We need to dramatically change the way we live

The Quality of Life Report is generating – perhaps predictably – a typically robust response from the right. Commentators are reaching for their keyboards to condemn detailed policy announcements on green taxes, aviation, energy efficiency, waste and planning, within seconds of the report being leaked last night. But very few are attempting to look at the underlying points made by the report and the message it sends about the future direction of our society.

The Quality of Life Report starts from the basic premise that humans across the planet are consuming too much given the realities of climate change and that the world needs to dramatically change its consumption patterns. It might be uncomfortable, but this is not a particularly radical point of view. Clearly a growing population, with increasing standards of living will demand more and more. Indeed, it might even be seen as a global right for every citizen given the West has enjoyed a high consumption life style for years. But the reality of the science is that we can’t carry on consuming like this. Not only the threat of climate change, but the scarcity of water, arable land and fish stocks, the destruction of forests and loss of biodiversity all point to a single conclusion: we humans need to change the way we live on this planet. How we do that globally in an environmentally responsible and socially just way is the defining question of the 21st century. The Gummer / Goldsmith report is an attempt to respond to this.

In essence, it is trying to change the mentality of world economics by decoupling economic growth from resource input; to break the link that the only way for people to improve their lot in life is to earn more, own more and consume more. It is radical stuff; but vitally important especially for a world already confronted by resource-conflicts and the impacts of climate change.

At this point I think we can draw an analogy with the global economic changes under monetarism. The post-war economic consensus on Keynesian economics was running out of steam through the 1970s. The economists answered by concentrating on money supply. In the UK, that meant Thatcherism with all its attendant changes and stresses. The new economic theory – lead by politicians on the centre-right – rolled out across the world and had a profound effect on the way we lead our lives.

Society needs a shift of equal magnitude now: a fundamental change in the way we think about ourselves, our well being and our planet; measures of success that aren’t linked to ever-increasing consumption. The Quality of Life report is attempting to show how that might work in an advanced western economy. When viewed in this context, the micro policy proposals make sense. Intelligent commentators should recognise this and enter into the really serious debate on the future of our planet and our fellow citizens.