Simon Myers on sustainability

In an issue of INFO magazine dedicated to all things green, Simon highlights the need to move towards a more sustainable economic model as he compares the British and French approaches to green economy.

Different paths towards a common goal: UK vs. France

We need to move towards a more sustainable economic model, but whose responsibility is it?

Despite the current financial crisis there is widespread understanding at a consumer level in both the UK and France that we need to move towards a more sustainable economic model that operates within the constraints of one planet for the good of all. The big question is of course how are we going to get there? Who is going to make this happen?

Both countries approach to bringing about a more sustainable economy have a lot in common, both being mature economies, part of the EU and subject to the relevant environmental directives and laws. However I think it is interesting to reflect on the differences and how they are influenced by French and British socio-cultural-political traditions.

For years in the UK, the change has been led by think-tanks and independent campaign groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, Friends of the Earth and Christian Aid. Vocal, visible and relatively well funded they have attempted to capture the imagination of the public as a means of putting pressure on UK government to take specific action. Recently, all the main supermarkets have been engaged in implementing (and celebrating) programmes that reduce their carbon footprint as well as introducing more sustainable practices. (e.g. M&S Plan A)

This represents a British approach that does not believe that the government, or any government, can really be trusted to take the necessary action if left to its own devices. It will be up to individuals, consumers, us, and business. Many government announcements confirm this situation by seeking to find ways to get businesses and consumers to ‘share the burden’. Leadership in short comes from below, not above.

In France, there seems to be a more confident state apparatus as well as a long list of global environment and energy business players - Veolia, GDFSUEZ, Schneider Electric, EDF, are all pursuing a more technocratic approach to building a more sustainable economy. With a powerful engineering heritage as well as an arguably more powerful and confident state function, the answer it seems lies not in getting consumers to change their behaviour but getting on with providing big and bold solutions. From an incredible railway infrastructure to nuclear plants to electric cars to strong government encouragement of ‘bio’.

So, while Britain makes an emotional appeal to the individual to get involved, change habits or sign up; the French are busy taking huge collective decisions on behalf of individuals to produce the necessary change. Perhaps these different nuances make sense in that the UK is a more consumer-consumption orientated society than France and therefore personal behaviour is an issue.

Both countries face the challenge of finding mass solutions and to that end getting people to move from consumers and passive to ‘consum-actor’s who are part of change is a big part of a sustainable future. The most encouraging sign has been the rise of an entrepreneurial class determined to be ‘bright green’ and use new business models and innovative approaches to shift consumption patterns. Here are two to cheer on; in France, Tristan Lecomte and http://www.altereco.com/fr, in the UK http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/, led by Juliet Davenport.

And my favourite in a tough sector with a radical business model, the People’s Supermarket, set up by Arthur Potts Dawson, chef turned social business leader
http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/

Why don’t you pop in, buy something and become a ‘consum-actor?

Words: Simon Myers