ROSA LUXEMBURG FOUNDATION

BEAUTIFUL GREEN WORLD

A green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive1

ON ThE MyThS OF A GREEN EcONOMy

It will stop climate change and the extinction of species and in so doing will create high growth rates and millions of jobs: the green economy. Its seen as a miraculous weapon. Through it, global capitalism will be stabilised. And then it will be sustainable as well. But what is the green economy? In it, policy parameters are supposed to ensure the flow of capital to make markets and economy greener and create green jobs. Enterprises are to pay an appropriate price for environmental damage. And not least: The state is supposed to orient its public procurements to sustainability criteria and create sustainable infrastructures. As of June2012 in the UNs Rio+20 conference in Rio de Janeiro, the green economy is to become a new central concept of global policy. The conference is taking place on the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, where the magic formula sustainable development was coined. In 2012 the green economy is on everyones lips. For 20 years now people have been rhapsodising over the greening of capitalism. At the same time it is clear that somehow sustainable development is not faring so well. CO2 emissions are increasing. Biological diversity is contracting. Famine, impoverishment and social inequality are increasing in many countries. The much feted conciliation of ecology and economy is proving hard to construct. The green economy is not what many want to see it as: a magical formula which will offer solutions on a silver tray for many problems. With this brochure we want to demonstrate that green economy is a contested term, which can be filled with many different contents according to different interests. And we hope to show where the proposals fall short, seek a too hasty compromise with the ruling forces and suppress alternatives rather than promote them. It is clear that if the green economy does not break with the structures of the old economy and merely serves as a growth programme for the latter, it will quickly lead to disillusionment and lose its sheen.

Contents

1. The green economy stimulates sustainable development 2. The crisis is an opportunity for a green economy 3. The green economy reconciles economy with ecology 4. The green economy creates good jobs 5. Greater efficiency leads to more growth with less resource consumption 6. Environmental protection and sustainability need a strong state

2 5

7 13

16

21

7. Corporations are the motors of the green economy 24 8. Green money facilitates the green economy 9. Germany can expand its position as a world-market leader through green technologies 10. Consumer power forces enterprises to protect the environment 11. The green economy creates opportunities for development for the South 12. The green economy fights poverty Conclusion Inviewofthefalsepromisesofferedbythegreen economy, asocial-ecologicaltransformationisnecessary(andpossible)! For further reading 26

29

31

33 35

38 40

1 Fortitlepagequoteseewww.unep.org/greeneconomy.

1. ThE GREEN EcONOMy STIMULATES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainabledevelopmentstrategieshavenotmadethe worldeconomysustainable.Bynowthestrainonthe environmentisthreateningcountries,regions,indeedthe wholesystem.Itisrepeatedlyclaimedthatthestrategyof sustainabledevelopmentisineffectivebecausethereisalack ofpoliticalwillandenvironmentalpolicyinstitutionsarestill tooweak.Thegreen economyissupposedtoremedythisdefect,foritissupposedtobeaneweconomicparadigmthat finallyconcretisessustainabledevelopment.2Thepolitical conditionsaresupposedtobecreatedbystronginternational politicalinstitutionsincooperationwithnationalgovernments.Everyoneissupposedtogetsomethingoutofthis: Enterprisesgetnewmarkets,theemployeesattractiveand meaningfulworkandthecountriesoftheSouthopportunitiesinthegreensectorsoftheworldmarket.Atthesame timesocietyandnatureprofitsfromareducedconsumption ofresources.

What truth is there in it?

Thetruthisthatdespitemanysinglesuccessessustainable developmentpolicyhaslargelyfailed.Theecological,social andeconomicproblemshavenotbeensolved.Thecausality analysisfallstooshort:Theargumentaboutweakpoliticalinstitutionspointstothelackofpoliticalwilltocreate stronginstitutionsthusinstitutionsthathavetobendto nationalgovernmentsandalsotheenterprises.Theargumentofalackofpoliticalwillisalsonoanswer,butleads tothenextquestion:Whyisitthatpoliticshasnowill? Thereasonisthatthegovernmentsoftheeconomically powerfulcountriesdonotquestionthewesternmodeloflife andproductionandareholdingontoalargelyuncontrolled

2 Onthedifferencesandcommonalitiesbetweensustainabledevelopmentandgreen economy,see
MarkusWissen(2012):Post-neoliberaleHegemonie?ZurRolledesGreen-Economy-Konzeptsin derVielfachkrise[Post-neoliberalHegemony?OntheRoleoftheGreen-EconomyConceptinthe Multi-crisis].In:Kurswechsel2(forthcoming).

capitalistglobalisation.Competitionforworldmarketshares prevails,whichmakesfortherapidincreaseofenvironmentalpollutionandresourceconsumption.Thisisduetothe conflictbetweenbusinesscalculationandtheconservation ofnature:Forenterprisesithasuptonowmostlybeenmore profitabletousenatureasacheapsourceofrawmaterials andasawastedump.Intheendrawmaterialsaremade availablegratis,andnaturerequiresnobintaxes.Ashort lifespanforraw-materials-intensiveproductsisoftenmore profitablethantheenvironmentallyfriendlyproductionof top-qualitygoods. Addedtothecompetitionforworldmarketsharesisthe competitionofcountriesforthedistributionofthecosts andbenefitsofthegreen economy.Asexpected,amongthe strongestblockersoftransformativeprocessesarethose groupswhichcanexpectmaterialorstatuslossfromthe intendedchange.3Thegreen economy,however,isnota victoryforallbutonlyforthewinners.Theformerchairof theDeutscheBank,JosefAckermann,putsitinanutshell: Anewworldorderisdawning.Theraceforleadership hasalreadybegun.Forthewinnersthebenefitsareclear: Innovationandinvestmentsincleanenergieswillstimulate greengrowth;jobswillbecreatedalongwithagreater independenceofnationalsecurityonenergyprovision.4 Thegreen economythereforedoesnotcreateawin-win situation.Instead,itwillpressaheadwithcapital-intensive miningandlarge-scaleprojectsintheareaofinfrastructure, expensiveoffshorewindturbinesandemissionstrading. Thegreen economyremainswithincapitalistrationality.5

3 WBGU(WissenschaftlicherBeiratderBundesregierungGlobaleUmweltvernderungen
[ScientificCounciloftheFederalGovernmentonGlobalEnvironmentalChange])2011:Weltim Wandel.GesellschaftsvertragfreineGroeTransformation[AWorldinTransformation.ASocial ContractforaGreatTransformation].p.201. 4 JosefAckermann(atthattimechairoftheboardof DeutscheBankAG)inDecember2010,citedin:CarlosC.Jaegeretal.(2011):ANewGrowthPath forEurope.GeneratingProsperityandJobsintheLow-CarbonEconomy.SynthesisReport.EuropeanClimateForume.V.,Potsdam. 5 ChristaWichterich(2011):KapitalismusmitWrmedmmung.FeministischeKritikundGegenentwrfezurGreen Economy[Heat-InsulatedCapitalism. AFeministCritiqueandAlternativestoaGreen Economy].In:InformationenfrdieFrau5:S.57; AchimBrunnengrber/TobiasHaas(2011):Green economygreennewdealgreengrowth.OccupyRioplus20.W&E-HintergrundNovember.www.weltwirtschaft-und-entwicklung.org/wearchi v/042ae69e6d0b04602/042ae69fa30de0101.php(accessedFebruary2012).

Accesstopowerishadfirstandforemostbythosewho havecapitalandcaninvestit.Thelogicofbeingconstantly orientedtonewinvestments,profitandthedynamicsof competitionisnotquestioned.Forcorporationsthestoryis stillmaximiseprofits.Andforcountriesitismaximise nationaleconomicgrowth.Theconcreteecologicalcosts inmanyoftheworldsregions,andalsothesocialcostsof ecologicalmodernisation,thereforeremainofsecondary importance.Problemsarenotsolved,butonlydisplaced,for examplewhencarsinEuropearerunonbiofuelsandinso doingsmallfarmersinIndonesia,forexample,areexpropriatedorrainforestscutdowninordertoestablishplantations foroilpalms;orwhencorporationsinthenorthshifttheir especiallyecologicallyharmfulproductiontocountriesofthe South. 4 Thegreen economythereforedoesnotmeanthattheprotectionofpeopleandtheenvironmentsubstitutesthedrive forprofit.Rather,intheworldofthegreen economythe generationofprofitremainsthenecessaryconditionofall economicactivity,andenvironmentalprotectionissubordinatedtoit.Stateregulation,too,hasonlylimitedpossibilities ofinfluence(seepoint6:Environmentalprotectionand sustainabilityneedastrongstate).Suchbeingthecase,the prospectsforagreen economyarefundamentalnodifferent fromthoseofsustainabledevelopment.Thiswouldonly beotherwiseifthefocuswerenolongeronthemodernisationofcapitalismbutonafundamentaltransformationtoa solidaristicmodeofproductionandlife,inwhichpeopleand naturearenolongerjustthecheapestpossibleresources.

2. ThE cRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITy FOR A GREEN EcONOMy

Inmanypoliticaldiscourseswehearthatthecrisiscanbe usedforafundamentalreconstructionoftheeconomy.In 2010theEUCommissionformulatedaplanforsustainable growthinordertocreatearesource-light,ecologicaland competitiveeconomy.6Thecrisisisseenasanopportunity forthegreen economyandthegreen economy,ontheother hand,asameansagainstweakeconomicgrowth.Infact, solar-energy,biomass,windpowerandrecyclingindustries areshowingaparticularlystronggrowth.Inaphaseofan economy-wideslump,environmentaltechnologyproves toberobust.Thisshowswhatthebusinessoutlookisof companiesinthiseconomicsectorformorethan80%of allenterprisespolledareexpectingequalorbetterbusiness prospects.7

What truth is there in it?

