For nearly a century, our society has grown and developed as if economics were divorced from the natural systems we are a part of. Resources were gathered, waste was expelled, homes and businesses erected, and communities planned as if only the needs of the free market economy were applicable. Most businesses, governments, and individuals now see the problem of this perspective.
Global climate change poses numerous threats to a prosperous and healthy human future while other environmental disasters such as toxic wastes, species extinction, and the impacts of growth loom equally threatening.
The threat of Post Peak Oil on economies and culture is likely to have a severe impact on quality of life, democratic freedoms, and in some cases, basic survival. In the short-term, dependence on imported petroleum has already impacted our political decisionmaking and shows all the signs of more influence in the future.
These problems are systemic and will require urgent action at all levels of governance. At the local level, the relocalization strategy shows great promise. Through a master planning process that is anchored in sustainability principles, a relocalization program can help communities adapt to a future of conventional energy scarcity and prohibitive costs. Such a program will also reduce contributions to greenhouse gasses, establish a more efficient and traditional urban footprint, and enhance a locally-based merchant economy.
Next: Local Goals
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