1. CONSEQUENCES OF LIMITS TO GROWTH: OUTDATED ECONOMICS INCLUDING GREEN GROWTH NIELS I. MEYER nim@byg.dtu.dk Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/1

2. DILEMMAS Global heating should stay below two degrees – BUT the present path points to four degrees or higher. At least 50 % of all fossil reserves should stay under ground, BUT several industrial countries on the contrary promote oil from tar sand and shale gas. There are limits to growth, BUT all industrial countries are crying for more growth to cure financial crisis. Economic and material growth may be counteracted by more equity, BUT inequity is increasing. Transition to RES is urgently needed, but fossil fuels get six times more state subsidies than RES. Dominating neoliberal system requires economic growth. Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/2

3. GREEN GROWTH The concept of green growth is primarily an excuse to continue economic growth with a green paint. The possible decoupling from carbon is relative but far from absolute in practice with existing technologies and production methods. Nature reacts on absolute decoupling. In practice, exploitation of solar energy and other renewables for human energy purposes has limitations. Too late to accept illusionary mitigation concepts. Best advice: forget about GREEN GROWTH Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/3

4. LIMITS TO GROWTH Central dilemma is the neglect of limits to growth. Main excuse: without economic growth, more unemployment. This is not a natural law! The solution is a flexible employment concept where average working time is adjusted to market fluctuations. International problem: How should an acceptable global carbon cap be divided over time? Fiascoes for agreement since COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. Fair and pragmatic solution: Same personal emission quotas for all human beings by 2050 (chancellor Merkel). Niels I. Meyer Occupy,, May 19, 2013//4

5. LtG SCENARIOS Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/5

6. TIME FOR ACTION We know what is needed, but it requires radical social changes. National equity: strongly increasing (progressiv) taxes on income, fortune, houses and inheritage. Real democracy (people power) instead of money power: private and commercial money for political parties and politicians should be illegal. Equal public support. Neoliberal economics has failed (Stiglitz and Krugman): it has no scientific basis and is more harmful than useful. F.D. Roosevelt in 1930s, New Deal: Accelerate public investments and strong market regulations. Highest priority to ecological, sustainable economics including low discount rates for ecological investements. Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/6

7. INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS Replace WTO by green trade administration responsible for global transport tax and financial (Tobin) tax. Change priorities of World Bank and IMF to green transition and global equity. Stop government subsidies for fossil fuels. Group af pioneering nations documenting economic and social advantage of a New Deal and a green transition. Do not wait for reactionary large nations like the US and China that sabotage global agreements. More details in list of references. Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/7

8. REFERENCES Niels I. Meyer: ”Enough is enough – Stop the unsustainable development” (in Danish), 88 pages, November 2012, 125 DKK. Jørgen Steen Nielsen: The green transition” (in Danish), Spring 2012, published by Information. Ross Jackson: ”Occupy World Street”, Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont, USA, Spring 2012. CEESA project, final reports 2012: www.ceesa.dkwww.ceesa.dk Niels I. Meyer Occupy, May 19, 2013/8

9. THANK YOU FOR Y OUR ATTENTION NIELS I. MEYER nim@byg.dtu.dk