Contrarytothesehopesweseethatthecrisisisaratherbad environmentforagreen economy.Inthecourseoftheglobal financialcrisismanycountrieshavebecomehighlyindebted. Somearesufferingfromanauthenticdebtcrisis.Thiscrisis isbeingcombattedinthefirstplacebytheattempttopromoteeconomicgrowthbyallmeanspossible.Thismeans relievingenterprisesfromcosts.Inthisprocesspolicydoes notbankonthewonderweaponofthegreen economy:Inview ofthecostsofthecrisispolicyeschewsthefurtherexpendituresoccasionedbyanecologicalreconstructionorstricter environmentalregulations.Alreadyin2009economists NicolasSternandOttmarEdenhoferadvancedproposalsas tohowtheG20countriescouldintroduceaglobalgreen recovery.Theywerenotimplemented.Instead,many

6 EUCommission(2010):Europe2020AEuropeanstrategyforsmart,sustainableandinclusivegrowth,COM(2010)2020. 7 BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheitReaktorsicherheit[FederalMinistryfortheEnvironment,theProtectionofNatureand ReactorSecurity](ed.,2009):GreenTechmadeinGermany2.0Umwelttechnologie-Atlasfr Deutschland.Munich:VerlagFranzVahlen,p.16,http://www.bmu.de/wirtschaft_und_umwelt/ downloads/doc/43943.php.

countriesfollowedtheGermanmodelandintroducedacar scrappagepremiuminordertoboosttheautoindustrys turnoverwithexpectedeffectsontheenvironment. Aresultofthisanti-crisispolicyisthatin2010therewere moreemissionsthaneverbefore.Forthefirsttimesince theturnofthemillenniumtheG20semissionsaregrowing fasterthaneconomicgrowthItispreciselybecauseofthe multiplecrisesthatfutureprospectsappeargrim.8 Evenif,toresolvethecrisis,theindividualcountrieswere toswitchentirelytogreenitisdoubtfulthattheenvironmentcouldprofitfromthis.Foragreen economydoesnot endthegrowthdrive.Andwhatunhamperedgrowthmeans becomesclearfromthefollowingexample:inGermanyat presentforeach1,000inhabitantsthereareabout700cars. IftheGermanlevelofautomobilityweretobegeneralisedto theworld,thatwouldmeannotonlyamassiveandhugely profitableexpansionofthetransportationinfrastructure butalsoanincreasefromtodaysapproximatelybillion carstoaboutfivebillion.Withthemassivedeploymentof electricmotors,thisalsoentailsanenormousincreaseinthe consumptionofresources,energyandsinks.Despitenew pathsofinvestmentanddevelopmenttheinbuiltcompetitive logicbetweencountriesremains,andthecurrentcrisisof thesolarindustryinGermanypourswaterintothewinealso here. Thegreen economyisthepromiseofagreenmodernisation ofcapitalism,butwithoutchangingcapitalistlogicsuchas competitionandcompetitivenessorpowerrelations,which uptonowhavebeenorientedtofavourcorporations.9The non-sustainablecapitalistmodeoflifeisindeedtobecome greenerbutnotreconstructedintoasolidaristicmodeoflife. Itproposestoallsocialgroups:Letmehavemycakeand eatittoo.

8 AchimBrunnengrber/TobiasHaas(2012):Rio+20:DiegrneBeliebigkeit[GreenArbitrariness].In:BltterfrdeutscheundinternationalePolitik2/2012. 9 ChristaWichterich:Op.cit.

3. ThE GREEN EcONOMy REcONcILES EcONOMy WITh EcOLOGy

Independentlyofthecurrentcrisis,theproponentssay: Agreen economyreconcilesecologyandeconomy.Environmentalprotectionwitheconomicgrowthisnotacontradiction;rathertheymutuallyconditioneachother.10The prominentscientistErnstUlrichvonWeizsckerargues: Awaveofnew,fascinatingtechnologicalinnovationscould becomethegreatesthopeforanewupswing.11Astrategy againstincreasingenvironmentaldestructionconsistsin recognisingtheeconomicvalueofnatureandgivingita price.Nature,sogoestheassumption,willbeprotectedif itisincludedinthecalculationasnaturalcapital.The pricesshouldexpresstheecologicaltruth,thissentence soundsquitesincereandstraightforward. 7 Thegreen economyisseenbyitsproponentsasaneconomic growthengine:TheUnitedNationspredicthighergrowth ratesin2010to2050forthegreeninvestmentscenario thanforbusinessasusual.Businessasusualmeans upholdingthenon-sustainablepathofdevelopment.For Germany,agrowthrateof2.4%ispredictedfor2020ina green economyasagainst1.8%ififbusinessasusualcontinues;therespectivepredictedratesofunemploymentare 5.6%and8.5%.12 AfewyearsagoitwasestimatedthatenvironmentaltechnologiesinGermanyarealreadyresponsiblefor8%ofGDP andthatthissharewillincreaseto14%by2020.13

10 BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit,Op.cit.,p.10. 11 Ernst
UlrichvonWeizscker/KarlsonHargroves/MichaelSmith(2010):FaktorFnf:DieFormelfr nachhaltigesWachstum[FactorFive:TransformingtheGlobalEconomythrough80%ImprovementsinResourceProductivity],p.25,Munich. 12 MartinJnicke(2011):GreenGrowth. VomWachstumderko-IndustriezumnachhaltigenWirtschaften[GreenGrowth:Fromthe GrowthoftheEco-IndustrytoSustainableEconomy].ForschungszentrumfrUmweltpolitik, Berlin. 13 BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit(Hrsg.,2009), Op.cit.,p.2.

Table 1 World-marketvolume forenvironmentaltechnologies2007 (inbillionsofEuros)

Energy efficiency 538

Sustainable economy of water

361

Sustainable mobility

200

Environmentally friendly energies

155

Efficiency of raw-materials and material use

94

8


Recycling

35

S  ource:BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit(ed.):GreenTechmadeinGermany2.0UmwelttechnologieAtlasfrDeutschland

Especiallythemarketsforphotovoltaics,solarheat,wind energyandbiogaswillgrowbyabout20%by2020:Ifin 2007exactly31millionsquaremetresofsolarpanelsfor heatproductionareinstalledthequantitywillreach340 millionsquaremetresin2020.Themarketvolumeforthe producersofsolarpanelsispresentlyincreasingby25% annually.14

14 Ibid.,pp.62f.

Table 2 Worldmarketprojectionsinkeysectors15
World market volume Annual growth to 2020 2007 2020

Solar heat [million m] 2.

31

337

+ 20 %

Photovoltaics [GWp] 1. 2.

65

+ 27 %

Wind power [GW] 1.

20

137

+ 16 %

Fuel cells [bill. Euro]

52

+ 39 %

1. New installed capacity. 2. Gigawatt peak performance under test conditions GW = Gigawatt, GWp = Gigawatt peak  S  ource:BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit(ed.):GreenTechmadeinGermany2.0UmwelttechnologieAtlasfrDeutschland(Munich:VerlagFraunzVahlen,2009)

What truth is there in it?

TheimportanceoftheGermanandglobalmarketfor climateandenvironmentallyfriendlygoodsandservicesis indisputableandwillcontinuetoincrease.However, firstofall,suchexactgrowthprognosesarefraughtwith greatuncertainty.Eveninnormalperiodsthatis,without economiccrises,withoutanunstablebankingsectorand withoutafundamentalreconstructionoftheeconomy economistsoftenfailcorrectlytopredicttheeconomic growthofthenextsixmonths.Intheyearbeforethegreat crisis,agrowthof2.4%or2.2%waspredictedfor2008 twiceashighasthe1.1%thatactuallyoccurred.Stillmore strikingaretheincorrectprognosesinspringandfallof 2008:Atthattimeagrowthof1.4%or0.7%wasforecastfor

15 Ibid.p.63.

2009;therealityturnedouttobeminus5.1%.Decadeprognosesarethustobereadwithcaution.Rather,theyexpress tendenciesandanambience.Weareexperiencingthisina spectacularwayinthecurrenteconomicandfinancialcrisis. Thecapitalisteconomyispredictableonlytoalimitedextent. Second,theformulaofthereconciliationofeconomyand ecologyrequiresexplanation.Thatistosay,itassumesan antagonismbetweeneconomyandecologythatwillnolonger obtainintheharmoniousworldofthegreen economy.That thisantagonismcontinuestoexistisprovedbyallthedifficultiescountriesareexperiencinginecologicalreconstruction.Ifdirtyandcheapcoalbecomesincreasinglyimportant asenergysources,ifcompaniesareshiftingtheirenvironmentallyharmfulproductiontoothercountries,ifrain forestsarecutdowninordertoproducebiofuels(biosprit), ifgovernmentsdeclineemissionstradingduetothecoststo indigenousenterprises,thisshowsthateconomicgrowthand highentrepreneurialcombinedwithacleanenvironmentas aruleisacontradiction,evenwithagreencloak. Third,wecannotassumethatgreengoodsareautomaticallyproducedcleanly.Lookattheexampleofelectric cars:Toproducethemvariousmetalsso-calledrare-earth elementsareneeded.Thequarryingoftheserare-earth elements(whicharenotatallsorare),atpresentmainlyin China,takesplaceunderecologicallyandsociallycatastrophicconditions:resettlements,oftenthedestructionofnature overlargeareas,poisonousemissionsandtheemployment ofcheapmigrantlabour. Fourth,green economycorrelatespositivelytoeconomic growth.Whatdoesthiscomedownto?Economicgrowth meansanincreaseoftheproductionofgoodsandservices measuredinmoney.Insodoing,theconditionsunderwhich thesecommoditiesareproduceddisappearsbehindthe growthimperativeforallthecommoditiesareproducedby peoplewhowiththeirlabourincomereproducethemselves moreorlesscompletely,thatis,payrent,buyfood,travel forafee,andsoon.Whoproducestheproducts,andunder whatconditions,playsasecondaryrole,ifatall.Themain

