More than six months after writing an article on system change, I feel the need to slightly update it.

Not that much has changed for the good in the world. Famine, drought, thirst, floods, forest felling and forest fires, no decrease in fossil fuel use, more greenhouse gas emissions, further poisoned, polluted and acidified oceans, more and more extinct animals and plants, overconsumption, continued focus on economic growth, for many countries a growing ecological footprint…

Soon the 7th planetary boundary will be crossed…. 7 out of 9 !

Much talk, little action. In a month, COP29, the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference. We know that the most important agreements, initiatives and promises of the past are NOT fulfilled. Not by far. Yet again governments, environmental organisations AND lobbyists from fossil fuel producers and intensive livestock companies, among others, are trying to reach a new agreement with new ambitions, promises and agreements…

That all sounds far from positive…

Indeed, on a global scale there is no positive news regarding the health of the earth.
Of course, there are lots of good local initiatives and projects. But on a large scale? No. Unfortunately…

So then we might as well stop trying ?

No, I absolutely don’t think so. We are obliged to the future, obliged to the people who do live within the boundaries of the earth, to try to limit the damage. To change our consuming behaviour.

My updated March 2024 article:

System Change, we need Systemic Change !

This is what you read and hear more and more often. In comments, articles and discussions about the state of the Earth's health, about the alarmingly rapid change in our climate, about the crossing of more and more planetary boundaries.

And that alongside, of course, the call for Degrowth. The call for saying goodbye to our capitalist society, focused purely on economic growth. For a new economy that puts planet and nature first (people always say: planet and people first, but I prefer planet and nature, with people as a modest part of nature…).

So what is this system change?

Insofar as you can and may explain a very complex change in a few simple phrases:

That we need to move from an economy/society based on growth and profit, to one that puts well-being of nature -and humans as part of nature- first.

It also implies a change of most of the subsystems in our society. And these are at the same time also a major reason for the need for systemic change. And that’s because those subsystems are having a very hard time. Or are even in danger of collapsing: food supply, healthcare, education...

But it also means a change in society, a change in your and my behaviour. From ego-centric to eco-centric. And we all know how complicated radical behavioural change is, don't we?

Do we need to?

And is that necessary, that change?

Look around you, and then ask again. But if you don't know, or your answer is no, watch the documentary Ten Billion (2015). And read a recent risk assessment by the EEA (European Environment Agency).

I won't go into what that economy should look like. Many economists are racking their brains over this, various different models have been developed. And as always, some sounding more attractive and feasible than others. I am not an economist. So I do wiser to let the economists do their important work without bothering them with amateur theories.
And I hope we will also read at some point HOW to transition to such a new economic system….

What matters to me now is the word CHANGE.

The road to change

What is almost always missing from blogs and articles saying (or even SHOUTING) that we need (systemic) change and / or degrowth, is HOW we are going to bring about that change. And when you ask, people point to the government, or to large corporations.

I can assure you that there is no government of a rich country now and in the coming years that is going to voluntarily tell its inhabitants to reduce their consumption by 80% within a few years. And that there is no government of a developing country that is going to voluntarily tell its inhabitants to stop all economic growth. Both are equivalent to (political) suicide…. Rebellion that demands this of them will be (and already is) brutally suppressed.

Nor is there any company that is going to voluntarily reduce its profit target to a level that is just enough for the contiuity of the company. Nor will there be any publicly traded companies that will voluntarily abandon all growth plans insofar as the do not serve the welfare of the earth and all that live on it.

So how do you change a fossil-fuel engine into an electric motor? (Nice comparison with our economy, don't you think?)

If I may give you some heartfelt and urgent advice: don't do that while the engine is still running at full speed. You'll burn your hands or get completely trapped between the moving parts (think Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times...). Another major risk is that the engine blows itself up completely.

You have to turn the motor off first. Or at least run it very, very, very slowly and disconnect it from the drive.

The missing switch

There is no on-off switch on our economy. So turning it off will have to be done by stopping the fuel supply: (over)consumption.

