What do good governments do when something everyone needs to survive becomes scarce? Do they allow an unregulated market to decide who gets it and who does not? Of course not, says Richard Douthwaite, they ration it so that everyone can be sure of getting a share, exactly as happened with food in World War II.
This is exactly the approach to the oil peak crisis that is being promoted by Feasta, an international network of people working to establish the paths the world needs to take to become truly sustainable. ‘We’re worried that if something isn’t done quickly, the rich will be running their 4x4’s on biofuels grown on land which used to grow food for the poor,’ says Richard, co-founder of the organisation which is based in Dublin.
To avoid this, Feasta is proposing that each country should put a limit on the amount of fossil energy it uses and calculate how much greenhouse gas its combustion would release. ‘The rights to release the emissions are then shared equally among the whole population,’ Richard says. ‘When people receive their emissions rations, they immediately sell them at the bank or the post office. The banks sell on the emissions permits to companies wishing to import fossil fuel or wanting to buy it from the operators of a well or a mine in the country concerned.‘
By restricting the number of these emissions permits issued each year, governments can ensure that those who use very little fossil energy, both directly and indirectly, receive more for the sale of their permits than they pay in increased costs for their transport, food and fuel. Those people using a lot of energy would have to pay appreciably more for the privilege than they would receive from selling their permits.
The proposal was discussed at a recent meeting of the World Council of Churches, in Kenya, and received a good reception in South Africa after being launched at their National Climate Change Conference.
Contact: Feasta, 10a Lower
Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 4053615
Email: website@​feasta.​org
Website: www​.feasta​.org