10

pointistoproduceandsellmoregoodsandservicesinorder tomakeprofits.Forsocialandecologicalreasons,butalso foreconomicones,oursocietiesshouldgearthemselvesto lowergrowthrates.16Stillmore:Thepressuretogrowand theinterestsconnectedtoitmustbeoverturned. Five,untilthelatterisaccomplisheditisnotenoughto aimabstractlyatgreengrowth.Thedecisivequestion, rather,is:Underwhatconditionsisthisgreengrowthtaking place?Underthecontrolofenergycorporationswhoare moreinterestedinlarge-scaleprojectslikeoffshorewind farmsandmonopolisticenergynets?Orintheformof decentralisedenergygenerationunderdemocraticcontrol? Whodecideswhatcanberecycledandhowandwhydoes wastepreventionnotcomefirst?Whothereforecontrolsthe green economy?Whoseinterestsdoesitserve?Whatarethe differentkindsofgrowthpressurethatareembeddedinthe economy?17 Six,theclaimthatpricesshouldtelltheecologicaltruth masksthefactthatmanyfunctionsofnaturecanbyno meansbeexpressedinprices.And,moreover,itisbetter thatway,forifthedestructionofnaturegetsapricethen itsdestructionceasesonlyifitsprotectionischeaperthan itsdestruction.Commongoodsshouldthereforenotbe subjectedtothelogicofvalueandpricebutbeprotectedand sustainablyusednotaccordingtobusinesscalculationsbut accordingtosocial-ecologicalcriteria.18Proposalsforagreen economyareatriskofintensifyingthecapitalistvalorisation

12

16 NorbertReuter(2007):WachstumseuphorieundVerteilungsrealitt.Wirtschaftspolitische
LeitbilderzwischenGesternundMorgen[GrowthEuphoriaandDistributiveReality:EconomicpolicyConceptsPastandFuture],Marburg;moredetailedandwithmorecomprehensivetheoretical attemptsatanexplanationin:NorbertReuter(2000):konomikderLangenFrist.ZurEvolution derWachstumsgrundlageninIndustriegesellschaften[EconomicsoftheLongTerm:Onthe EvolutionoftheBasicPrinciplesofGrowthinIndustrialSocieties],Marburg. 17 HansChristoph Binswanger(2011):DieWachstumsspiraleinderKriseAnstzezueinernachhaltigenEntwicklung[TheGrowthSpiralintheCrisisApproachestoSustainableDevelopment].In:MartinHeld etal.(eds.):InstitutionenkologischerNachhaltigkeit[InstitutionsofEcologicalSustainability]. Marburg,183200. 18 SilkeHelfrich/Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung(eds.2009):WemgehrtdieWelt? ZurWiederentdeckungderGemeingter[WhoseWorldIsIt?OntheRediscoveryofCommon Goods].Munich;ElinorOstrom(2011):Wasmehrwird,wennwirteilen.Vomgesellschaftlichen WertderGemeingter[WhatIncreasesIfWeShare.OntheSocialValueofCommonGoods].Munich(English:TheChallengeofCommon-PoolResources.In:Environment:ScienceandPolicy forSustainableDevelopment,50,no.4(2008),pp.821).

ofnature.Thisisbecomingveryrelevantintheareaof climatepolicyinthecaseofREDD(ReducingEmissions fromDeforestationandDegradation),thenewmagictool forcashflowsifemissionsfromdeforestationanddestructiveexploitationofforestsarereduced,orinthecaseof theinternationalresearchundertakingTheEconomicsof EcosystemsandBiodiversity(TEEB),whichisaimedat economisingbiologicaldiversity.

4. ThE GREEN EcONOMy cREATES GOOD JOBS

Theshifttowardagreen economyissupposedtogenerate newjobs.ThustheincreaseoftheEU-wideCO2-reduction goalfrom20to30%cancreatesixmillionadditionaljobsin Europe,sowearetold.19Atthebeginningtherecouldindeed belossofemploymentinnon-sustainablesectors,butthese aretobeoffsetatleastby2030.20Inaddition,thenewjobs arepredictedtobeespeciallyattractiveandwellpaid,for: Low-carbonindustriestendtoemployahigher-skilled labourforce.21

13

What truth is there in it?

Manypeopleareindeedalreadyemployedinthegreensector.WhileinGermanyin2009morethan230,000people workedintheconventionalenergysectortherewereabout 366,000peopleworkingintheareaofrenewableenergies in2010.22Thisnumberisrapidlyincreasing.Environmental technologyiscreatingjobsinGermany.Morethan1.8 millionemployeesarebynowearningtheirlivingthrough

19 CarlosC.Jaegeretal.(2011):ANewGrowthPathforEurope.GeneratingProsperityandJobsin theLow-CarbonEconomySynthesisReport.EuropeanClimateForume.V.Potsdam. 20 UNEP

(UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme).(2011):TowardsaGreen economy:PathwaystoSustainableDevelopmentandPovertyEradication.p.505,alsop.533. 21 ILO(InternationalLabourOrganization)(2011):TowardsaGreenerEconomy:TheSocialDimensions.p.5. 22 VonForschung undEntwicklungberExploration,FrderungundVerarbeitungbishinzurVersorgungund VermarktungvonEnergie[OnResearchandDevelopmenttoExploration,PromotionandProcessingtotheSupplyandMarketingofEnergy];http://www.thema-energie.de/energie-im-ueberblick/ daten-fakten/marktzahlen/beschaeftigung-im-energiesektor.html(Februar2012).

itmorethaneverbefore.Thisemergesfromthefirst EnvironmentalEconomicReportoftheFederalMinistry fortheEnvironment.AccordingtotheReport,everytwentiethjobinGermanydependsongoodsandservicesrelatedto ecology.23Theworkforceinthissectorgrewbyanaverageof 14%from2005to2007.Inthefuture,too,ratesof10%or moreareexpectedtobereached.However,whatconcretely dosuchprognosesmean? First,theequationgreenjobs=goodjobsisnotvalid.In theaspiringeco-sectorsworkconditionsareoftenbadand thelevelofunionorganisationlow.Manyofthemediumsizedcompanieshavenocollectiveagreements:Inthecase ofthebiogasproducerscollectiveagreementsareineffectin only14%oftheplants;inthesolarbranchitis15%;inwind power,bycontrast,itisalready53%.24Below-averagewages arewidespread.IGMetallhasthefollowingassessmentfor thewind-powerbranch:Intheviewoftheworkscouncils questioned,theworkconditionsoftheemployeesarenot moreattractivethanaverageandinmanyrespectscould bebetter.Highperformancerequirements,limitedincome prospects,necessarybutoftenabsenttrainingopportunities andanincreaseinsubcontractedlabourarecharacteristic.25 Workerscomeintocontactwithhighlytoxicmaterialssuch asepoxyresinintheproductionofrotorblades,forexample. Two,notallworkersprofitfromtheconversiontogreen technologies.Adisplacementtothedetrimentofless skilledandolderworkerstendstooccur.Forthosecurrently employedinspecificpartsofthechemicalandenergysector astructuraltransformationtogreentechnologiesorrenewableenergiesdoesnotmeanthattheywillsimplymovefrom onebranchtoanotherorthattheconversionoftheautomobilesectortoelectriccarswilltakeplaceinthesameplant, thatis,withoutjoblossesandwithoutrelocationofproduc-

14

23 ko-Industrie:UmweltschutzschafftJobswienie,SddeutscheZeitung,January16,2009. 24 IGMetallVorstand[IGMetalldirectorate](2007):Windkraft-Industrie2007Aktuelle
Branchentrends.FrankfurtamMain.Inretailthesituationisnobetter:Iknownochainof organicfoodstores,wherethereisunionscaleorwhichhasaworkscouncil.JanetDumann, Ver.di,citedaccordingtoTip5/2012. 25 Ibid. 26 MarioCandeias,KonversionEinstiegin eineko-sozialistischeReproduktionskonomie[ConversionFirstStepstoanEco-Socialist

tiontoothercountries.26Withoutsuitableaccompanying measures,conversionwillnotbesociallyjust.Hereitisclear thatwhatisdecisiveiswhosetstheconditionsofconversion. Third,inthepromisesofgreenjobsthereisnodiscussionof whowillactuallydecideoninvestmentsandtheassociated jobsbecauseitwillbecapitalandcompanydirectorswho doso.Intimesofcrisis,whichhasforexamplegrippedthe solar-energybranch,27theemployeesbecometheplaything ofcorporatemanagements.Inthisthegreen economyisno differentfromthetraditionaleconomy. And,finally,four,thepromiseofgreenjobsoverlooksthat factthatonthepathtoasolidaristicandsustainablesociety itisnotjustthatspecificbranches,andemploymentwithin these,mustgrowforbeyondthissociallabourpaidand unpaidmustbeorganisedinafundamentallydifferent way.Atpresentweseeatrendtopoorlypaidworkcontracts withoutsocialsecuritybenefits,totheflexibilisationofworkingtimesandthesubstitutionoffixedsalariesbyvariable salaries.Thisservestoputpressureonthewagecostsof enterprisesandtoincreaseprofits.Atthesametimethe insecuritytiedtoflexibilisationandprecarisationdecreases peoplesabilitytodealwithquestionsofthefuture.People havetobesociallysecure,andtheiractivitieshavetohave meaning.Toachievethisgoaltherelationsofdomination, whicharerootedinthedivisionoflabourofasociety,haveto becalledintoquestion. Inthistherelationsbetweenthegendersandclassesand ethnicdivisionsaswellasthepositionofcountriesinthe worldeconomyareimportant.Thesociallynecessaryand desirablelabourssalariedworkandotherformsoflabour shouldbesolidaristicallyanddemocraticallyorganisedand carriedout.28

15

ReproductionEconomy],in:MarioCandeiasetal.(eds.,2011):GlobalekonomiedesAutos,Hamburg,p.260. 27 ThereisnoendinsighttoGermanyssolar-energysectorsdownswing.The internationalpricewarandsubsidycutsinGermanyarethesectorsmainproblems.[]Things aredifficultforGermancompanieswithinsufficientcapitalisation.http://www.handelsblatt.com/ unternehmen/industrie/solarworld-mit-verlust-goetterdaemmerung-in-der-solarbranche/6359602. html(March2012). 28 AdelheidBiesecker/AndreaBaier(2011),GutesLebenbrauchtandere Arbeit[AGoodLifeNeedsADifferentKindofWork].In:Politischekologie125,p.5463.

