dr. peter daniels griffith university, brisbane, australia
TRANSCRIPT
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
Dr. Peter Daniels Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
AIM to explore how Buddhism can help understand and address climate change
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
How do we do this ? by injecting Buddhist ethics and
values into two good scientific tools for understanding and addressing environmental problems
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
ecological economist
Paper Structure1. Background – climate change2. Aim3. Systems analysis of climate change SCIENCE
bit – the DPSIR and IPAT approaches
4. How Buddhism would explain climate change – WORLD VIEW bit
5. Responses to climate change - from the combined SCIENCE-WORLD VIEW approach
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
1. Background – Climate Change
the scale of human intervention in the natural carbon cycle is now significant and likely disrupt critical environmental functions for humankind
2. Aim
to analyse how Buddhism can help address climate change through underlying values and behaviour (the “driving forces” - mainly those behind fossil fuel use) => using two environmental system analysis tools
A MAJOR ASSUMPTION => effective long-term analysis and solutions need more consideration of values and moral systems behind economic systems
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
Re climate change…
1. the hybrid scientific analysis models are very useful systematic approaches (and complement the logic and ethical basis of Buddhism)
2. Buddhism provides provide clear and specific guidance if we frame it in this more comprehensive analytic approach
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
2 conclusions
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
3. Systems analysis of climate change
4 parts · The DPSIR model· IPAT equation
· Beliefs => behaviour· Well-being links
INTEGRATE THESE
BUDDHISM
RESPONSE
R collective (and individual) action intended to prevent, reduce, or adapt to pressures and/or environmental damage
DRIVING FORCES
D the underlying human activities that lead to environmental change
STATE
S changes in the biophysical quality and quantity or other conditions of the environment
PRESSURE
P material, energy and waste flows to the environment from human activity
IMPACT
I changes in environmental use functions for humans due to state changes
1. THE DPSIR MODEL
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
I = P . A . Twhere:
I = total environmental impact (biophysical) from humans
P = populationA = affluence, or output or consumption per person (GDP per capita in $s)T = environmental impact per unit of output (per person)
2. THE IPAT EQUATION
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
THE DPSIR – IPANT HYBRID FRAMEWORK
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems – Peter Daniels
3. Systems analysis of climate change
Appendix 1 presents – a detailed analysis of climate change using the hybrid DPSIR-IPANT Framework
BUT where’s the Buddhism?
Buddhist Economics Platform 2 – Climate Change and Buddhist Economic Systems
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
THE COMPLETE FRAMEWORK
4. Buddhism and the roots of climate change
Two main relevant principles:
1. The Four Noble Truths2. The pervasive theme of interconnectedness –
dependent origination
4. Buddhism and the roots of climate change
4. Buddhism and the roots of climate change
4. Buddhism and the roots of climate change
Fossil fuel-based economies have all these characteristics : 1. maximum affluence (based on…)2. N & T with high energy and natural resource disruption3. expectation failure
- all adversely affect well-being
The “double whammy”
5. Effective responses to climate change – inspirations from Buddhism
1. how can the Buddhist world view can inform responses to climate change
2 main aspects for effective responses
2 main aspects for effective responses
2. need for comprehensive understanding of the full effects of the driving forces behind climate change
MAIN GUIDING SOURCE - the 3rd and 4th Noble Truths
Moderation, the Middle Way and 8-fold Path
the best real welfare with min intervention
5. Effective responses to climate change – inspirations from Buddhism
3rd and 4th Noble Truths guide us to change N and T to …
minimise external world intervention / disturbance
encourage activities that actually bring best welfare
RESPONSES Promote research and knowledge :
(1) about the full impacts of different sorts of economic activity and their associated technologies (“karmic effects”)
(2) about the conditions and outcomes that actually increase individual and societal “happiness”
5. Effective responses to climate change – inspirations from Buddhism
RESPONSES Shift consumption away high impact, low welfare gain activity to positive, “compassion” goods and services BY policy such as …
full social cost pricing regulation and standards moral suasion; education promotion of disturbance
minimising technology
5. Effective responses to climate change – inspirations from Buddhism
changes in individuals’ roles as producers liberation of personal time as the ultimate resource required for loving-kindness relationships develop and implement new indicators of progress to direct strategic change international policy and assistance for welfare growth and min. disturbance in the developing world
5. Effective responses to climate change – inspirations from Buddhism
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BUDDHIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
– An Ethical, Scientific Response
THANK YOU