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George Monbiot: This Economic Panic Is Pushing the Planet Right Back Down the Agenda

Environment (tags: climate change, recession )

Dave
- 102 days ago - guardian.co.uk

<p>As recession looms, a consensus has formed that governments now face a choice between saving the planet or saving the economy, and pale green policies look unlikely to hold in the oil-dependent countries that are focused on growth at all costs.</p>

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Comments

Pekka Räsänen (44)

Tuesday July 1, 2008, 4:01 am
Thanks Dave! good article

Stephanie Colson (245)

Tuesday July 1, 2008, 4:45 am
Rock and a hard place I know finacially were are suffering but to not help our planet??? Messed up is it not???

Big gorilly Hugs

But I could do without somethings to help with the planet....

Dave K. (0)

Tuesday July 1, 2008, 6:01 am
It's interesting to see the differences in prognosis for the current 'green squeeze' between George Monbiot and Rajendra Pachauri (see The world's will to tackle climate change is irresistible).

I really do hope that Pachauri's optimism that public awareness and the rising oil prices make renewable alternatives far more attractive is not misplaced. But equally, with the politicians already talking of things suck as fuel tax holidays and carbon trading exemptions, it seems that Monbiot may sadly be closer to the mark.

Maybe now is the perfect time for true leadership from someone who realises that the economy and the environment are thoroughly intertwined, and that those of us living in the richer parts of the world need to sacrifice some of our unsustainable levels of wealth today in order to secure an ongoing decent standard of living for as many people as possible in the future.