5. GREATER EFFIcIENcy LEADS TO MORE GROWTh WITh LESS RESOURcE cONSUMPTION

Aconditionandconsequenceforthegreen economy,soargue itsproponents,isasharpincreaseinresourceefficiency: throughimprovedtechnologiesandorganisationofproductionwewillarriveatarevolutioninefficiency.Forevery Euroofeconomicoutputcontinuallylessrawmaterial shouldbeconsumedandcontinuallyfewerpollutants emitted.Themagicformulaisthedecouplingofeconomic growthorprosperityfromresourceconsumptionandthe overtaxingoftheecosystemsandsinks.An8%increasein resourceproductivityisnotonlythinkablebutalsopossible.29Inthiswaylimitlessgrowthissupposedtobefeasible despiteall.

16
What truth is there in it?

Thedecouplingofeconomicgrowthfromresourceconsumptionsoundsgood.However,thisdecouplingisfarfrom beingaself-startertheGermanexampledemonstratesthis: HereitistruethatforeveryunitofGDPcontinuallyfewer resourcesareneeded.Inaddition,CO2emissionshave sharplydeclinedbetween1992and2008.Butthereason forthishaslesstodowithincreasingresourceefficiency andmorewiththede-industrialisationofEastGermany after1990aswellaswiththerelocationofenergy-intensive productiontoothercountries.

29 ErnstUlrichvonWeizscker/KarlsonHargroves/MichaelSmith(2010),Op.cit.,p.235.

Thefactthatanincreaseinefficiencydoesnotautomatically rescuetheclimatehasseveralcauses: First,inadvocatinggreaterresourceproductivitytheargumentisusedthatitsavescosts,forexamplethecostsofraw materials,fortheusersofnewtechnologies.Fromthisitis tobeassumedthatcountriesthatincreasetheproductivity ofscarceresourceswillgainsignificantadvantagesover thosewhodisregardthesescarcities.30Greaterefficiencyis thustoincreaseprofits.Thismaywellbeincertaincases, butitisoftennotso.Incertaincircumstances,dirty productionmethodsaremoreprofitableforanenterprise. Ifenvironmentalprotectionviaincreaseinefficiencywere soautomaticallyintheinterestsofcorporations,whydoes politicsthenhavesozealouslytomakeacaseforit?Inthe green economyenvironmentalprotectionviaanincreasein resourceproductivityremainscoupledtotheprofitinterestofcompanies.Ifitdoesntpay,thenitdoesnthappen. Environmentalprotectionthusalwaysfallsbehindwhatis technicallypossibleandecologicallynecessary. Two,withthistheproponentsclaimthatgreaterefficiency willcreategiganticprofitsforthosecorporationsthatsell technologiestoincreaseefficiency.Intheglobalraceto produceenergy-savingtechnologyitisespeciallyGerman companiesthatareahead:AccordingtotheFederalMinistry fortheEnvironment,ProtectionofNatureandReactorSecurity,Thegreatestsingleleadmarketofenergyefficiency hasaglobalvolumeofalmost540billionEuros.Adoubling ofabout1,030billionEurosby2020ispredicted.German firms,especiallyinheatingandclimatetechnologyand energy-efficienthouseholdappliances,areamongthemost importantproducersworldwide;theirshareoftheworld marketisabout10or15%.31Alsothegrowthofthelead marketforraw-materialandmaterialefficiencyismainly drivenbytheincreasingimportanceofbiotechnology TheworldmarketshareofGermancorporationsinthe

17

30 Ibid.,p.33. 31 BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit[Federal MinistryfortheEnvironment,theProtectionofNatureandReactorSecurity](ed.,2009),Op.cit.

biodieselsectorisalreadynotablyhightodayat40%.32This soundsimpressive.Yetheretoothesameobjectionhastobe raised:Aslongasenvironmentalprotectionisonlyastrategy forprofitmaximisationitremainssubjecttothemoodsof themarketsandthecalculationsofcorporations. Third,hopesforefficiencycomeintoconflictatstillanotherpointwiththecapitalistgrowthdrive.Itissimplya misconceptionthatthetendencyofcapitalismtoefficiency willstabilisetheclimateorprotectusfromthescarcityof resources,accordingtotheBritishenvironmentaleconomistTimJackson.33Itistruethatinhistoryproductionhas becomeevermoreefficient.However,atthesametime economicgrowthwasstronger,sothatintheendthetotalresourceconsumptionandenvironmentalpollutionincreased. Thisso-calledreboundeffecthasmeantasaruleuptonow thatgainsinefficiencyhavebeeneatenupbyincreased consumption:Accordingly,themoreresource-efficiently producedcarsbecomecheaper,andthereforebiggeronesare oftenbought.All-terrainvehiclesorSUVsarecontinuingto gainground(+20.6%).Everytenthnewregistrationbynow involvesthismarketsegmentTheuppermiddleclassof cars?showedanincreaseof12.2%.Allotherpassengercars wereonthedecrease.34 Anincreaseinefficiencyisofcourseneverthelessnecessary. Still,itisonlyhalfthebattle.Letusstaywiththeexample ofautomobiles:Fortrueenvironmentalprotectionfurther reachingsocial-policydecisionswouldbeneededfor example,afundamentalreconstructionofthetransportationsystem.Insteadweseetheworldwideexpansionofthe roadinfrastructureforindividualsandgoods,andinmany countrieseventhedemolitionofrail.Thisiscombinedwith anincreasingintensityoftraffic.In2010,afteradrop-off conditionedbythecrisis,58millionprivatecarswere producedworldwide;in2000thelevelhadbeen41million.35 Theprognosestakeasastartingpointthattheglobalstockof

19

32 Ibid.,p.4. 33 QuotedfromtheBerlinerZeitung,April7,2011. 34 http://www.kba.de(February2011). 35 OICAInternationalOrganizationofMotorVehicleManufacturers(2011)ProductionStatistics2010.http://oica.net/category/production-statistics/(accessedFebruary2012).

automobileswill,fromtodayslevelofagoodbillioncars,go upby2030to1.6billion.ThisiscatastrophicfortheenvironmentandlucrativeforGermanyscompetitiveeconomic positionforinGermanycar-manufacturingisthemost importantorsecondmostimportantGermanindustrial branchbyinvestmentinplantandequipment,byimports andexports,byforeigndirectinvestments,byvalueadded, byresearchanddevelopmentaswellasbyemployment.36 Thequestionthereforeishowefficiencygainscanbe achieved,whichdonotonlyleadtoarelativedecoupling fromthedevelopmentofprosperityandresourceconsumption,buttoanabsolutereductionofresourceconsumption. Forthisthereceivedpoliticalinstruments,whichdonot brakethedrivetogrowth,areclearlyinsufficient.Theeffects ofadecouplinghopedforbygreenpartiesrepresent wishfulthinkingratherthanarealisticassessmentofthe situation,thusTimJackson.37Alongsideacriticalquestioningoftheprospectsforefficiency,themanyconcrete possibilitiesforsufficiencyshouldalsobebolstered.38

20

36 StephanKaufmann,GlobalekonomiedesAutos,in:MarioCandeiasetal.(eds., 2011),Op.cit.,p.20. 37 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/inaction/interviews/725_ de.html 38 UtavonWinterfeld(2011),VomRechtaufSuffizienz[OntheRighttoSufficiency].

In:Rtz,Werneretal.(eds.):Ausgewachsen!kologischeGerechtigkeit.SozialeRechte.Gutes Leben[FullyGrown!EcologicalJustice.SocialRights.GoodLife].Hamburg,pp.5765.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTEcTION AND SUSTAINABILITy NEED A STRONG STATE

Ontheonehand,theproclaimedreconciliationofeconomy andecology,assertsthatenvironmentalprotectionlies intheself-interestofenterprises.Atthesametimemany peopleclearlysee:Entrepreneurialcalculationstilloften turnsouttobetothedetrimentofnature.Or:Youcantrely oneconomiccalculationalone.Theparadigmofeconomic growthisnotquestionedandremainsthepolicybasisofthe green economy.However,inordertomitigatetheecological consequencesofgrowththestateisnowtoestablishstrong regulations.Additionally,thestateistocreateorguarantee propertyrightstonature,sothatcompaniescanplanand calculate.Oneargumentusedforthisis:Onlyifregulations arebindingforallcompanieswilltherebenocompetitive disadvantageforthosecompaniesthatproduceecologically. Ontheotherhand,thecompaniesimprovetheirtechnologythroughthisandbecomemorecompetitive.Weinsist thatthemarketcannotinduceadeterminedtransitiontoa resource-efficientandsustainableeconomyandsocietyand thatitneedsstrongstateinvolvement.39 Inmanydomainstheindividualnation-stateisregardedas insufficientforeffectiveenvironmentalandresourceprotectionpolicies.Ithasbeenfoundthatglobalcommongoods aboveallthecommongoodofastableclimatehavebeen overusedbecausetherearetoomanyfreeriders.Many countriesderivebenefitsfromtheuseofcommongoods withouthavingtotakeresponsibilityfortheirprotection. Manyproblems,itissaid,arethereforeglobalandhaveto bedealtwithglobally,inotherwordsthroughinternational cooperation.Strongerinternationalagreementsare,the argumentcontinues,importantinordertoestablishbinding regulations.

21

39 ErnstUlrichvonWeizscker/KarlsonHargroves/MichaelSmith(2010),Op.cit.,p.238.

What truth is there in it?