Whatever keeps our current economy running (and we all know there are a lot of factors, from indecisive governments that keep pushing growth, to companies that want/need to generate high profits for their shareholders), (over)consuming is the fuel, the people who keep buying. You and me.

All the major problems in our modern world have been caused by humans and their overconsumption. In other words, once humanity started consuming more than what the earth could (re)generate and process in terms of raw materials, energy for production and transport and ‘digesting’ our dirt and waste, problems arose and then grew at a rapid and accelerating pace.

Stop fuelling the system

So…
Systemic change, for an economy no longer based on growth and profit, requires that we stop throwing fuel into the engine. We need to stop overconsuming and the associated depletion and pollution and poisoning of the earth.

The questions I would ask anyone talking about system change and Degrowth are: how big is your ecological footprint? If it isn't now, when will it be smaller than one earth, so that you are ready for change and the current rotten system is not fuelled by your overconsumption? How do you think we can cure the rest of humanity suffering from overconsumption?

And to all the economists designing new economic models: How do you see the transition? Are you yourself ready to step into your new economic model yet?

And to you: do you already know how big your ecological footprint is? Are you ready to make that footprint (much) smaller so that the lesser fortuned of this earth and future generations can have a slightly better life?

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Rebellion?

How credible are we when we call for Degrowth and System Change when our own ecological footprint is much larger than 1 earth, when we ourself are not even able to keep our consumption within the limits we ask for?

Is our consumption then dependent on what a government allows, on what a company produces? You can't be serious about that....

Or is a government a representative of you and corporations depend on your need and desire to consume? That's how it should be, right? Step out of your victim role, take matters into your own hands.

Regardless of all other considerations of politics and business: as long as you keep overconsuming, they will keep overproducing and striving for economic growth.

Degrowth and System Change are NOT about government and corporations. It is about YOU and ME. If our ecological footprint is greatly reduced, they will follow, support and facilitate. They then have no other choice.

Preparing for change

I have no doubt that systemic change is urgently needed, and that it will happen. Voluntarily, by our own actions in solidarity with all fellow human beings, freeing ourselves from all differences and disputes...
Or forced by circumstances and disasters if we wait too long and continue with the current system.
So we had better start preparing for that change as soon as possible, start 'living degrowth'. First individually, you and I. And then collectively, within our family, circle of friends, community….
And as we thus change the system from within, we simultaneously build resilience to cope with the changes in our living conditions that come from without.

Live the change you want to see, right?

Over the past 10 years, my wife and I have worked hard to change our lives to one that is much less consuming, much more sustainable and even somewhat regenerative.

It is not an easy road, but it is very rewarding, because we feel healthy, inspired and able to inspire others, and more in tune with the earth and nature (for which you really don't have to live IN nature !).
Do we miss the luxury of buying and owning? Sometimes, yes. But generally, no. Because we still own what is really important to us, and not owning more than that is a liberation, allows us to breathe freely.

Want to know more detailed what we have done to reduce our ecological footprint, so that you can reduce yours and prepare yourself for a new economy and society, and perhaps be an example and be a help to others around you?

Just ask me...

I'm here every day.
Write a comment, or send me a message with your comments, questions, tips.

You will find a lot of information on this website and out there on the net. But opinions are divided on every film or publication. If you want or need more background: watch a lot, read a lot, and form your own opinion.

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'System Change (4)' is an artwork in my collection 'Drowned Earth', prints are available, please send me a message to receive a quote.

ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING

Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…

So do you want to know your ecological footprint? 

Then visit this website: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en 

And do you want to reduce your ecological footprint?

Then ask me, I will help you. For free. Or simply visit my website and choose in the menu for Your Footprint.

And if you appreciate my writings and art and want to support me, you can buy me a piece of fruit here: https://ko-fi.com/jacobberghoef, thank you 🍏 !

Interested in more? Then read what I wrote about System Change (1), Man's impact on the earth, Organic Change, Regenerative Agriculture, Regeneration