Results from the GAP (Group Assembly Process) Group Politics of Sufficiency at the Degrowth Conference in Leipzig 2014
General strategies
> Focus on local policies (bottom-up participation)
> Offer alternatives:
> > both infrastructural & actual policies to try out alternative activities (like free bus pass)
> > particularly to new residents because of higher acceptance of habits change when the life context changes
> > present sufficiency in a positive way
> Recognize sufficiency supporting policies in mainstream policy fields, start by implementing these “low hanging fruits”
> Campaigns accompanying policies
Concrete Ideas for Policies
> Check where are blockades for sufficiency in the tax system + ecological tax reform: increase tax on resources and energy + lower tax on labor while addressing social impacts
> Better functioning of emission (reduction) systems
> Increase transparency
> > product labelling (positive and negative)
> Progressive electricity tariffs
> Speed limits : highways: 120, city 30, elsewhere 80
> Right to lower working hours
> Sufficiency education
> > p.e. ecology, consumer awareness, sustainability, excursions... at all levels of education
> > Communicate it as basic education (no special course) eg global awareness
> > p.e. like at Lüneburg University first year only for sustainability studies
> > Practice School gardens
> > Theory: documentaries, information material, workshops
Controversial
> Use of terms: “Sufficiency Politics” or “Politics of the good life”
> Individual ecological footprint limit
Stirring papers:
>
“Politics of sufficiency” as politics for the good life
More information and possibilities to engage!
Position paper