Letter: Drive For Growth Spells Doom For The Planet We Are Leaving Our Children

Published on: 2 Jul, 2020
Updated on: 2 Jul, 2020

From Bill Smith

In response to: Leadership Issue Forces Break Up of Guildford Borough Tories

I cannot overstate how ludicrous the statement “tackle climate change with free-market pro-business policy” is.

Climate change has been predominantly driven by the free-market slashing of regulations and a demand for continued growth, despite us living on a planet of finite resources.

You do not need to be an economist or climate scientist to understand the simple reality that unfettered growth on a finite planet can only lead to ecological destruction and climate collapse.

This shows either a) A misunderstanding of science so fundamental these people should not be anywhere near a decision- making position, or b) Wilful intent to continue prioritising corporate profit above the future of constituents and a liveable planet for our children.

Trying to frame the cause of a problem as the solution is beyond embarrassing. “Pass me the bigger shovel, I’ll dig us out of this hole in no time.” This is comparable to or MP Angela Richardson stating we “can invent our way out of the climate emergency”.

How’s that going by the way? I assume she’s busy tinkering away on a climate machine?

Every single scientific institution on the planet tells us we need to reduce our emissions, immediately. This must be managed well to protect thousands of jobs.

Yet tens of thousands face losing their jobs by propping up an economic model that no longer works, because those who govern don’t have the backbone to admit their ideology has driven us to the point of “irreversible climate collapse”, the words of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Total lack of imagination. It doesn’t have to be either capitalism or communism. Let us as a town and borough use our Covid recovery to build a system which is resilient to global crisis, which promotes local business and goods, rewards hard work, and which works within the boundaries of the planet and supports human wellbeing.

The growth gangs and their outdated, unimaginative policies have failed us completely.

Responses to Letter: Drive For Growth Spells Doom For The Planet We Are Leaving Our Children

Jules Cranwell Reply

July 3, 2020 at 8:57 am

It is laughingly ironic that the new “independent” Tories (or Peoples Front of Judea, as I prefer to think of them) will now focus on climate change. They have done quite enough to promote climate change, thank you, with their disastrous Local Plan.

Their planned massive estates in the countryside and the villages they have robbed of greenbelt status will be entirely dependent on the car. The resulting pollution will do much to cause more negative climate change and will be an environmental disaster.

Unfortunately, the Lib Dems are no better. They promised to review the tory plan, having declared a climate emergency, but have done nothing to mitigate the climate impact of the plan.
Harry Eve Reply

July 3, 2020 at 10:00 am

Well put. People do need to be employed but the “free market” cannot be allowed to continue without far more control over what it is allowed to do. For just one example, why go on producing 200mph road cars when there is a 70mph speed limit?

Yes, they look “cool” (at least to some people), but there must be more positive ways to use all the technical skill, innovation and material resources that go into that.

Somehow, we need to change what people aspire to and what, as a society, we are prepared to reward. Things have to change for the better.
Julia Shaw Reply

July 3, 2020 at 9:06 pm

I agree. I don’t understand the drive for growth, growth, growth when the free market hasn’t learnt to live off our one planet without destroying it for the next generation.