*2008-04. BC Nature Position Statement on Economic Growth*/ (Please note that this differs from our regular conservation resolutions, which are normally addressed to government, but was accepted by the Resolution Committee for discussion and consideration by all our members as an educational statement of position by BC Nature. Therefore the Whereas statements are included here)./*Whereas* economic growth is an increase in the production and consumption of goods which entails an increase in the flow of natural resources, through the economy and back to the environment, and*Whereas* economic growth occurs when there is an increase in the product of population multiplied by per capita production and consumption, and*Whereas* economic growth is often and generally indicated by increasing real gross domestic product (GDP) or real gross national product (GNP), and*Whereas* based upon established principles of physics and ecology, there is a limit to economic growth (as demonstrated historically in many societal collapses), and* **Whereas* a steady state economy is generally indicated by stabilized (or mildly fluctuating) real gross domestic product (GDP) or real gross national product (GNP), and*Whereas* a steady state economy, with a stabilized (or mildly fluctuating) product of population multiplied by per capita consumption, is an alternative to economic growth, and* **Whereas* steady state economy, with stabilized (or mildly fluctuating) production and consumption of goods and services, is an alternative to economic growth, and*Whereas* steady state economy does not preclude economic development, a qualitative process in which different technologies may be employed and the relative prominence of economic sectors may evolve, and*Whereas *Canada is a part of the North American economy, which grows as an integrated whole consisting of agricultural, extractive, manufacturing, and services sectors that require natural resources inputs and produce wastes, and* **Whereas* there is increasing evidence that North American economic growth is having negative effects on the long-term ecological and economic welfare of North America and the world, and*Whereas* upon establishing steady state economies, it would be advisable for North American nations to assist other nations in moving from the goal of economic growth to the goal of a steady state economy, beginning with those nations currently enjoying the highest levels of per capita consumption, and*Whereas* for many nations with widespread poverty, including Canada's First Nations, increasing per capita consumption (or, alternatively, more equitable distributions of wealth) remains an appropriate goal for the time being; yet the ultimate goal should be the establishment of healthy ecological and social conditions within the framework of a steady state economy, and*Whereas* there is a fundamental conflict between economic growth and the ecological services underpinning the human economy (for example, insect and vermin control, pollination, decomposition, climate regulation), therefore*Be it resolved that* BC Nature support in principle the steady state economy as a sustainable alternative to economic growth, and*Be it further resolved that* BC Nature specifically undertake the following actions:* BC Nature include a copy of this position statement as part of the BC Nature web site and in the next issue of BC Nature * BC Nature undertake to educate the public and policy makers on this fundamental conflict and how it relates to human health and well-being * BC Nature encourage the member clubs to adopt such a position statement to bring the matter to the attention of local communities * BC Nature include mention of this root cause of loss of biodiversity as a part of their routine work in conservation * BC Nature encourage Nature Canada to circulate this position statement and encourage adoption by other Provincial Affiliates and the Canadian Nature Network.
The federation of British Columbia Naturalists recently adopted the
following position statement on economic growth:
