common wealth in wales toward a free, equal, mutual and sustainable society

Common Wealth in Wales

Toward a free, equal, mutual and sustainable society

Wednesday 21st April, Torfaen People’s Centre, Pontypool

Dr. Steven Harris, Science Shops Wales, University of Glamorgan


The Earth is an Integrated System


The Earth System is in Crisis

“Over the last two decades a new imperative has come to dominate environmental concerns. With a rapidly increasing understanding of the nature of Earth’s life support system, a growing awareness has emerged that human activities are exerting an ever-accelerating influence on aspects of Earth System functioning upon which the welfare and the future of human societies depend.” IGBP Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under Pressure (2004)


The Global Picture - Recent Studies

• Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations: – Reports on food and sustainability (2004-8)

• The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme:– Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under

Pressure (2004)• The UNEP Millennium Ecosystems Assessment:

– Living Beyond our Means (2005)– Ecosystems and Human Well-Being (2005)

• United Nations Environment Programme: – Global Environment Outlook 4: environment for

development (2007) • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:

– Synthesis Report of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007);


Findings• The global atmosphere is warming - as a

result, the global climate is changing. These changes are happening more rapidly, and are likely to be more extreme, than recently anticipated.

• One to two-thirds of all species of plants, animals, and other organisms may die out over the coming decades.

• Many of the natural resources and services upon which humanity depends are severely depleted or degraded

• Billions of people around the world lead lives marred by thirst, hunger, poverty and conflict.

A Prosperous Way Down? Exploring Green Economic Futures for Wales

A Common Cause - Us• All studies clearly identify human activity as a

primary cause of the Earth System Crisis• The 20th Century has seen exponential growth in

human populations, made possible by the industrial-scale exploitation of natural resources and services – particularly fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)

• The globalised industrial economy is committed to continuing growth in production and consumption

• Growth demands ever-increasing energy and resource inputs

• Growth results in increasing levels of pollution, resource depletion, species loss and ecosystem degradation


Increasing rates of change in human activity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (1)

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (2004). Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under Pressure


Increasing rates of change in human activity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (2)



Global-scale changes in the Earth System as a result of the dramatic increase in human activity (1)



Global-scale changes in the Earth System as a result of the dramatic increase in human activity (2)



“…our economy is killing the Earth”

“This is the logic of free-market capitalism: the economy must grow continuously or face an unpalatable collapse. With the environmental situation reaching crisis point, however, it is time to stop pretending that mindlessly chasing economic growth is compatible with sustainability. Figuring out an alternative to this doomed model is now a priority..” From Why politicians dare not limit economic growthby Tim Jackson, pp. 42-3.

New Scientist, 16 October 2008

Growth Addiction• Views humans as individualistic, tribal, competitive• Views nature as a resource: separate, infinitely exploitable• Celebrates benefits of technology, ignores costs• Values present (much) more highly than the future• Disproportionally benefits those with capital, increasing the

concentration of asset ownership and further widening gaps between rich and poor

• Has structural ‘lock-in’ to existing economic system:– Money as Debt– Return on Investment– Employment

• Is utterly dependent on concentrated, high value energy inputs



A Local Example… 3 Planet Wales• Wales’ 2003 ecological footprint was 5.16

global hectares per person (X 3 global carrying capacity of 1.8 gha pp)

• The footprint of Wales has increased at an average rate of 1.5% per year between 1990 and 2003.

• This closely mirrors the growth in Gross Value Added (GVA) in Wales over the same period

• Between 1990-2008 energy consumption increased by 5.1% - there were decreases in industrial energy consumption but large increases in domestic (12%) and transport (21%) energy consumption

• If the historic growth in footprint were to continue at rate of 1.5% a year, this would result in an ecological footprint 20% higher than the 2003 figure (6.19gha/capita) in 2020

E. Dawkins, A. Paul, J. Barrett, J. Minx and K. Scott (2008). Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020. Stockholm: Stockholm Environment Institute

Growth Depends on EnergyCommon Wealth in Wales

There has also been a very close relationship between the rate of growth of world output and the rate of growth of its consumption of oil.

Growth Creates PollutionCommon Wealth in Wales

The link between economic activity and global warming: The rate of increase in world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has moved very closely in step with Carbon Dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.

Benefits of Degrowth• Longest recession in UK since records began –

economy shrank by 6% since 2008• UK emissions of Co2 fell by 9.8% - from 533m

tonnes in 2008 to 481m tonnes in 2009• Overall output of the six main greenhouse gases

fell by 8.6%. • Bigger reductions in one year than all the

other years of Labour government put together

• According to DECC, main cause reductions in energy consumption as economy contracted

• Globally, the International Energy Agency estimated world CO2 emissions to have fallen by around 3% in 2009 - only the fourth recorded fall in the past 50 years – on average global emissions have grown by 3% year on year.


