Previous posts have focused on my identity- who I am. Who I am is shaped by lived experiences. As readers of earlier blog posts will recall am a childhood medulloblastoma survivor and a Social Innovation Masters (MSc) graduate. As an MSc graduate am frustrated, several actors frustrate me. Writing this blog instead of working on my social enterprise frustrates me. Working a dead-end job frustrates me. Dependency on other people frustrates me. What aggravates me presently is COP26- climate conference. COP26 is essential to the survival of the planet. The fact that COP26 is happening and happening in Glasgow is not the source of my aggravation. The source of my aggravation policymakers are talking and not acting. Additionally am extremely frustrated via the inability or denial of policymakers to accept free-market capitalism as the source of climate change. Furthermore, my aggravation is exemplified via the ploy to use children as a social marketing tool as a last resort because policymakers are too spineless to regulate the free markets.      

The preceding posts took a non-academic writing style. This post, however, shall follow academic best practices. The literature in this blog is informed principally from two Open University modules Doing Economics: People, Markets and Policy and International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics. I have not completed any additional academic research into climate. My knowledge of the subject is second hand or indirect learning.

The main reason for this post is my webpage on the SDGs has been receiving numerous hits in the past few days. Providing readers with clarification on my position on the SDGs was an obligation. I support the UN SDGs. No one should be surprised by that revelation. My first exposure to the SDGs evades me. 2019 the date I started studying Social Innovation with Glasgow Caledonian University possibly. While I have no memory of my first academic paper to reference the SDGs, vividly I recall my introduction to international law and the UN. Brown 2014, p. 60 proposes the UN oversee a “range [of] highly formalised diplomacy”.  Brown’s definition runs parallel to what Green says in his ted talk in 2015. Green focuses on the UN millennium goals, principally the reduction of global poverty. Providing evidence that global poverty in 2015 was 12 per cent of the world’s population, however, Green champions poverty reduction by praising economic growth. I have already said I have no academic background in C0₂^. However, data provided by our world in data shows atmospheric concentrations of CO₂  have continued to rise. I, therefore, suggest an increase in CO₂ emissions is a negative externality of economic growth.

 Yesterday I tweeted asking why

“Has COP26 resulted in everyone becoming so interested in climate action?”

Howie, 2021. 

The answer may lay in Welfare economics.

The relationship between human welfare and different ways of making social choices

Anand, 2014, p. 407

Anand goes on to suggest that

Welfare economics is interested in the philosophical and ethical foundations of our understanding of human welfare and well-being (ibid)

Anand’s use of the word our is interesting. The word choice could suggest an unconsciousness othering. A few world leaders have indeed fallen into the othering trap throughout COP26.   

Unconsciousness othering, however, is understandable, as Kenneth Waltz’s literature is required textbook reading for political students. Waltz’s theory

That there is a rigid distinction to be drawn between domestic and international politics

(Brown, 2014, p. 101)

finds replication in society via the phrase charity starts at home.

To tackle goal 13 of the SDGs- climate change. World leaders are required to do three things. One, incorporate all seventeen SDGs into their climate change plans. Two move away from Kenneth Waltz’s thinking. Three recognise free-market capitalism has been the fundamental cause of CO₂  emissions.

Initially, I was going to write an extended blog. Transitioning from the first section above to the next section on liberalism and global governmentality, however, I will pause for feedback.

If this blog style is to your preference, please comment with constructive feedback.  

References   

Anand, P (2010) ‘Welfare economics and social choice’, in Anand, P, Himmelweit, S, Mackintosh M, Santos C, Simonetti R and Stone H. (Ed[s]) Doing Economics: People, Markets and Policy, Milton Keynes, the Open University

Brown, W (2014) ‘Introducing international relations’, in Brown, W, Corry, O and Czajka, A (ed[s]) in ‘International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics’, Milton Keynes, Open University.

Brown, W (2014) ‘Theoretical reflections: realism and liberalism’, in Brown, W, Corry, O and Czajka, A (ed[s]) in ‘International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics’, Milton Keynes, Open University.

Green, M (2015) how can we make the world a better place by 2030. November. Available at: How We Can Make the World a Better Place by 2030 | Michael Green | TED Talks – YouTube (Accessed: 2 November 2021).  

Howie, D (2021) [Twitter] 1 November 2021. Available at: David Howie BSc, BA(Hons), MSc 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇪🇺 (@Social_equality) / Twitter (Accessed 2 November 2021).