In response to my column on degrowth, Simin Williams misquotes Mike Joy as saying he would vote for no political party. He said he would vote for whichever he disliked the least, which is quite different.
In his criticisms of parties he did not shy away from including the Greens. Central to his presentation was that green growth, and net zero, on their own are mistaken goals. I say on their own: they become valid if we also have degrowth. Degrowth is the only strategy that’s fast enough, but also requires the development of alternatives.
Pragmatically, the Green Party in Parliament has focused on areas where it can be influential, which, until they get a bigger vote, is extremely limiting.
However, outside Parliament, the members have stronger views, and continue to build the policy, which is entirely member-based, in the direction of degrowth. Dr Joy pointed out that the party has a degrowth network, and I may point out that he explicitly supports it.
Outside Parliament the leaders have adamantly expressed the same vision, longing to achieve much more for our survival, and much faster. Hence the slogan, The Time is Now.
