Outcry over the the Economics of Genocide (1994/5)
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GCI's critique of the economics argued in the IPCC Second Assessment Report
Sustained between 1993 & 1995 in the IPCC,
GCI's clash with economists over the the value of life became huge.
UPDATE SIGNATORY LIST ON PROTEST LETTER AGAINST UNEQUAL LIFE EVALUATION BY CLIMATE CHANGE ECONOMISTS IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)
Below is a sign-on letter which GCI has been circulating. Since June, many people and organisations around the world have co-signed this in protest against the actions of some economists now working in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC's Working Group Three (WG3) on "Economic and other Cross-Cutting Issues".
These (mostly OECD) economists have now established the following ideas in the drafts of the IPCC's Second Assessment Report (SAR): -
(a) There will a huge number of deaths as a result of human-induced global climate changes.
(b) These need to be given a cash value (a "damage cost").
(c) The cash value of people's lives around the world is different.
(d) This is because of their differing abilities to pay for damage insurance.
Consequently, the lives of people in poor countries should be substantially discounted in the Global Cost/Benefit Analysis (GCBA) being conducted by IPCC.
The poorer countries have least - or indeed no - responsibility for causing the problems of climate change.
They also cover the regions of the globe where most of the associated deaths will occur. They are also the countries now most blamed for "future impacts".
We do not feel that this aspect of the IPCC's analysis is ethically justifiable or politically prudent.
We therefore ask you and all your colleagues please to consider becoming co-signatories to the attached letter.
Signature collection will also continue until the 1st "Conference of the Parties" (COP) ie the UN Climate Change negotiations in Berlin next March.
"DEFEND THE VALUE OF LIFE" Please co-sign THIS letter to the Conference of the Parties & the IPCC (See here).
"Protecting the world environment requires that development be sustainable. Some time ago main-stream economists
explicitly set out to capture the sustainable development agenda for the economics profession.
In this pursuit and with much public money, they invented the technique they call "global cost/benefit analysis" (G-CBA).
Global warming and the cost and benefits of climate change are now assessed by them in these monetary terms.
And this assessment is being aggressively pushed by the economists in the UN's Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Part of this exercise, they assert, entails giving cash values to human lives. They accept there are going to be hundreds of thousands of
deaths worldwide as a result of global climate changes.
A recent research paper from the UK-Government-funded C-SERGE, the UK's "Centre for the Social and Economic Research of the Global Environment",
(C-SERGE Director David Pearce is also the convening lead author in IPCC on "Social Costs" and has now formally lodged this approach in the IPCC text
(and it has survived the peer review) states that the cash value of a "statistical life" in the EC or the USA is $1,500,000 per head,
but in ("poorer countries" such as) China it is only $150,000.
In GCBA, this means that, as an economist, you help capture the sustainable development agenda for your profession
by discarding a real Chinese life ten times more easily than a real life in the EC or the USA.
Ironically, these lives are now at risk as a result of damage to the global environment for which citizens
in the EC and the USA have been and are at least ten times more responsible per head than citizens in China.
There is, of course, a foreign policy cost associated with this since the population of the EC and the USA
is outnumbered 10-1 by everyone else. The need to value human rights as equal, is prudent as well as perennial."
