Chomsky and Pollin in Japan: Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal
Time: December 12th, 2021, 10:00AM – 12:00PM (Japanese Standard Time)
Venue: Register online for free (a Zoom link will be sent to registered guests at a later date)
Keynote: Noam Chomsky (Laureate Professor of Linguistics, University of Arizona), Robert Pollin (Distinguished University Professor of Economics, University
of Massachusetts Amherst)
Moderator: Uiko Hasegawa (Green New Deal for Japan)
Organizer：Green New Deal for Japan https://green-new-deal.jimdofree.com/
Event page：https://bit.ly/3ciJFCd
Registration Form：https://chomskypollingreennewdeal.peatix.com/
※Simultaneous interpretation (English <-> Japanese) will be provided.
※The above time is according to JST; please make sure to check your corresponding local time.
Celebrating the publication of the Japanese edition of Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal, Green New Deal for Japan is delighted to host this special launch event with Professors
Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin as keynote speakers.
The climate crisis can be solved, but only if workers and activists from around the world organize to force leaders to take decisive climate action. In this powerful book, Professors Chomsky
and Pollin outline the Global Green New Deal project, lay out a concrete program for its implementation, and conclude with a motto from Antonio Gramsci: “Pessimism of the mind, optimism of
the will.”
As one of the worst cumulative greenhouse gas emitters as well as one of the most carbon-intensive economies in the world, Japan has an historical responsibility to play a leading role in the
Global Green New Deal project. Yet the inaction of Japanese leaders has been honored by two consecutive Fossil of the Day Awards in 2020 and 2021. Moreover, public opinion polls suggest that
Japanese people are knowledgeable about the reality of anthropogenic climate change and its consequences, yet are reluctant to participate in democratic politics and are instead focused on
market-based solutions. Moreover, polls show that Japanese people consider climate solutions to be harmful, rather than beneficial, to their economic well-being.
Is there a way to harness the latent political energy of the Japanese public with an effective international climate solution, one that increases the number of high-quality jobs while also
putting Japan and the rest of the world on a path to a decarbonized economy? How can workers and activists organize to push for climate justice against the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party
establishment? How can the Japanese public pressure fossil fuel companies to stop their imperialistic and neo-colonialist expansion (in the name of “trade” and “business”) into Southeast
Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam? What lessons can the Japanese people learn from political struggles abroad, such as those in the United States?
Join us for what is sure to be a galvanizing public event on the climate crisis and the Global Green New Deal
Green New Deal for Japan
Today, the world is facing an unprecedented crisis, not only in terms of rising inequality and poverty and climate change, but also in terms of
pandemic caused by a new type of corona virus.
Our Study Group was established in July 2020 by a group of researchers, non-partisan political figures, and members involved in diverse civic movements to study and advocate for the transformation of the Green New Deal into a sustainable and just society and economy, and for a new post-Corona world. In particular, we aim to create and propose a Japanese version of the Green New Deal based on anti-austerity economic theory, which is espoused by progressive political forces around the world.
Articles
Strengths and Limitations of the Korean Green New Deal
In July 2020, the South Korean government announced its New Deal, which included a list of investment projects to propel the country into a green economy. However, emissions targets for 2050 were only unveiled three months later, and despite this positive sign, there is much work still to be done to solidify concrete policy measures towards a carbon neutral society.
Anti-Austerity Green New Deal: A Recovery Plan After the Pandemic
Commentary
The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a global recession. What should a pandemic recovery plan look like, and where should public spending be allocated to for a true recovery? An anti-austerity Green New Deal is expected to overcome a twin crises of inequality/poverty and climate change.
Anti-Austerity Green New Deal: A Recovery Plan After the Pandemic 9 April 2021 By Hasegawa Uiko
Webinar East Asia After the Pandemic Green New Deal & Green Recovery
Webinar East Asia After the Pandemic Green New Deal & Green Recovery：It was a success, Thank you for joining us.
The ENG and JPN versions of the discussion paper and the transcript of the Q&A can be DL HERE.
What should a pandemic recovery plan look like, and where should public spending be allocated to? Rather than simply returning to a pre-pandemic status quo, a true recovery should help us overcome the twin crises of inequality/poverty and climate change. In short, what would a Green New Deal look like for East Asian countries? In this webinar, we will learn from speakers with expertise in climate change and environmental policies in South Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan about the current status and challenges of green policies that are key to rebuilding better.
PARK , HASEGAWA and MATSUO "On the Anti-Austerity Green New Deal"
In response to the climate crisis and the growing inequality and poverty due to neoliberalism, a series of anti-austerity Green New Deal (GND) proposals have been presented in Europe and the United States since 2018. A GND is a radical policy approach combining environmental and economic policies. In order to mitigate climate change, the transition to a zero-carbon society needs to happen in a shorter timespan than was previously anticipated. Addressing this need, the GND calls for massive investments while also keeping in mind the ‘just transition’ of jobs as well as the rectification of injustices related to wealth, gender, race, generation and so forth. The approach is based on an anti-austerity economic theory, meaning that its main source of funding is not additional taxes but rather the mobilisation of large-scale private-sector funds (e.g. pension funds) and, for countries whose governments have the power to create money, deficit spending.
