on resource extraction in areas of high biodiversity and ethnographic value is needed.

There should be prior informed consent by local communities, who should participate in decision-making about mining projects. (SOCIAL ECONOMY- accountability and transparency , INDICATORS, DEMOCRACY).

Working Groups from 2010 GAP in Barcelona with some connections:

Reduction of natural resource exploitation

Political proposals:

• Global extractive moratoria on areas with high biodiversity and ethnographic value

• Internalization and transparency of mining real (and long term) costs

• Binding capacity for local communities in deciding about mining projects. Full information, a proper process and respecting national and international environmental protection norms

• To create funds for financing independent researches on mining

• To promote companies international accountability (campaining in countries of origin)

Research questions:

• How could we enforce a national cap on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources while maintaining fair access?

• How to tax advertising for discouraging resource consumption? With which criteria?

• Which could be the results of an international found for compensating socio-environmental impacts?

Also disagreement points

Environmental justice, the environmentalism of the poor and degrowth

Proposals:

• Build next conference together with environment and climate justice movements in order to integrate within degrowth the concepts of social, political and environmental justice.

• Increase the visibility of positive examples and proposals of bottom up and alternative life sustainance models.

• In order to work towards a world where economic growth in the Global North and in the Global South are delinked, we need to distribute wealth and compensate for ecological debt. For exemple, we should support the Yasuni initiative, carbon tax to redistribute revenue, work in the noth to reduce degradation in the south

• Share our knowledge in a copyleft degrowth journal/platform

Research questions:

• Different way to collect data to measure and stop the negative impacts of degrowth on disadvantaged groups

• Need to redefine development categories ( North, south, poor rich 1-2-3-4 world, national state, developed underdeveloped, post- anti- high income, low income central marginal eco abuse, green economy,....= find the right lenses to identify who is affecting and who is affected

• We recognize that poor and other marginalized groups in the global north are also environmentally disadvantaged in the Global South

Moratoria on new infrastructures

Proposals:

• Eliminate/nationalise mega-construction companies (due to their levels of debt) that drive the building of infrastructure projects as ends in themselves.

• Some infrastructure projects must clearly be abandoned: Nuclear, ammonia production, incinerators, high speed train and large scale dams.

• Some infrastructure must be limited: highways, long distance transportation and airports.

• At the same time, transformation of some existing infrastructure must be promoted: smaller more compact cities, converting car based infrastructure to walking and cycling and open common space.

Research questions:

• Research the full life-cycle impacts and components of infrastructure materials.

Activities:

• Support social campaigns that change the imaginary of people regarding the need to travel, long distance travel, levels of consumption and production and dependence on infrastructure.

• Support communities that fight large infrastructure projects.