Aubrey Meyer Global Commons Institute (GCI) Tony Cooper Global Commons Institute (GCI) Richard Douthwaite Global Commons Institute (GCI) Tim Rickman Global Commons Institute (GCI) Joy Pagano Global Commons Institute (GCI) Dan Davenport Global Commons Institute (GCI) Dave Bradney Global Commons Institute (GCI) Nigel Dower Aberdeen University Dept Philos Politics & Int. Relations Antoine Sendama Africa Water Network Sadachari Singh Tomar Agri Energy and Power Institute Bhopal India Bruce McFarling MA Economics (University of Tennessee) Mustafa Pultar Prof. Faculty of Art, Design, Architecture, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkiye Arthur R Barrit Associated Labour Unions, Philippines Peter Kiwummulo Association of Socio Economic Progress Uganda Nirmada Das ASTRA Indian Institute of Science N Ganguli ASTRA Indian Institute of Science S Lokras ASTRA Indian Institute of Science U Shrinivasa ASTRA Indian Institute of Science, Chairman Victor Anderson Author Alternative Economic Indicators Brian Grant National Party of Canada, Pacific Region Tom Athanasiou Sheelagh O'Reilly Bangor University, Centre for Arid Zone Studies Research Fellow Dr. David T. Smernoff Bay Area Action California Louise Say Bradford University Peace Studies M C Mapako Biomass User's Network Technical Director Marielle Savard, British Columbia University, Canada Malachi O Orondo CCDU Kenya Director Professor Graciela Chichilnisky Director, Project on Information and Resources Columbia University Helle Rasmussen Copenhagen Business School Leif Bloch Rasmussen, Copenhagen Business School Neelam Sethi Cornell University Dora Ann Lange Canhos Base de Dados Tropical Fundacao "Andre' Tosello" Brazil Milind Kandlikar Carnegie Mellon Uni, Dept of Engineering & Public Policy D Taylor Centre for Low Input Agriculture, South Africa, Director Koshy Cherail Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India Dr Paul Redfern Centre for the Study of Global Governance LSE UK Cynog Dafis Ceredigion & Pembroke North MP Caree Simmons, Drury College John Hontelez Chairman Friends of the Earth International Paul Spray Christian Aid UK Stan Jones, University of Oregon, USA Dennis Berg, Environmental Studies, CSU, Fullerton Christine Harold Tova Perlmutter John Mead Christian Ecology Link Grace Akumu Climate Network Africa (Kenya) MK Pillai Coir Board India Art Farley Computer and Information Science Uni Oregon USA Per Flensburg Copenhagen Business School Helle Rasmussen Copenhagen Business School Birgitte Bush Copenhagen Business School Leif Bloch Rasmussen, Copenhagen Business School Chris Cuomo Cornell University Science and Technology Studies Ulrich Loenig Edinburgh University Centre for Human Ecology - Dir. Miles Litvinoff Earthscan Action Handbook Author Shelley Braithwaite Earth Action Resource Centre Jonathon Bevan Earth Repair Charter Dan Hinckley Earthweb Project USA Dr John Whitelegg Ecologica Ltd Lancaster UK Nicholas Hildyard Ecologist Magazine Wagaki Mwangi EcoNews Africa Adrian Berwert Environmental Economist Zurich Eugene P. Coyle Energy Analyst San Francisco, California Stephen Law Environmental Monitoring Group, South Africa MK Sharma Educational Media Research Centre, India K R Baskar EMRC - MK University Madurai S India S Rayamarihandan EMRC - MK University Madurai S India S Manukandan EMRC - MK University Madurai S India N Murthipandi EMRC - MK University Madurai S India M Ramkeerthi EMRC - MK University Madurai S India John Gowdy, Professor of Economics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst Troy, New York S V Bajay Energy Planning Co-Ordinator University of Campinas Brazil Youba Sokona Environment and Development in the Third World, IPCC WG3 Lead Author, Mali Chris Chetsanga Environment and Remote Sensing Institute, Zimbabwe Rob Sinclair Environment Liaison Centre International Heinz Greijn Environment Liaison Centre International Jim Berreen Environment Speaker Green Party UK W Fred van Raaij Erasmus University Rotterdam Martin Hogan Essex University Musiliu O Ashiru Forestry Research Institute Nigeria AB Oguntala Forestry Research Institute Nigeria Charles Secrett Friends of the Earth UK Director John Whiting Global Commons Trust UK 31 John Gordon Global Environmental Research Centre Iris Marion Young, Professor Graduate School of Public & International Affairs