The UK, like so many countries, faces a grave dilemma: how to regain pre-pandemic levels of economic activity and growth while reducing the already excessive environmental impacts of climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, and contamination of air land and water. The ‘code red alert’ of the most recent IPCC report on climate change exemplifies the seriousness of these problems but it is only one of several globally significant environmental threats crying out for attention. The dilemma is that a return to unending economic growth, especially in advanced economies, is unlikely to be the answer. This online event will launch Peter Victor’s new book on the life and work of Herman Daly, whose economics work is directly linked to sustainability. Herman Daly is one of very few economists who has devoted his entire career to resolving this dilemma. His economics for a full world has been widely recognised through numerous national and international prestigious prizes and awards. His pathbreaking work on the steady-state economy provides the foundation for new approaches to economics finding favour especially among younger people such as well-being economics, doughnut economics, post-growth economics and degrowth. Daly, born and raised in southern Texas is admired for the clarity of his thinking and expression as well as his kindly manner. He is a founder of ecological economics which views the economy as embedded in and entirely dependent on the biosphere. Nothing in economics could be more relevant to advancing our understanding of and finding solutions for the climate crisis and sustainability.
Hosted by the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) at the University of Surrey, this will be an evening online webinar enabling both US and European audiences to attend. Katherine Trebeck of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and Professir Tim Jackson will chair the session with Peter Victor, Herman Daly and Professor Ellie Hawkins of York University on the panel. Pre-recorded video clips from some high profile figures will be woven through the webinar and participants will be invited to contribute to a word cloud which will then be presented as a lasting gift for Herman Daly. This book launch will appeal to a global audience given Herman Daly's extraordinary life and career. We will discuss the book, which provides an in-depth account of one of the leading thinkers and most widely read writers on economics, environment and sustainability. Herman Daly’s economics for a full world, based on his steady-state economics, has been widely acknowledged through numerous prestigious international awards and prizes. Much of the book is devoted to a comprehensive account of Daly’s foundational contributions to ecological economics. It describes how his insights and proposals have been received by economists and non-economists and the extraordinary relevance of Daly’s full world economics to solving the economic problems of today and tomorrow. Innovative and timely, this book launch will be of great interest to students, scholars, researchers, activists, and policy makers concerned with economics, environment, and sustainability. The audience will be encouraged to interact with the panel through a lively Q&A session.
Peter Victor, Professor Emeritus in Environmental Studies at York University.
Professor Tim Jackson, University of Surrey.
Katherine Trebeck, Wellbeing Economy Alliance.
Professor Ellie Hawkins of York University.
Anyone welcome.
General public, Students, Scholars, Researchers, Activists, Policy Makers concerned with economics, environment and sustainability.