Greens call for new economic principles for Glasgow

Despite the unprecedented challenges of recession, climate change and peak oil, Glasgow City Council has been pursuing a narrow consumerist vision of Glasgow’s future.

Along with Glasgow’s Green Councillors, I’m calling for a radical new approach to the economic development of the city. The ‘old ways’ have been demonstrated to have failed and we need to look instead to the “Prosperity without growth” model proposed by the Government thinktank, the Sustainable Development Commission. The Green New Deal is also proposed as the foundation for the emergence of a resilient low carbon economy for the city. This year we’ve published our alternative view in response to the Labour administration’s annual State of the City Economy statement.

Bailie Dr Nina Baker, editor of the Greens booklet on their economic views for the city, said “The old ways of doing things have repeatedly exposed the fragility of the city. We focus too much on one sector and on attracting big outside companies. If that sector has problems or those companies lose money, Glasgow cannot control the effects those problems have on the city. We believe a more varied approach, with more nurturing of SMEs and local enterprises would be far more resilient”.

MSP Patrick Harvie said” Around the world Greens are making the case for a different kind of economy. It’s an approach that’s urgently needed, not just to safeguard our environment, but to ensure better quality of life for everyone we share it with.”