University of Pittsburgh Titus Alexander Stop Global Apartheid Mike Feinstein Green Party California Patrick Samphire Green Party Colchester Alan Francis Green Party Euro-candidate Beds and Milton Keynes John Morrisey Green Party Executive UK Penny Kemp Green Party Executive UK Susan Miles Green Party Executive UK Penny Shepherd Green Party Executive UK John Morris Green Party Executive UK Miriam Kennett Green Party Executive UK Alex Begg Green Party Executive UK Ron Bailey Green Party Executive UK Darren Johnson Green Party Executive UK Jan Clark Green Party Executive UK David Taylor Green Party Executive UK Kit Brown Midlothian Green Party Ian Morrice Midlothian Green Party Treasurer Scottish Green Party Patricia McKenna Member European Parliament, Comhaontas Glas Eire Richard Howitt Member European Parliament Labour Essex South Nel van Djik Member European Parliament, Groen Links, Netherlands Stan Newens Member European Parliament, London Central Peter Crampton Member European Parliament, Humberside, UK Veronica Hardstaff Member European Parliament, Lincolnshire & Humberside South, UK J Poehlmann Green Party Germany Jan Bojer Vindheim Green Party Norway Peter Doran Green Party of Northern Ireland Region Frank de Jong Green Party of Ontario, leader Mike Woodin Green Party Oxford City Council Mike Woodin Green Party Oxford City Council Claes Roxbergh Green Party Sweden Gosta Lynga Green Party Australia Ian McKenzie Green Party Australia Leeza Dobbie Green Party Australia Brendan Fuller Green Party Australia Karen Alexander Green Party Australia Piers Allbrook Green Party Australia Fran Thompson Green Party Australia Susie Chapman Green Party Australia Deb Foskey Green Party Australia Malcolm Lewis Green Party Australia 32 Loise Crossley Green Party Australia Dr Richard Lawson Health Speaker Green Party UK Oleg Cazanov Independent Ecology-Political Movement Russian Fed Moha Rafi India P J Paul Indian Institute of Science R Prakas Indian Institute of Science K S Jagaduh Indian Institute of Science V Guyathu Indian Institute of Science M Girish Indian Institute of Science K J Dinesh Indian Institute of Science Mahesh Natarajan Indian Institute of Science Donald Winslow Indiana University Department of Biology Phil Ferraro Institute for Bioregional Studies Thomas Pattern Institute of Education London University Thomas Schulze Institute for Energy Economics & the Rational Use of Energy University Stuttgart Dennis Palmini, Professor of Economics Uni Wisconsin-Stevens Point Axel Dorscht Institute for Social Research, Ottawa, Canada Daphne Wysham Institute for Policy Studies Washington V Balu International Energy Initiative Director Bangalore M Ramachandran IREDA New Delhi India, Manager Andrew Samuels Jungian Analyst B R Jagan Karnataka Power Corporation, India Peter Newell Keele University, Dept of international Relations Atiti Okwambitsa KENGO Protection Offi cer Gilbert Arum Kenya Energy & Environment Organisations Dominic Walubengo Kenya Energy & Environment Organizations M S Ramaprashad KIEST India Sarah Hemstock King's College London Frank de Jong Leader Green Party of Ontairo Melanie Jarman Llyods and Midland Boycott Campaign Suchit Nanda Live Wire BBS Bombay India Mark Norman Macclesfield Green Party R S Rajan Madras Piers Stephens Manchester University Philosophy Department Mark Thorp Manchester University Academic Affairs Officer Harry Lesser Manchester University Snr Lecturer Philosophy Department Douglas McArthur Manchester University Snr Lecturer French Department Peter Dorman James Madison College, Michigan State University Blair Sandler, Lorax Political Ecology Study Group California USA Dr. Laura Punnett, Dept. of Work Environment, Univ. Mass. Lowell, USA Oduor Ong'wen Multilateral Development Bank Manuel Cervantes National University of Nicargua Managua 33 Simon Zadek New Economics Foundation UK Martin Saning'o Olkonerei Pastoralist Survival Project Tanzania Mike Smith Oxford University Philosophy Dept Sharad Lele Pacific Institute Berkeley USA, Doctor Julio K Prime Panama Dr Julian E Salt Peace Studies Dept University of Bradford S K Arthikeyan PMT PVT Ltd Jon Scott Prof & Chairman Atmospheric Sc. Univ. at Albany New York Ian Douglas Prof School of Geography Manchester University Ian Ramsey Rainforest Action Group Scotland Angie Zelter Reforest the Earth Brendan