Thomas Kostigen is going in the right direction, but is not going far enough. Seeing the economy as the source of the problem only in terms of effect and consumption leads to no real solutions--reducing consumption and economic growth. Ultimately, consumption and growth may in fact decline. Instead, the source of the problem needs to be seen as the current principles, processes, and tools of economic production itself. This line of inquiry leads to a possible solution--new principles, tools, and processes. This is the direction a large portion of sustainability thinking and initiatives are taking these days illustrated in the arenas of ecological economics, natural capitalism, The Natural Step, biomimicry, etc. As such, the answer to the question of "how to fix the economy" would be to fix the environment, and vice versa. However, Kostigen makes a good start and points out the essential paradox of modern economic success, its unsustainability, if reducing consumption and growth are the only ways it can intrinsicaly solve the environmental problem.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- The answer both presidential candidates should have to the question of how to fix the environment is: More of the same -- economic problems that is. What's bad for the economy is good for the environment. . . . Eco comes from the Greek, oikos, which means house. We are being told in no uncertain terms to get our houses in order. Or we may lose them. The irony is that the financial crisis may help us to keep our common home, Planet Earth. Other side of the coin. Commentary: The bad economy is good for the environment. Thomas Kostigen MARKETWATCH — 8:10 PM ET 10/09/08.https://news.fidelity.com/news/news.jhtml?cat=Opinion&articleid=200810092010MRKTWTCHNEWS_SVC_D2893A2D-3A43-4987-BB69-E5AB7FAC34DE&IMG=N
Thomas M. Kostigen is the author of "You Are Here: Exposing the Vital Link Between What We Do and What That Does to Our Planet" (HarperOne).