Infact,stateregulations(andfinancialresources)are importantinordertoguaranteeanorientation,securityfor planningandinsomecasesconcretesupporttocompanies andemployees,researchinstitutions,associationsandthe publicsphere.Internationalagreements,forexampleinthe domainofclimatepolicy,impedenotonlyfree-ridingbut alsoreinforcelearningprocesses:Othercountriescanorient themselvestothemostinnovativetrendsettercountries. Neverthelesstherearesomequestionsanddoubts. Onastrongstate:Intheproposalsforagreen economyitis oftenoverlookedthatthestatedoesnotestablishitsregulationsonthebasisofaneutralposition.Inthestatewesee howtherelationsofpowerinasocietyarestructuredand whattheorientingprinciplesare.Thisbecomesperfectly clearwhenwelookatthesubsidiesofnon-sustainable economicsectorsthatarepowerfullysupported.Itcouldbe observedduringthecrisisthateconomicstimuluspackages donotboostgreenareaspersebutworkratherinastructurallyconservativewaytheshiningexamplebeingthecar scrappagepremiuminGermany.Thestateactedherenotas theagentofagreen economybutintheinterestsofcompaniesandemployeesinstrongsectors.Inliberaldemocracies withpartycompetition,policyismoreoverorientedina structurallyshort-termwayitisorientedtoelections.This makeslonger-termorientationsdifficult. Thestrongestofstatesisofnohelpifitdoesnotdeployits powerintheinterestsofpeopleandtheenvironmentbut onlyaimsatcompetitivecapacityandgrowth.However,this isincreasinglythecase:Inthelastdecadeswehaveexperiencedthetransformationfromwelfarestatestonational competitivestates(JoachimHirsch),whosemainconcern consistsinsecuringthecompetitivecapacityofitsown corporationsintheglobalcompetitionbetweencompetitive nationalpositions.Thisalsogoesforregionalpolicies,as forexamplethoseoftheEuropeanUnion.Ithasdecidedto becomethemostcompetitiveregionoftheworldby2020. Inviewoftheincreasingscarcityofresourcesandthecompetitionforresourcescountriesandregionalfederations

22

liketheEUareincreasinglysecuringaccesstoresources. Theglobalwarforresourcesisinnowayequivalenttoa protectivewayofdealingwithpeopleandnature. Oninternationalagreements:Heretoocountriesactas nationalcompetitivestatesagainsteachother;thereisno cooperation.Agreementsontheprotectionoftheenvironmentareaccordinglydifficult.Internationalclimatepolicy especiallyisindangeroffailurebecausetherearefew commonalitiesinternationally.ThecountriesoftheSouth andespeciallytheemergingcountriesinsistthattheiremissionsmustbeallowedtoincreaseandthatglobalwarming hasprincipallybeenbroughtaboutbytheindustrialised countries.Thenortherncountriesleveltheircriticismat thedirtyindustriesintheSouth.Andalladjusttoenvironmentalprotectiononconditionthatitdoesnotharm economicgrowth.Theresult:Insteadofworkingoutcommonsolutionsatinternationalconferences,atthelattera struggleoccursforthedistributionofthecostsandbenefits ofclimateprotection. Thelesson:Naturallythestateandinternationalpolicyare importantforthepathtoasolidaristicandsustainablemode ofproductionandlife.However,thestateisnotaneutral protagonist.UptonowtheGermanstatedespiteallindividualsensiblepoliciesmainlysupportsthebynomeans sustainableprofitinterestsofcorporations.Therecent conceptofraw-materialdiplomacycoversoverthefrankly imperialambitionsofGermanandEuropeanpolicy.If thereistrulytobeanorientationtotheneedsofpeopleand theenvironment,therelationsofpowerandthedominant orientationsinsocietymustchange.

23

7. cORPORATIONS ARE ThE MOTORS OF ThE GREEN EcONOMy

Inthemodelworldofneoclassicaleconomicsandofthe neoliberaleconomicdoctrinetherearetwoactorsinthe economy:enterprisesandconsumers(privatehouseholds). Forthemthestateprescribesrules,forexampleinregard tocompetitionorenvironmentalandsocialstandards.In thisworldbusinessesaretheactualmotorsofsocialinnovationandsotooforthegreen economy.Underpressure ofcompetitionwithothercompaniesandthedemandfor certainproductsonthepartofconsumers,butalsoonthe basisofpoliticalframeworks,theybehaveinamoreorless sustainableway.

What truth is there in it?

24

Withoutenterprisesthereisincapitalistmarketeconomyno environmentalprotectionandnosustainableuseofnature thismuchisclear.Completelynewenterprisesarisein brancheslikesolarandwindenergy.Thebigenergycorporationspromoteresearchanddevelopmentaroundresourcesavingtechnologiesandproducts.Andinfactenterprises absolutelydoreacttothechangedbehaviourofconsumers. However,market-economyenterprisesfirstofallplayaquite decisiveroleinthenon-sustainablemodeofproduction andlifeandconsequentlyalsoimpedealternativesforin particularprivateenterprisesarecompelled,simplyinorder nottogounderwithincapitalistcompetition,toreapprofits intheirowninterestsandthoseoftheirshareholders.And thediktatofprofitabilityoftendoesnotpermitthemtoadopt moreexpensive,environmentallycompatibleproduction methods.Asaresult,nottoomuchshouldbeexpectedfrom them.BritishPetroleum(BP),theworldsthirdlargestoil corporation,hasbeentryingtogiveitselfanenvironmentally consciousimageformorethanadecadenow.Butcompany policyitselfhashardlychanged.For45milliondollarsin 1999BPabsorbedthephotovoltaiccompanySolarexand celebrateditselfastheworldslargestsolarenterprise. Thegreenimagecampaignfortheprojectcostmorethan

fourtimesmorethantheprojectitself.Asawhole,from 2005to2009thecompanyput2.9billiondollarsintoits alternativeenergiesline.Thissum,however,represents only4.2%ofitstotalinvestmentsinthoseyears.Sofarthe renewableenergyBPproducesdailyisone-tenthofoneper centofitsoilandgasproduction.40Inthemeanwhile,the corporationgotinvolvedintheespeciallyenvironmentally harmfulexploitationofoilsandinCanadaandthroughthe environmentalcatastropheintheGulfofMexicohassurely completelylostanycredibilityasfarasitsecologicalambitionsareconcerned. Thenon-sustainableinterestofcompanieshasaretroactive effectonsocietyandshapesthelatter:Largecorporations andtheemployersassociationsdonotjustreacttoconsumerdemand,butshapeitactively.Productdevelopment andmarketinginturnarecarriedoutunderthediktatof profitability.Decisionsregardingnewproductsarenot reachedthroughaneconomic-democraticprocess:neither theemployeesnorothersocialgroupsparticipateininvestmentdecisions.Onthecontrary,wherethereisstillsocial co-determinationintheproductionofgoodsandfood,these areoftenreducedtonothingbycompanies.Thefixationon privateenterpriseisalsopartofalarge-scaleprivatisation offensive.Forexample,formorethan15yearsthegeneticengineeringcorporationMonsantohasbeentryingtostamp outanycompetitionbyfarmerswhoretaintheirownseeds. ForMonsantoandothergiantsoftheseedindustrythe targetmarketsarepreciselysuchregionsintheglobalSouth wherefarmercommunitiessupplytheirownseeds.41 And,finally,companiesdonotsimplyreacttotherulesestablishedbythestate,butasaresultoftheireconomicpower havemajorpoliticalinfluence.Inshort,enterprisesareimportantforenvironmentalprotectionandforthesustainable useofresources.However,inordernottobeorientedsolely totheprofitprincipleofproprietors,banksandassetholders,thereisaneedbeyondpoliticallyestablishedrules--

25

40 http://taz.de/!52966/March2012). 41 ETCGroup.2011.WhoWillControltheGreen
Economy?www.etcgroup.org/en/node/5296

forstrictsocialcontrolsaswellasecologicallysensitivework forcesthatparticipateinthefundamentaldecisionsofthe enterprises.Itisalsonecessarytohaveconsciousconsumers whohavepossibilitiesofchoice,aswellasbroadsocietal publicspaceinwhichtheproblemsareaired,companiesare criticisedandalternativesdiscussedinotherwordsthere needstobeacomprehensiveproductionpublicsphere.

8. GREEN MONEy FAcILITATES ThE GREEN EcONOMy

26

Inthegreen economy,soitispromised,capitalwillbesteered awayfromthedirtysectorstowardthegreendomains. Forthis,massiveinvestmentsintheenergysectorand infrastructureandthedevelopmentofsustainableindustrial goodsandagricultureareneeded.Themoneyforthisshould besuppliedbybanksandinvestmentfundsviacreditsor astheirownprojects.Alongsidetheusefulinvestmentsin renewableenergyandbuildingrefurbishment,theyshould buylandforthecultivationofplantssuchasoilpalms, sugarcane,soyaorcornforbiofuels;theyshouldfinance themega-projectDesertec(estimatestotalaninvestment volumeof400billionEuros),42hydroelectricplants,damsor high-voltagetransmissionlinesthroughoutEurope,etc.

What truth is there in it?

Infact,investmentcapitalincreasinglyappearstobegoing towardthenewsectors.43Thisdevelopmentmust,however, beplacedinabroadercontext:thefinancialisationofthe economy,whichhasbeenincreasingsincethe1980s. Thetermfinancialisationdesignatesnotonlytheincrease ofspeculation,butmoregenerallythegrowingroleof

42 http://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/energie/erneuerbare-energie-desertec-holt-die-sonne-austunesien/6106178.html(March2012). 43 ChristianZeller(2010),DieNaturalsAnlagefelddes konzentriertenFinanzkapitals[NatureasanInvestmentFieldofConcentratedFinanceCapital]. In:FalkoSchmieder(ed.):ZurKritikderpolitischenkologie[CritiqueofPoliticalEcology].Bern/ Berlin.pp.103ff.

