Another NGO intent on denying that the transformation change required is transition to zero population growth

The "New Economy Coalition" appears dedicated to Population Growth Denial

I recently communicated with Bob Massie (who deserves great respect for his many achievements). He is a US Episcopal priest, author, social activist and ex-President of the New Economy Coalition. He has also been a political candidate. He spoke at a 350.org meeting in Melbourne. I raised the need to recognise that a root cause of the last century of economic growth and environmental devastation has been extreme population growth and unscientific silence on this subject amongst organisations such as his. He responded by saying "I appreciate your views but I simply don’t agree with them." It is a pattern of behaviour amongst population growth deniers to characterise scientific facts as "views" and their own dogma as "fact". But when it suits them they will rely on the scientific facts of global warming to jump onto this bandwagon as a vehicle for their unscientific ideology. There is no doubt that climate change is occurring, and there is also no doubt that population growth has been a root cause. We need to break the back of duplicitous population growth denial once and for all if the so-called "New Economy" is to have any hope of survival. This problem is above politics and above ideology. It is a scientific fact. Of particular concern was Bob's response that the UN predict population will level off at around 10 billion. The UN actually has no idea. One UN scenario predicts 16 billion by 2100 on a steeply escalating trend. This problem cannot be solved by denial and neglect; just as emissions cannot be reduced by climate change denial and neglect.

So here we have a gentleman who "during his career has created or led three ground-breaking sustainability organizations, serving as the president of Ceres (the largest coalition of investors and environmental groups in the United States), the co-founder and first chair of the Global Reporting Initiative, and the initiator of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, which currently has over 100 members with combined assets of over $10 trillion."

Yet he does not agree that population growth is a root cause of the world's humanitarian and sustainability problems? Reading the mantra below one could be forgiven for interpreting it as a political movement that ignores the role of population growth in creating the momentum for global capitalism. The mantra alludes to some kind of socialist political solution to a problem that cannot be solved without transition to zero population growth. Furthermore; as long as we have leaders dedicated to population growth denial and politicisation of the issue it will never be solved.

"The mission of the New Economy Coalition (NEC) is to convene and support all those who might contribute to an economy that is restorative to people, place, and planet, and that operates according to principles of democracy, justice and appropriate scale. Faced with interconnected ecological and economic crises, we believe that shared prosperity, sustainability and an equitable society require deep, systemic changes to both our economy and our politics. We support a just transition to a new economy that enables both thriving communities and ecological health.

Today, the majority of people are deprived of a voice in political and economic life. Fundamental flaws in the political economic system permit the concentration of resources and power, exacerbating inequality and destroying ecosystems. The beneficiaries of this system obstruct efforts to restore communities and livelihoods. These crises are poisoning our water, air, and land; creating climate chaos; and driving millions into disease and poverty.

The old models have not delivered. Something new is required.

Many people are currently working on components of a new economy, but too often their efforts remain fragmented and outside the mainstream of public discourse. Out of these hundreds of efforts a movement is emerging, but we must pull together to build the power necessary to take on the existing system and usher in an alternative. NEC’s objectives are to spread a new story about whom the economy serves, to facilitate the development of economic alternatives, and to engage coalition members in creating the conditions for transformational change. We offer one another the opportunity to engage with diverse constituencies, amplify our stories, and mobilize support for existing work and new collaborations.

We believe it is possible to bring about a new economy. Many strategies are already available, and more are emerging every day. But policy and models are meaningless without the will and capacity to implement them. It is possible to realize a new paradigm of equity and ecological health through a movement supported by a broad base of people committed to transformative change.

NEC is a network of individuals and organizations interacting within a broad framework of shared objectives, open to many perspectives and ideas. We share a commitment to working across differences to change the political economic system through mutual learning and collaborative action."