Efficiency is not the Answer• Research has demonstrated that that technological progress that increases

the efficiency with which a resource is used, tends to increase (rather than decrease) the rate of consumption of that resource

• This is the famous ‘Jevons Paradox’, first noted with regard to coal consumption - an increase in the efficiency with which a resource (e.g., fuel) is used causes a decrease in the price of that resource when measured in terms of what it can achieve (e.g., work). A decrease in the price of a good or service increases the quantity demanded.

• This type of ‘Rebound Effect’ has three aspects:1. Increased fuel efficiency lowers the cost of consumption, and hence increases the

consumption of that good because of the substitution effect.2. Decreased cost of the good enables increased household consumption of other

goods and services, increasing the consumption of the resource embodied in those goods and services.

3. New technology creates new production possibilities in and increases economic growth


What’s to be Done?• Macro-level reforms are possible, e.g.

– Design for ‘steady-state’ economy– Decouple money creation from debt– cap and trade carbon emissions– Massive investment in renewables– ‘green’ taxes’ on polluter pays principle– tax land value– provide statutory citizen’s income

• But politicians and policy-makers ‘locked into’ growth at all costs – complete culture change required

• Power of corporations, direct and through advertising• So… real change must begin at the grassroots and margins


Reclaiming the Commons• Ecosystems science has shown us that the great interlocking systems of nature are

our true common wealth, providing the conditions for all life on Earth • The Commons are resources required by all, without which human activities are

impossible such as woodlands, atmosphere, fresh water, fisheries and grazing land• The commons can also be understood to include the products of collective human

culture: art, science, religion; ‘public goods’ such as public space, education, healthcare; and essential infrastructure, such as roads, power transmission and telecommunications networks.

• There is also a genetic commonwealth –seeds and crop strains, the human genome.

• In theory, all should have equal rights of access to the commons• Enclosure or ‘accumulation by dispossession is the process by which the commons

are transformed into private property is termed enclosure• Privatization and commodification of public assets is a process of transferring

property such as buildings, land, and water from public to private ownership, providing new means of making private profits and driving economic growth.

• The enclosure of the commons has been called “the revolution of the rich against the poor.”


The Real Common Wealth of Wales

• Cultivated & grazing land – for food, fuel and dwellings

• Uncultivated land – for biodiversity & ecosystems services

• Woodlands for timber and fuel• Wind, Wave and Solar power for energy• Fresh Water• Roads, railways, power and telecomms networks• Our healthcare system and infrastructure• People – Skills, History & Culture


Solutions - Frameworks• Cooperatives• Social Enterprises• Community Finance Initiatives• Credit Unions & Microfinance• Community Currencies• Timebanks and Barter schemes• Community Land Trusts


Solutions - Actions• Community Renewable

Energy/microgeneration Projects• Community/localised Food Production• Community-supported agriculture• Community-supported Schools• Communiversities• Low-impact development


Wales – People & Economy• 2009 population 2,993,000 • 1,316,000 or 69.4% of those of working age were employed (UK average 72.5%) -

average full-time earnings in 2008 £498 per week• 8.1% unemployed, up from 5.6% in 2008. • GVA (Gross Value Added) of the Welsh economy in 2007 was £44.3 billion, around

£14,880 per head, 25% lower than the overall figure for the UK• Gross disposable household income (GDHI) in 2007 for Wales was £37.5 billion or

£12,574 per head of population. This represented 87.8 per cent of the UK figure, down from 88.0 in 2006

• Poverty in Wales affects all age groups (Kenway & Palmer, 2007). There were more working-age adults in poverty than children and pensioners in poverty combined, with poverty among disabled working-age adults higher than a decade previously

• 10% of 16- to 18-year-olds not in employment, education or training. • Child poverty in Wales 28%. Around 1% of children in situations likely to lead to

serious disadvantage• Wales is among the poorest and slowest growing of the 10 regional

economies of the UK


Wales – Renewable Energy• Sustainable

renewable energy potential to 2020/2025

• Current Electricity consumption 23 TWhr pa

• Potential total capacity 48 TWhr pa

• Wales has potential to become net electricity exporter

Source: WAG. (2010). A Low Carbon Revolution


Wales - Land & People• The total land area of Wales is around 2.1 million hectares• 1.5 million hectares are used for agriculture, 85% grassland and rough

grazing.• In 2004, land use in Wales consisted of 62% permanent grass (1010000

ha), 23% rough grazing (383000 ha), only 11% arable land (177000 ha) and 4% woodland and other lands including set-aside (64000 ha)

• Currently around 3 million people live in Wales• Overall population density 140 people per Km2

• UK average 246/Km2. • Population is unevenly distributed in Wales e.g.

