Universal Public Services

Universal Public Services

Crisis

Recently even prominent mainstream economists have realised that inflation is, in essence, a distributional conflict.

Wealthy economies have high levels of production, with resource and energy use vastly exceeding sustainable boundaries, but they still fail to meet many basic human needs.

The social crisis and the climate crisis can and must be solved together, increases of cost of living driven by the climate crisis are a long-term and escalating phenomenon.

Plan

Ecological economists argue that one of the best ways to deal with this problem is to establish universal public services. Public services mobilise production around human needs and well-being, and can deliver strong social outcomes with lower levels of resource and energy use. It also enables a more rapid, coordinated shift to more sustainable systems.

By decommodifying and democratising key sectors such as food, mobility and housing, we can solve the cost-of-living crisis – by directly reducing prices – and help solve the climate crisis at the same time.

Food

From major driver of ecological breakdown to universal access to sustainable, nutritious, affordable, vegetarian foods.

Transport

Localizing production and reducing less-necessary goods. Public transit with less energy and economic resilience.

Housing

Single biggest budget item for most people, driven by commodification and financialisation of housing as an asset class and major driver of emissions.

Socialising the rental sector, insulate and retrofit existing buildings.

End of the month and end of the world, are the same struggle.