28

financialsubjectsoffinancialmarkets,financialactorsand institutions44intheeconomyandineconomicpolicy. Investment-seekingcapitalhassharplygrowninthecourse ofthederegulationofthefinancialsector.Newfinancial productshavebeenintroduced,which(partly)privatiseoldagecare.Thesoaringprofitsofmanycompanies,theswollen privatefortunesandthegiantforeign-tradesurplusesof theemergingcountriesallthismoneyissearchingfor profitableinvestment.Financialisationisalsooccurringin theareasofresourcesandecology.Capitalisincreasingly investedinraw-materialandenergyenterprisesaswellasin commodityfuturesexchanges,evenbyinvestorsconsidered conservativesuchaspensionfunds,lifeinsurancesand foundations.45From2003to2008,forexample,institutionalinvestorsincreasedtheirinvestmentsinraw-material marketsfrom13billionEurosto170205billionEuros.46 Emissionstradingisalsoasphereofinvestment.TheWorld Bankestimatestheabsolutevalueoftheglobalcarbon marketin2011tobe124billionUSdollars.47 Notonlytheeconomyoftheoldresources,butalsothe green economyappearstobegoodbusinessforinvestment capital.Thepoweroffinancecapitalrelatedtothiswillinthe futureposethequestionmoresharplyofwhetherpolitics governstheeconomyorthemarketsareusingpoliticsto carryouttheirowninterests.Inaddition,thepowerful tendencytothefinancialisationofnatureismarginalising alternatives:Ifcapitalpoursintobuyinguplandinorder tocultivateplantsforcleanbiofuels,itishardforsmall farmerstostanduptoit.Thestrategiesofthegreen economy mustbeconsciousofthefactthatcapitalseekingvalorisation possibilitiesexertseconomicandsocialpower.Itaspires inmostcasestohigherreturnsandnottodealingwiththe enormousecological,socialandeconomicproblems.

44 GeraldA.Epstein(ed.)(2005):FinancializationandtheWorldEconomy,London,p.3. 45 AntjeSchneewei(2011),SpekulationimSchatten.NachhaltigkeitundInvestitioneninRohstoffe[SpeculationintheShadows.SustainabilityandInvestmentsinRawMaterials].Siegburg: Sdwind. 46 EUCommission(2011):SustainableIndustry:GoingforGrowth&ResourceEfficiency,Brussels:EUCommission,DGEnterpriseandIndustry,p.3. 47 http://web.worldbank.org

9. GERMANy cAN EXPAND ITS POSITION AS A WORLD-MARKET LEADER ThROUGh GREEN TEchNOLOGIES

TheFederalMinistryfortheEnvironmentfindsthatGerman enterprisesintheenvironmentaltechnologysectornowhave world-marketsharesoffrom6to30%andthattheseare evenexpanding.Onaworldwidescalein2007aturnover ofabout155billionEuroscouldberealisedintheleadmarketofenvironmentallyfriendlyenergyandenergystorage, andthus40%morethanwaspredictedin2006.By2020 themarketwillgrowtoabout615billionEuros.German companieshaveexcellentprospectsofprofitingfromthese greatmarketpotentialsby2020.48

What truth is there in it?

ThedevelopmentofenvironmentaltechnologiesisimportantanddesirablenotonlyforacountrylikeGermanywith itsstrongindustry.Theideaofthegreen economyconsists intheprincipleofgreeningworld-marketandinnovation competitionandsupportingthemthroughstatepolicies. However,firstweneedmoresharplytoposethequestion: Whatproductsareactuallybeingcelebratedhere?Are electricmotorsconsideredcomponentsofthegreen economy, althoughtheydonotcallintoquestiontheprincipleofautomobility? Second,wenowseethatinacentralbranchoftheenergy sector,thesolarsector,despiteGermanhigh-techindustries theproductionofsolarenergypanelsisincreasinglyoccurringinChina.Becauseproductionismorefavourablethere. Clearly,whatisatstakeisnotjusttechnologiesbutalso wagelevelsandtheavailabilityofresources.ThatChinais outstrippingGermanyhereisseenasadefeatforGermany. Fromthepointofviewofclimateprotectionthecountry

29

48 BundesministeriumfrUmwelt,NaturschutzundReaktorsicherheit(ed.,2009):op.cit.,p.3.

fromwhichthesolarpanelscomeisnotanissue.Clearly, Germanpolicyislessinterestedinclimateprotectionthanin thesuccessofGermanexports. Third,inallthepraiseforcompetitivecapacityitshouldnot beforgottenthatcompetitionproducesnotonlyinnovation butalsolosers.Manysocietiesandpeopleincountrieswith lessinnovationareforcedintothepositionofresource suppliersfortheGreenTechindustriesofcountrieslike Germany.Theyremainpoorandstuckinasemi-colonial condition.Theout-competingofothernationaleconomies, aswecurrentlyseeinEurope,leadstocrisesthedevaluationofproductivestructures,unemploymentandpoverty. Behindthetalkoftechnologicalleadershipisthestriving forglobaldominance.Fortheproponentsofagreen economy, environmentalprotectionistobeputattheserviceof GermanysorEuropesleadershiprolenottheotherway round. Four,asimportantasthedevelopmentofnewtechnologies is,theyneverthelessremain,underconditionsofworldmarketcompetition,acentralcomponentofcompetitiveness.Thiscanhindertheircooperativecirculation.For environmentalprotectionitwouldbebestifallcountrieshad accesstothecleanesttechnologyoftheday.However,technology,itspriceandwhenpossiblethemonopolyofitare themselvespartofglobalcompetition,andtheintentionisto deploythemprofitably.Theeconomicallypowerfulandtheir politicalrepresentativestendtofavourbigcapital-intensive technologiesthattheycancontrol.Frequentlysoftandlocally adaptedtechnologiesandnon-technologicalorientations suchassufficiency,fromwhichGermanexporterscanhardly earnanything,areimpeded. Five,specificrawmaterialsarenecessaryfortheproduction ofhigh-technologies.Thisaggravatesthegeo-economicand geopoliticalcompetitionforresources,whichcaninturn leadtoconflicts.Themostrecentraw-materialagreement betweenGermanyandKazakhstanshowsthatGerman technologicalleadershipisalsopromotedthroughcooperationwithauthoritariangovernments.

30

10. cONSUMER POWER FORcES ENTERPRISES TO PROTEcT ThE ENVIRONMENT

Manyarticlesadvocatingthegreen economypointoutthat therehaslongsincebeenachangeofvaluesinsociety towardecologicalproductsandmodesoflifeandthatthis shouldbebuilton.Theage-oldculturalunderstanding thatitispossibletobeveryhappywithlittleconsumption ofcommoditieshasalmostdisappeared.49Eventhefederal governmentsScientificCouncilforGlobalEnvironmental Changes(WBGU)seesintheevolvingpost-material values50animportantbasisforthetransitiontoasustainableeconomy.And,finally,theconsumersaresupposed, throughtheirpurchases,toforcetheenterprisestoproduce cleanerproducts.Thekeywordinallthisisconsumer sovereignty. 31

What truth is there in it?

Individualbehaviour,responsibilityandthelearningprocessesconnectedtothemareimportant.Thisalsoinvolves choicesofwhattoconsumeIsthelatestcellphonealways necessary?Howoftenisairtravelnecessary?Andsoforth. However: First,beforecelebratingthepowerofconsumersweneedto pauseandthink:Inthecapitalisteconomycorporationsdeterminewhatresearchanddevelopmentisdoneandwhatis producedandwhatproductionproceduresareused.Under whatsocialandecologicalconditionsamobilephone,for example,isproducedandwhatcomponentsareassembled initallthisisgovernedbythedecisionsofthecompanies. Second,thecommoditythatconfrontstheconsumerisoften theresultofalongproductionchainwithmanysuppliersfirmsspanningtheentireglobe.Howsustainablethe

49 ErnstUlrichvonWeizscker/KarlsonHargroves/MichaelSmith(2010):Op.cit.,p.355. 50 WBGU(WissenschaftlicherBeiratderBundesregierungGlobaleUmweltvernderungen)
(2011),Op.cit.,p.100.

productionisinallthisisoftennotreadilydiscoverable,and asarulethereisnoorlittleinformationonthis.51Consumer powerisalsolimitedbythefactthatcompaniesstrivetogive theirproductsagreenveneerthatthisisfrequentlyno morethanaveneerisshownbythemanyfoodandother scandals. Third,responsibleconsumptionisoftenequatedwith self-denial.Why?Frequentlysimplybecausesustainably producedgoodsaremoreexpensiveandoverstrainthe financesofconsumers.Thepowerofconsumersisthus largelydeterminedbythecontentoftheirwallets.The personwhohasmoremoneycanbuyecologicallyproduced products.Poorpeoplehavetoforegodoingsounless theygetahigherwage.However,thistooisnottohappen, becauseitwouldendangerthecompetitivecapacityofthe internationalcompetitivepositionofeachcountry. Four,theconsumerscannotalwayschoose.Iflocalrail serviceiscutbackthenonemostlyhastoswitchtocars;if dailyworkbecomesdenserthenlesstimeisleftforpreparingmeals;ifindustriallyproducedandexpensivelypackaged foodischeaperthencertainpartsofthepopulationclearly havelesschoicethanothers. Asocio-ecologicaltransformationmeansadifferentkindof distribution,anothermodeofproductionandlifeandnot leastalsoothermeansoflife,whichareconsumed.However, thisamountstomuchmorethanhypingtheconsumerasa self-determinedcustomer-king.

32

51 Thisissoeveninthecaseofthesimplestproducts:Thequestionofhowecologicalthisis intheendiscontinuallyhardertoanswerforaNewZealandapplethatreachestheshelfofan organicfoodstoreinBerlinbycontainershipdoesnotnecessaryhaveaworseecologicalbalance sheetthantheJonagoldfromBrandenburg,whichisalsosoldinwinter.From:TIP5/2012Wie fairistBiowirklich?[HowFairisOrganicReally?].

11. ThE GREEN EcONOMy cREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR ThE SOUTh

AccordingtotheenvironmentalprogrammeoftheUnited Nations(UNEP),agreen economyisnotonlyameans againstclimatechangeandenergyinsecuritybutshows thecountriesoftheGlobalSouththewayoutofpoverty, becauseitreducesCO2emissions,promotesresourceand energyefficiencyandalleviatesenvironmentaldestruction. Ifeconomicgrowthandinvestmentsarelessdependenton thedestructionofenvironmentalgoodsandthesacrificeof environmentalqualitythentherichandpoorcountriescan equallyachieveamoresustainabledevelopment.52Atleast thisisthehope. 33

What truth is there in it?