– Torfaen has 717/Km2 and Blaenau Gwent 631/ Km2 – Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire 74/ Km2

– Powys 45 Km2. • We have a lot of space! • Used effectively, grassland and marginal, rough grazing could be among

our greatest assets


The Green Valleys ProjectBrecon Beacons National Park

• Community Interest Company - Low Risk - High Return seed projects

• Support, advice and finance packages for local groups• 5 local groups: Talybont, Crucorney, Dyffryn Crawnon, Cwmdu

and Llangattock• Community Microhydro projects: Dyffryn Crawnon 16kW; Talgarth 3.5

kW; Cwmdu 7.5kW; Llangattock – 3 kW, 6.9kW, 15kW and 16kW; Crucorney – 8kW; Llandeussant – 11 in development phase

• By 2012 community hydros will be generating over £100k per annum for reinvestment in low carbon projects

• 155 homes reduced carbon emissions by 20%• Community owned electric cars• 2 community woodland groups established• Setting up community & commercial lending facilities• Establishing Upland Restoration Fund to safeguard ecosystem

services• Long-term aim to make National Park a carbon-negative region


Cwmdeithas Cwm ArianHermon, Glogue and Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire

• 200 houses and farms around 3 villages• Local Community Forum –all voluntary• Pub closed – bought Marquee and reopened!• In 2003 formed CLT – raised £137,000 for affordable housing• Opposed closure of local primary school - failed• Developed and agreed Community Action Plan 2004• Formed Community Cooperative – raised £65,000 in share issue• Formed Credit Union and made small loans to buy shares – now

£0.5m in savings• Celtic Blue Rock Community Festival – non-profit, all proceeds

to charity/community funds - 10,000 attend each year• School buildings purchased, now Community Resource &

Conference Centre hosting IT facilities and 3 business startups• Plans to build small industrial units• 2009 gained funding to install 2 community wind turbines (1.4

MW) to generate income for community investment fund• Now planning to reopen school, employ own teachers


Cwm Harry Land TrustNewtown, Powys

• Social Enterprise - charity & company limited by guarantee - employs 10• Aims to demonstrate a sustainable, ‘closed loop’ system of food production

and food-waste management• Collects food waste from 10,000 local households and businesses• Processes waste – produces compost & energy through anaerobic digestion• Produces food locally – on own land and through network of local suppliers• Distributes local, seasonal and organic food through Veggie-bag service


Bro Dyfi Community Renewables

Machynlleth, Powys• Est. 2001 - community energy co-operative registered

under Industrial and Provident Societies Acts –one vote per shareholder

• 59 shareholders, shares £100, max holding £1000• Only institutional shareholder the Energy Savings Trust• Dividends from EST's shares are put into a Community

Energy Saving Fund, for reinvestment locally• Installed 75 kilowatt Vestas wind turbine at Cilgwyn,

2003 - Produces c 163 megawatt-hours (163,000 units) pa

• First dividend to shareholders, 2004• Now installing new 500kW wind turbine on Mynydd

Glandulas – c 1,000 megawatt-hours pa• Power purchase agreement (PPA) with Good Energy –

will yield more than £100 per MW hr generated


Lammas Eco-village Glandwr, Pembrokeshire (1)

• 76 acres of pasture and woodland• Developing 9 eco-smallholdings, a

community hub building and a seasonal campsite

• Completely independent of mains services - microhydro, biomass, rainwater harvesting and a spring) from the land. Designs for the houses include a 4-unit terrace, an earth sheltered house, straw bale houses, a cob house, and more.

• All houses being self-built with materials sourced from the site, and will blend into the landscape

• Surrounding smallholdings will produce food and support land-based enterprises: basketry, smoked hams, hazelnuts, woodland products, wool crafts and medicinal herbal preparations.


Lammas Eco-village Glandwr, Pembrokeshire (2)

• Transformation of land use through Permaculture

– intensive horticulture, heavily reliant on human skilled input, which sets out to create artificial, self-sustaining ecosystems which produce food and energy yeilds for humans

• Has the potential to revolutionise perceptions of the Welsh countryside

• 76 acres that Lammas has purchased was supporting approximately 195 ewes, bringing in a yearly income of approximately £2,500 - a small percentage of one farming family’s income

• Lammas year cash flow forecasts and productivity accounts suggest that after a 5 year establishment period, the land will produce the equivalent of approximately £108,000 land-based produce per annum - a living for nine families


common wealth in wales toward a free, equal, mutual and sustainable society

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