Hill Reforesting Scotland Andy Wightman Reforesting Scotland Alastair McIntosh Reforesting Scotland Development Director Tim Lenton Robinson College Cambridge University Jose Nicolas Rural Enterprise Development Fdn Philippines M K Raja Samrat Engineering Peter Lauchmonen Sarvodaya Development Organisation, Zimbabwe Wanda S. Ballentine Save Our Ozone Keekok Lee Snr lecturer Philosophy Department Manchester Uni N H Ravindranath Snr Sc Officer Indian Institute of Science R Marston Sterling University Dept of Environmental Science Dr Gerald Leach Stockholm Environment Institute Toby Champion Sussex University Martin Khor Director Third World Network Buhler Reea Umwelt und Energie, Dorfli Arnaldo Walter University of Campinas Brazil Stan Jones, University of Oregon, USA David Barkin Professor of Economics Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City Chris Tilly Assoc Professor economist Dept of Policy and Planning University of Massachusetts John Barkham University of East Anglia Snr lecturer Sch of Environment Sc. Electo Silva Lora University of Oriente Cuba Alan Long VEGA UK George Monbiot Visiting lecturer Green College Oxford UK Ann Heidenreich World Council of Churches Tom Wakeford York University Biology Department UK Ernst von Weizsacker Wuppertal Institute President Mechtild Schmedders Wuppertal Institute Christopher Manstein Wuppertal Institute Marcus Stewen Wuppertal Institute/University of Mainz Nese Yawuz Wuppertal Institute 34 Meike Kolsch Wuppertal Institute Thomas Merten Institut Arbeit und Technik Lorenz Kneser Wuppertal Institute Hans Peter Durr Max Planck Institut fur Physik Annegret Falter VDW Ulrich Albrecht Freie Universitat Berlin Andreas Buro JW Goethe Universitat Frankfurt Johns Behrmann Max Planck Institut Heinrich Schiemann Pensionene des ZDF Constanze Eisenbart VDW Roland Vogl Staatshanglenland Brandenburg Helga Ehlers Freie Journalisten HE Gumlich TU Berlin Bernd Hamm Universitat Trier Olaf Joachim Universitat Bonn Ulrich Bartosch Universitat Regensburg HJ Fischbeck EV Akademie Mulheim Christiane Busch Luty Universitat der Bundeswehr, Munchen Charles Levenstein, Ph. D. Professor of Work Environment Policy University of Massachusetts Lowell Fotine Fahouris Member WWF Greece Robert Rubin Bernhards Wiebel Ruhr Universitat, Bochum Zia van der Veen Dr Warren Andrew Chang David Carter Odette Berger Andrew Ridell Peter Alcock Ian Boote Graham Reid Gurinder Shahi S Iniyan Patrick Mann Organic Farmer Jacqueline Florek, Issues Specialist, USA George Silva Ramona McCoy Blair Irvine Nancy Glass Markku Oksanen Heikki Patom Kenneth Scott (USA) Toni Vidan Zelewa Arcia Zagreb Andrea Ersek Zagreb Marin Kiriwck Kristina Markowic Zelewa Arcia Zagreb Maja Bogunovic Zelewa Arcia Zagreb Eva Kaufmann VIRUS Vienna Wolfgang Rehm VIRUS Vienna 35 Karl Brandnek VIRUS Vienna Ernst Lamar Endery Vienna Maria Bayer Siemensk Vienna Michaela Hoffman Siemensk Vienna Michael F Herder Vienna Tomas Cerny Vienna Marcus Windhaber Gymnasium Vienna Ivoneta Diethart Bernhard Baumann Vienna Evelyn Magletner Vienna Angelica Tesak Vienna Jet van Hailsma ASEED Holland Chrissa Pearson Prague Stephanie Howard Prague Erika Welge Kulturne Socialni Centrum Prague Hellmuth-Christian Stuven Denmark Brian Grant Claire Gilbert Blazing Tattles late arrivals Anand Patwardhan Department of Engineering and Public Policy Carnegie Mellon University Ellen Schmidt Greenpeace International Climate and Energy Campigner
The advice from a friends was, "don't ever give up!"
It led to addressing the numeraire question
- GCI's critique was upheld in IPCC_SAR
- Globally the poor are more 'carbon-efficient' than the rich
- The 3 in 1 Trefoil
- Usury
- Uneconomic Growth Disorder
- The economics of genocide
- Genocide by any other name (then)
- Genocide by any other name (now)
- bankruptcy lay ahead unless the problem was solved and
- the problem was insoluble without Contraction & Convergence
In the Carbon Budget Analysis Tool (CBAT)
the rates and ratios of climate-damages to growth
are starkly straightforward in CBAT Domain 4 . . .
The rate of economic growth minus the rate of climate-damages
potentially overwhelms the economy within decades . . . .
This was already clear and publicy stated at COP-6
by leading members of the global Insurance Industry.
In 2021 the situation now critical looks like this.