EventheUNEPsensesthatthingsarenotthatsimple.53 First,theupswinginmanycountriesoftheSouthhas indeedliftedmillionsofpeopleoutofpoverty,butthe impressiveeconomicgrowthoftheSouthisalsobasedon non-sustainablemodesofproductionandlife,namelyon itscatch-upindustrialisation.CountriessuchasChinahave achievedtheirenormousgrowthratesbycompetinginthe worldmarketwithlowerwagesandoftenunderecologically poorconditionsalsointheproductionofsolarpanelsfor thegreen economy.54 Second,sincethestructuraladjustmentsofthe1980smany AfricanandLatinAmericancountrieshavebeenrelegatedto thestatusofraw-materialsupplierstotheNorth(thisisthe phenomenonofso-calledextractivism).Thegreen economy doesnotalterthis,forittooneedsresourcesforexample,

52 UNEP(UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme)(2011a),TowardsaGreen economy:Pathways toSustainableDevelopmentandPovertyEradication,p.16. 53 Ibid. 54 JuttaBlume/Nika Greger/WolfgangPomrehn(2011),Obenhui,untenpfui?RohstoffefrdiegrneWirtschaft: BedarfeProblemeHandlungsoptionenfrWirtschaft,Politik&Zivilgesellschaft[AllShowand NoSubstance?RawMaterialsfortheGreenEconomy:NeedsProblemsCoursesofActionfor Economy,PoliticsandCivilSociety],Berlin.

sustainablebiofuelsfromcorn,soyaorpalmoil.In addition,extractivism,whichpredominantlytakesplacein countriesoftheGlobalSouth,makespossiblethecontinuationofanon-sustainablemodeoflifeintheGlobalNorth. Third,raw-materialproductionforthegreen economy historicallyandcurrentlyleadsinsomeregionsoftheworld tosevereconflictsthusincountriessuchasthePeoples RepublicoftheCongomanyrawmaterials,forexample coltanwhichisusedinelectronicsformobilephonesand laptops,areillegallyquarriedandmoreoverservetofinance bloodywars. Four,inthecountriesoforiginitisespeciallythesmallmiddleandupperstratawhichprofitfromrawmaterialextraction.Thelocalpopulation,ontheotherhand,getlittlefrom theexploitationofresourcesbutasarulemustsubstantially bearthenegativeecologicalconsequences.Theresult? Despiteallachievementsintheemergingcountriesinthe areasofhealthandeducation,socialinequality,accordingto acurrentreportonhumandevelopment,isontheincrease. Andgrowingsocialinequalityfostersnon-ecological behaviour.55Itshouldbeclearthattheproductionofmore rawmaterialsforgreenbranchesdoesnotautomatically freetheGlobalSouthfromitsmisery.Representativesof thesoutherncountrieswarnthatthestrategiesforagreen economyaredroppingbehindtheaspirationexpressedin 1992inRionamelythatofseeingdevelopmentasthe nexusbetweeneconomic,socialandecologicalperspectives. Thereisadangerthatgreen economyproposalsignorequestionsofdistribution.Furthermore,northernerscanpointto environmentalstandardsinjustifyingtradebarriersvis--vis southerncountriesandatthesametimecompeltheopening ofmarketstocleanertechnologies.And,finally,thestrong statesupportforresearchanddevelopmentinthenorthern countriesletsthetechnologygapbetweennorthandsouth growlarger.56

34

55 UNDP2011:HDR,p.28. 56 MartinKhor(2011),Risksandusesofthegreen economyconcept

inthecontextofsustainabledevelopment,povertyandequity.SouthCentre,ResearchPaper No.49,Geneva.

Freeingtheweakerregionsandcountriesfromtheirdependencyandstrengtheningalternativemodesofproduction thegreen economydoesnotdeliverallofthisthisfreetoour homes.Itcouldonlyhappenthroughamoredemocratic shapingoftheworldmarketandofinternationalpolicy.

12. ThE GREEN EcONOMy FIGhTS POVERTy

TheUNofficiallyspeaksofagreen economyinthecontext ofsustainabledevelopmentandthefightagainstpoverty. Environmentaldestructionandpovertycanbedealtwith simultaneouslybytheapplicationsofgreenagricultural methods.57Sustainableforestryandecologicalagriculture areespeciallysignificantforsubsistenceeconomy,onwhich dependsthelivelihoodof1.3trillionpeople.58 35

What truth is there in it?

Heretoothereisabigproblem,sincethereasonsforpoverty continuetoexistinthegreen economy:unequalaccessto educationandhealthservices,unequalincomepossibilities andunequalaccesstocredits.Thereisalackofinvestments inagricultureforthepurposeofraisingproductivity,feeding farmersandpayingtheappropriatepricesfortheirproducts. Allthisistheresultofpoliticalandeconomicrelationsof powerinmanycountriesandattheinternationallevel.59 Theexperienceswithsustainabledevelopmentarenot positiveeverywhere.Itisnotjustthattheextinctionof species,deforestationanddesertificationareproceeding. Duetothecontinuedexistenceofthegivenpowerrelations, themanywell-intentionedinitiativeshaveoftenledtoan increaseofpoverty.Indeed,therearecasesinwhichindigenouspeopleshavebeendrivenfromtheirland(allegedly becausetheirmodeofeconomyisdesignatedasnon-sus-

57 UNEP(UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme).2011a,Op.cit.,p.36. 58 Ibid. 59 Edgardo Lander(2011),Ellobosevisteconpieldecordero.AmricaLatinaenmovimiento468469.SpecialissueofElcuentodelaeconomaverde:16.

tainable).Naturereservesareestablishedinwhichabsolutely nofurtherinterferenceinnaturalprocessesistooccurand insomeoftheseareaspeoplemustconsequentlyleavetheir land(insteadofbeingallowed,forexample,tocarryouta sustainableeconomy).Peoplearealsodrivenoutbecause companieswanttogetaccesstonaturalresources. Whethergreenornotthedecisivequestionremains whetherthecausesofpovertyandinequalityarebeing confrontedandwhethertheeconomicandpoliticalstructuresarechangedaccordingly.Akindofdevelopmentstill prevailswhichmosteasilyleadstoaconcentrationofpower onthepartofcompaniesintheagricultureandfoodsectors. Underthelabelofgreentechnologyweareexperiencing theintroductionofgeneticallymodifiedseeds.Peopleare expropriatedandrobbedoftheirpossibilitiesofaction.Small farmerslosetheirlandandsinktothelevelofdaylabourers onbigplantationswhereplantsforbiofuelsarecultivated.60 37 Thereductionofpovertyisthusaquestionofpoliticaland economicrelationsofpower.Atthesametimethepowerful politicalandeconomicinstancesdonotseemtotakepoverty reductionsoseriously.ThustheGermanfederalgovernment initsraw-materialsstrategyalsoconsidersfairopportunitiesfordevelopmentonthepartoftheextractingcountries important.Themainmotiveforthisstrategy,however,isthe securingoftheraw-materialbasisoftheGermanandEuropeaneconomy.Thisisshownbythemostrecentcooperation withKazakhstan:50contractsatatotalvolumeof4.5billion Eurosweresignedontheoccasionofthemostrecentstate visitbyChancellorMerkel.Kazakhstanisanidealpartner fortheprovisionofrawmaterialstoGermany.ThisCentral Asiancountryhasnearlyallneededindustrialmetals.61 Thefightagainstpovertyandhumanrightsranksverylow onthelistofpoliticalprioritiesofKazakhstansauthoritariangovernment.InDecember2011aprotestbyoilworkers againstthenon-paymentofwageswascrushedbythepolice

60 IAASTDInternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalKnowledge,ScienceandTechnologyfor Development(2009):GlobalReport.Washington,D.C.:IslandPress. 61 http://www.heise.de/tp/ artikel/34/34457/1.html(February2012).

andmilitaryinthewesternKazakhcityofZhanaosen.At least16peoplelosttheirlives.62

cONcLUSION In the light of the false promises of the green economy, a social-ecological transformation is necessary (and possible)!

38

Thegreen economyissupposedtoinstitutegeneralharmony. Economyandecologyaretobereconciled:Naturewillbe protectedandpovertyreduced,economicgrowthwillbe strengthenedandwithitwillcomegoodjobs.Buttheongoingdestructionofnatureaswellastheincreasingconflicts andsocialinequalityshowthatitdoesnotatallworkso seamlesslyandespeciallybecausethecapitalistcompulsiontogrowandthedominanceoftheprofitprinciple repeatedlyputsaspokeinthewheels.Thegreen economy asitisnowbeingconductedinpracticedoesnotreconcile corporationswiththeclimateandtheupperstratawiththe lower. Thegreen economyisthusnotawin-wingamebutcarries withinitdozensofconflicts;italreadyexcludespeople, andittooisbasedonrelationsofpoweranddomination. Consequently,whatisimportantistoobserveaccuratelythe concreteformsofagreen economyaswellastheforcesand interestsdrivingit.Inthisitbecomesclear:Thecurrently dominantinterestisinexpandingcapitalistmarketstructures,andheretoomoregrowthisinvolved. Incapitalismthereisindeedaresponsetoproblemssuch asenvironmentaldestruction,butlargelyunderthecontrol andaccordingtotheneedsofcorporationsandthewealthy. Itisthereforetruethatafundamentallydifferentenergy

62 http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundesregierung-schliesst-abkommen-mit-kasachstanmerkel-hebt-den-schatz-aus-der-steppe-1.1278456(February2012).

basisandhigherefficiencyofproductionandproductsis completelyconceivableifthereissomethingtobeearned theninvestorsdonotstandbythewayside.However,itis verymuchtobedoubtedthatthisincentivealonewillleadto fundamentalchanges. Abstractappealstopeopletolivemodestlywillyieldlittle. Insteadmorefundamentalquestionshavetobeposed:What dosustainablecitieslooklike?Accordingtowhatcriteriais foodproducedanddistributed?Howdowewanttolive? Thequestionofthegreen economymustnotbereducedto CO2concentrations,solar-energysubsidiesandlarge-scale technologies.Moreisinvolved.Itisaquestionofhowthe concreterelationsofpeopleandofsocietytonatureare shaped.Todaythisalltoooftentakesanunsolidaristicand nature-destroyingform.Ifthisistochangefundamentally thensocialrelationsmustbechangedinthedirectionofa solidaristicandreallysustainablemodeofproductionand life.63 Suchachangewillonlybepossibleiftherearesociallysecuredemploymentopportunitiesinwhichsociallymeaningfulproductsareproducedandifpaidlabourisnottheonly contentoflife(liveinordertowork)paidlabourmust notonlysecureincomebutalsobemeaningful.Thediscussionofagoodlife,asitiscurrentlysoproductivelybeing carriedoninLatinAmerica,offersstimulihere.64Thereis thusmuchtobedone.Onlyifthecapitalistgrowthcompulsionandprofitlogicceasetobedominantdoesthepath opentoaworldinwhichpeopleshapetheirownrelations oflifeandtheirrelationtonatureaccordingtodemocratic, solidaristicandtrulysustainablestandards.

