Big Problems need Big Picture thinking. Reforming our economic system so that every decision we make reflects the environmental cost of making that good or undertaking that activity is vital for our survival.
With Melbourne one of the world's largest sprawl cities, how can the economic framework curb this trend? With the Emission Trading System set to become a speculative playground for investment bankers, what would a logical government propose? With the Global Financial Meltdown threatening our jobs, what can we do to make our economy more resilient in the face of the looming challenges we face?Karl Fitzgerald (Earthsharing Australia) will discuss how a True Cost Economics system would solve many of our current problems. Ascelin Gordon (RMIT University) will bring you up to speed with some of the pros and cons of using Market Based Instruments in environmental management.
Karl is Project Coordinator for Earthsharing Australia where he has the job of making economics interesting for the everyday person. This has led to the development of a large array of projects including interactive games, film competitions, the popular Speed Renting events, the True Cost Economics Forum, the Renegade Economists radio show and an occasional youtube piece. The crux of it is that if we are all born onto the planet as equals, why do some have more right than others to the natural bounty of the earth in this rapid fire desire to privatise the earth's worth? Karl's degree in economics saw him search high and wide for a practical alternative to today's economic meltdown.
Ascelin works as a Research Fellow at the School or Global Studies, Social Science and Planning at RMIT University. His research interests are in modelling and simulation approaches to addressing interdisciplinary problems in conservation science. Currently, he is working on a project that aims to develop a more strategic approach to conservation planning in complex urban fringe environments where there are multiple stakeholders with different motives undertaking numerous actions in the presence of severe uncertainty.