Sustainability must be a central goal of governments
Suggestions for action
During the consultation process for the Manifesto, we asked people to suggest actions or innovations that could get democracy to work better for sustainable development, or sustainability. We’ve divided up peoples’ responses in line with the six themes of the Democracy and Sustainability Platform that make up the Manifesto Principles.
On this page, you can read through peoples’ ideas for action to ensure that knowledge is inclusive. We hope that whether you agree with the ideas or not, they get you thinking about what might be needed. We’d like these ideas to inspire you as you plan your own actions to implement the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability.
You can read more here about the Manifesto consultation process, who was involved, and how.
Measuring progress
Developing measures to gauge progress in terms of health, happiness (or Gross National Happiness) and wellbeing, or recognition for the idea of the ‘environmental footprint’
Mejorar la (FIB) Felicidad Interna Bruta, e no el PIB, Producto Interno Bruto Democracia participativa y no representativa; maior preocupación por las perspectivas ambiental, social y cultural en vez de la económica (Spain)
Eliminar los promedios nacionales y sectorizar las estadísticas: e.g, huella de carbón de un hondureño promedio no es indicador ni deja huella del 70% de la población (en pobreza), ni tampoco del 5% de la población que posee gran parte de la riqueza del país (Honduras)
Independently produced sustainability accounts for countries, showing use of natural resources and valuation of long term assets and liabilities” . These sustainability accounts could then become “something that the public can hold politicians to account for (UK)
GDP calculations must be changed to include sustainability (UK)
Govt accounting on “planet living” basis not just carbon accounting (UK)
Ensure sufficiency and wellbeing are the criteria for a successful democracy (not GDP growth) (UK)
Reform of company law
The legislative boundary for private collective (ie corporate) enterprise should be moved ‘from outside the corporation to inside’ (UK)
Revise the extent of limited liability so that there is tangible liability e.g. shareholders bear 25% of liability for damage caused by their companies (UK)
Compulsory expanded company reporting to include measures on sustainability, training and procurement (UK)
Profit maximization on directors in company law to be changed to sustainable benefits and returns for all stakeholders (UK)
Corporate accountability
Accountability of multinationals, as well as governments, to voters and stakeholders (UK)
Corporate social responsibility
Ethical codes need to be strengthened and promoted, especially for promoting sustainable businesses. Multinational businesses are often found to be exploiting local conditions for their own benefits rather taking into account choices of the people. This not only creates disparity within the region, but also promotes corruption, and curtails the socio-economic growth of the within local region (Pakistan)
Community-based social enterprise and innovation ‘beyond money’
economía local: consumo local de productos como única opción contra la crisis económica y para caminar hacia la sostenibilidad (Spain)
Launch of local currencies to keep money circulating in the local economy, such as, in the UK, the Bristol or Stroud or Lewes or Totnes or Brixton pound schemes – with local currencies encouraging people to rethink their relationship with money and the economy, at the same time as supporting local businesses and keeping money circulating locally (UK)
Local exchange trading systems or time banking designed to open up forms of trade not based in money that could foster new friendships and community connections as well as building self and community reliance (UK)
Community based food growing schemes and community gardens
Local initiative; Incredible Edible Todmorden (UK)
Allotment holders in this country seem to offer a working model of mutual support around food production in an industrialized society (UK)
Community owned greengrocers shop (Slaithwaite) – Kirklees, W Yorkshire. Community orchard. Community owned meals on wheels (UK)
Local bakery had also issued ‘bread bonds’ – one loaf for two years in return for a cash investment (UK)
Consumption of local food products
consumo de productos locales (autarquía) (Spain)
Change agents
Social innovators are catalysts for democracy (Thailand)
The potential power of voluntarism (UK)
Focus on needs, not the market
fortalecer e incentivar a construcão de uma nova dinâmica econômica focada nas necessideades das pessoas e não do Mercado (Brazil)
Reform of the financial services sector
Re-regulation of the global banking system (UK)
Destruction of major financial speculative markets (UK)
Banking and finance to be controlled by laws of their nation states, including a cap on size; and the splitting of commercial banking from speculative finance (UK)
Stronger sustainable development institutions
Instalar y adecuar departamentos, instituciones en todas las empresas, corporaciones, entidades e incluso gobiernos de fomento del desarrollo sostenible. Mas coherencia y mas implicación por parte de los trabajadores y masa social (Spain)
I would like to see the concept of SD embedded within the decision making process in local government and national government. So every government department must consider SD whenever they launch a policy or make a significant purchase (UK)
Reinstatement of the UK’s Commission for Sustainable Development to hold the UK government to account (UK)
Office for Sustainability, together with a requirement that all parliamentary bills and policy changes should be reviewed by the Office for Sustainability before debate (UK)
Role played by National Round Tables or Councils for Sustainable Development, citing the example of Finland (Hungary)
Impact assessment
Integrated impact assessment to cover environmental, social, equality, diversity, economic and health issues should be compulsory at national level (in the UK) as in international donor-funded projects (e.g. IMF, World Bank, IFC), and in “new world” nations such as Australia (UK)
Enhanced and dialogic community involvement in decision-making over business industrial and infrastructure projects and give people a stronger role in the policies shaping their lives. Impact assessment mitigation and management plans to involve decision-making about schemes, plans and policies for people in their community localities. A greater public role would be equivalent to further engagement with the democratic process (UK)
Hong Kong’s environmental impact assessment process as an exemplar (UK)
Reform of political funding
There should be more public funding for candidates during elections – with less from private politically motivated sources (UK)
Need for a level playing field for campaign expenditure by political parties (UK)
The ability of politicians to be funded by vested interests (UK)
Democracy can’t be bought – limits needed on private finance for political campaigns & lobbying (UK)
Other resources
National Round Tables or Councils for Sustainable Development
Wales: Future Generations Bill: Better Choices for a Better Future
Casse’s ‘Enough is Enough’: ten policy steps (UK)
In 2010, the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) produced ‘Enough is Enough’ – a collection of policy initiatives, tools, and reforms for an economy that makes enough its goal instead of more. Of the ten proposals, Number four is called ‘Reform the Monetary System’ and refers to centralized control of the money supply, local currencies, and ‘a neutral international currency to replace the reserve currencies in use today’; a proposal which relates in subject matter at least to the suggestion of one UK consultee that there be a single global currency. Number five considers alternatives to GDP (a suggestion which finds resonance in a number of other consultation responses), and number ten, ‘Engaging Politicians and the Media’, includes the suggestion of producing an independent film; a tactic that the launch of the manifesto is itself likely to make use of.
Share your ideas
These are some of the ideas that people came up with during the Manifesto consultation process. You can share your own ideas for practical actions under this theme by completing the Comment box below.
We look forward to hearing from you!
One Response to “Suggestions for action”
Comment on this to Chit Chong
Please note that comments are moderated and therefore will not appear immediately.
In a direct email to the Manifesto Chit Chong says:
“My personal belief is that democracy needs a fundamental shake up if it is to meet the needs of future generations. Unfortunately, democracy really acts in the interest of the voters and as such future generations do not get a look in.
Democracy needs the backing of law and custom to protect the rights of future generations as well as the proxy representation such as Commissioners for Future Generations. The most developed laws that do this is Polly Higgin’s Law on Ecocide so I would nominate that as important work to help democracy protect the rights of future generations.”