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63 SeeseveralapproachesinUlrichBrandetal.(eds.)(2012),ABCderAlternativen2.0,Hamburg. 64 ThomasFatheuer(2011),BuenvivirRechtaufgutesLeben.Berlin[BuenvivirThe
RighttoaGoodLife],Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung.Also:EduardoGudynas(2012),BuenVivirDasGute LebenjenseitsvonWachstumundEntwicklung[BuenvivirTheGoodLifeBeyondGrowthand Development].AnalysenderRosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung,Berlin.

FOR FURThER READING Texts that advocate a green economy:

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MZ(2011):kologischesWirtschaften.Green Economy,BMZ B Informationsbroschre2/2011. einrich-Bll-Stiftung2009:AufdemWegzueinemGreenNew H Deal.DieKlima-unddieWirtschaftskrisealstransatlantische Herausforderungen[OnthePathtoaGreenNewDeal.The ClimateandEconomicCrisisasTransatlanticChallenges] http://www.boell.de/downloads/oekologie/green_new_deal_oeko_ band3.pdf UCommission(2010):Europe2020AEuropeanstrategy E forsmart,sustainableandinclusivegrowth,COM(2010)2020. http://www.eurunion.org/eufacts(February2011). UCommission(2011):SustainableIndustry:GoingforGrowth E &ResourceEfficiency,Brussels:EUCommission,DGEnterprise andIndustry. nternationalLabourOrganization(2011):SkillsforGreenJobs. I AGlobalView.Geneva.http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/ books/WCMS_159585/lang--en/index.htm eftheneweconomicsfoundation(2009):TheGreatTransin tion.ATaleofHowItTurnedOutRight.http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/great-transition(Feb2011). ECD(2011):Towardsgreengrowth.www.oecd.org/dataoO ecd/37/34/48224539.pdf NEPUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(2009): U AGlobalGreenNewDeal.PolicyBrief.http://www.unep.org/ pdf/A_Global_Green_New_Deal_Policy_Brief.pdf(Feb2012). NEP(2011):TowardsaGreen economy:PathwaystoSustainU ableDevelopmentandPovertyEradication.http://www.unep. org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/ger/ger_final_dec_2011/ Green%20EconomyReport_Final_Dec2011.pdf(Feb2012). BGU(GermanAdvisoryCouncilonGlobalChange).2011.Welt W imWandel.GesellschaftsvertragfreineGroeTransformation. FlagshipReport.http://www.wbgu.de/fileadmin/templates/dateien/ veroeffentlichungen/hauptgutachten/jg2011/wbgu_jg2011_en.pdf

Texts that treat the green economy critically or that want to encourage alternatives:

dler,Frank/Schachtschneider,Ulrich(2010):GreenNewDeal, A Suffizienzoderkosozialismus?Konzeptefrgesellschaftliche Wegeausderkokrise[GreenNewDeal,SufficiencyorEcosocialism?ConceptsforSocialPathsOutoftheEco-crisis],Munich. ltvater,Elmar(2011):MiteinemgrnenNewDealausdem A Wachstumsdilemma?[OutoftheGrowthDilemmaThrougha GreenNewDeal?]In:Widerspruch60. rand,Ulrich(2012):Green EconomytheNextOxymoron? B NoLessonsLearnedfromFailuresofImplementingSustainable Development.In:GAIA21(1). rand,Ulrich/Lsch,Bettina/Opratko,Benjamin/Thimmel, B Stefan(eds.,2012):ABCderAlternativen2.0.Hamburg. rangsch,Lutz/Dellheim,Judith/Spangenberg,Joachim/Wolf, B FriederOtto(2012):DenKrisenentkommen.Sozialkologische Transformation[GettingOutoftheCrisis:Socio-ecological Transformation],rlsManuskripte99,Berlin. runnengrberAchim/Haas,Tobias2011.Green Economy B GreenNewDealGreenGrowth:OccupyRioplus20.In: W&E-Hinter-grund,November;www.weltwirtschaft-undentwicklung.org. UKOBundeskoordinationInternationalismus(2012):After B theFailureoftheGreen economy:10ThesesontheCritiqueofthe Green economy.PositionPaperoftheWorkingGroupSocietal RelationshipswithNature; http://www.buko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/buko34/neu/BUKO34Gesnat-Thesen-EN-Web-A4-V2.pdf outrot,Thomas/Gadrey,Jean(2012):Greengrowthiscalled C intoquestion.ETUIPolicyBrief3. eutscherFrauenrat[GermanWomensCouncil](2011): D CornerstonesofthePositiononaGreen economy. http://www.frauenrat.de/fileadmin/user_upload/infopool/informationen/dateien/2011-2/120221_DF_green_economy_eng_final.pdf eutscherNaturschutzring[GermanNatureConservationRing] D (ed.,2012):DieGrenzendesWachstums.DiegroeTransformation.EinReader[TheLimitstoGrowth.TheGreatTransformationAReader].Berlin. TCGroup(2011):WhowillcontroltheGreen economy? E http://www.etcgroup.org/en/node/5296

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42

vangelischerEntwicklungsdienst/BrotfrdieWelt[Protestant E DevelopmentService/BreadfortheWorld](ed.,2011):Darfsein bisschenmehrsein?VonderWachstumsgesellschaftundder Fragenachihrerberwindung[HowAboutaLittleMore?On GrowthSocietyandtheQuestionofOvercomingIt].Bonn. orumUmweltundEntwicklung(2011):Green economy.Neue F ImpulsedurchdenRio-Gipfel?[Green economy.NewImpulses FromtheRioSummit?]Rundbrief3. ENANET(2011):Green economy:Gender_Gerecht!AufdemWeg G ineineressourcenschonendeundgerechteGesellschaft[Green economy:GenderFair!OnthePathtoaResource-Conservingand JustSociety].Positionspapier,www.genanet.de. udynas,Eduardo(2011):BuenVivir:TodaysTomorrow.In: G Development54(4),pp.441447. elfrich,Silke/Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung(eds.,2012):Commons. H FreineWeltjenseitsvonPolitikundStaat[Commons:Fora WorldBeyondPoliticsandState].Bielefeld. offmann,Ulrich(2011):SomeReflectionsonclimatechange, H greengrowthillusionsanddevelopmentspace.UNCTAD DiscussionPapers,No.205.December2011,Geneva. nstitutSolidarischeModerne(2011):Social-EcologicalReconI structiononthePathtoaSolidaryModernity.www.solidarischemoderne.de http://www.rosalux.de/publication/38004/social-ecological-reconstruction-on-the-path-to-a-solidary-modernity.html ackson,Tim(2010):ProsperityWithoutGrowth.Economicsfor J aFinitePlanet.EarthscanPublications. aufmann,S./Mller,T.2009.GrnerKapitalismus.Krise, K KlimawandelundkeinEndedesWachstums[GreenCapitalism. Crisis,ClimateChangeandNoEndtoGrowth].Berlin. hor,Martin(2011):RisksandUsesoftheGreen Economy K ConceptintheContextofSustainableDevelopment,Povertyand Equity,Geneva:SouthCentre. ander,Edgadro(2011):TheGreen economy.TheWolfinSheeps L clothing.http://www.tni.org/green-wolf artnezAlier,Joan(2009):SociallySustainableEconomicDeM Growth.In:DevelopmentandChange40(6):10991119. etzer,Nina(2011):EinweltweiterGreenNewDeal.KrisenmanN agementodernachhaltigerParadigmenwechsel?[AWorldwide GreenNewDeal.CrisisManagementorSustainableChangeof Paradigm?],ed.bytheFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung,Berlin.

 aech,Nico(2010):DieLegendevomnachhaltigenWachsP tumEinPldoyerfrdenVerzicht[TheLegendofSustainable DevelopmentAPleaforSacrifice],in:LeMondeDiplomatique, GermanEdition,September2010. chmelzer,Matthias/Passadakis,Alexis(2011):Postwachstum. S Krise,kologischeGrenzenundsozialeRechte[Post-Growth. Crisis,EcologicalLimitsandSocialRights].AttacBasisTexte36, Hamburg. nmig,Barbara(2012):TheGreen EconomyTheNewMagic U Bullet?ExpectationsfromtheRio+20Conference]. http://www.boell.org/downloads/Unmuessig_Green_Economy_Magic_Bullet.pdf issen,Markus(2012):Post-neoliberaleHegemonie?ZurRolle W desGreen-Economy-KonzeptsinderVielfachkrise[PostneoliberalHegemony?OntheRoleoftheGreen EconomyConcept intheMulti-crisis].In:Kurswechsel2/2012.

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LuxemburgargumenteNr.3,2ndvolume Berlin,June2012 ISSN2193-5831 Author UlrichBrand (Researchassistant:JanaFlemming) Translation EricCanepa Editors SteffenKhne,SabineNuss, AntonellaMuzzupappa,StefanThimmel Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung GesellschaftsanalyseundpolitischeBildunge.V. Franz-Mehring-Platz1,10243Berlin,Germany Contact SteffenKhne,Tel.+493044310-402,kuehne@rosalux.de StefanThimmel,Tel.+493044310-434,thimmel@rosalux.de Graphics/Layout AEIOUwww.bureau-aeiou.com MediaServiceGmbHDruckundKommunikation,Berlin Illustrations:SusannStefanizenwww.susannstefanizen.de Print MediaServiceGmbHDruckundKommunikation,Berlin CircleoffsetPremiumWhite,100%Recycling