To cite this article: PARK Seung-Joon, Uiko HASEGAWA and Tadasu MATSUO (2020) “On the Anti-Austerity Green New Deal”, Review of Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, 2020, 13(1), pp. 27-41
Translation: Kenji Hayakawa
Supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Hong Kong Regional Office
Why Japan Needs an Anti-Austerity Green New Deal After Covid-19
Covid-19 has shown us the limits of our current socio-economic structure and the neoclassical economics upon which it is based. We can no longer rely on centrist politics with a neoliberal bent, or on the fallacy of ‘balancing the budget’, to fully overcome this crisis. It is time for the progressive left to put forth a Green New Deal for economic recovery and take on the climate crisis, the economic crisis and the inequalities of our time.
Why Japan Needs an Anti-Austerity Green New Deal After Covid-19
28 July 2020 By Hasegawa UikoHeinrich Boell Stiftung Hong Kong
What is anti-austerity Green New Deal?
The Green New Deal is a policy aiming to overcome the environmental and economic crisis.
The first wave was the "green" economic and growth strategy launched by the United Nations and other countries against the backdrop of global financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers’. The prime example was President Obama's policy of investing in renewable energy to create jobs as a key policy in his presidential campaign. However, President Obama's stimulus package, implemented after his inauguration, had to be scaled back due to congressional resistance based on criticism for the growing budget deficit, and the Green New Deal lost momentum.
Ten years later, in 2018, a new wave of Green New Deal came, as a Green New Deal based on anti-austerity economic theory.
The anti-austerity Green New Deal has been advocated by progressive political forces around the world, including Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, the leading politicians of the US Democratic Party, Corbyn, the former leader of the British Labour Party, and Varoufakis, the former finance minister of Greece and current member of parliament. And it has been received widely.
The anti-austerity Green New Deal not only calls for a response to the austerity measures brought about by neoliberalism and a shift to sustainable social and economic structures, but also for a bold change in thinking. While setting ambitious carbon reduction, renewable energy and energy conservation targets, the Green New Deal also calls for a just transition to a low-carbon economy and a massive investment in public finances, unconstrained by tax revenues or fiscal discipline, based on anti-austerity economic theory. It's a highly innovative and comprehensive strategy that seeks to reduce the disparity between developed and developing countries, as well as income disparity. It also aims to redress all inequalities, such as that based on race and gender.
Members
Steering Committee
Tetsuji Nakamura
【Affiliation】Executive Director of APSIP (Association for the Promotion of International Human Resources) / Former member of the House of Councilors
【Field of expertise】National politics
【Message】
There are many things that Japan can do to make the world more sustainable. Japan is the world's largest net creditor nation. If Japan can use its credit power and provide developing countries with financial resources for the Green New Deal, Japan can lead the world's environmental policies. Our study group will continue to propose policies that will bring smiles to the people in Japan and around the world.
Seung-Jun Park
【Affiliation】Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University
【Field of expertise】Environment, Anti-Austerity Economy, Energy
【Message】
I went to Germany to study environmental taxation and energy policy, and I saw the Green Party join a coalition government and implement one environmental policy after another. It was then that I realized that it is possible to make environmental and economic policies compatible. Now is a time we need a guideline to help us overcome these two crises, because inequality, poverty are growing and climate change is accelerating its pace. I am convinced that this is what the Green New Deal is all about.
Uiko Hasegawa
【Affiliation】Representative of the NGO and Former co-representative of the Green's Japan
【Field of expertise】Environment, Anti-Austerity Economy, Gender
【Message】
We are now facing an unprecedented crisis: new coronaviruses and climate change. Throughout history, human civilization has been transformed by climate change, such as the Little Ice Age, and by epidemics such as the plague. Truly, we are at a turning point in our history. I would like to study and propose anti-austerity GND as a post-corona guideline and policy for transforming the social and economic structure to a more sustainable and just one.
Cargo
【Affiliation】Musician
【Field of expertise】Anti-austerity economy【Message】
My favorite color is green.
For the past few years, I've been following the flagship of the Green New Deal in the United States, Bernie Sanders, Stephanie Kelton and Ocasio-Cortez.
The essence of the Green New Deal is "Just Transition for a Fair Workforce" (Just Transition). I'm excited about the new possibilities.
Head of Translation Team
Ichiro Yamazaki
【Affiliation】Nonprofit organization "Sumoto Kyousei Network
【Field of expertise】Energy
【Message】
The Green New Deal is a movement that started in the United States, so it is important to obtain and learn information from Europe and the United States first. Translating the information and materials will be extremely important, and I hope I can help with this task. I would like to select the most timely source material, translate it quickly and accurately, and devise a way for everyone to read it, and work together as a team.
Advisor
Kayoko Ikeda
【Affiliation】Translator
【Field of expertise】German literature and society
Kai Kajitani
【Affiliation】Professor, Kobe University
【Field of expertise】Contemporary Chinese Economy
Kazuaki Sato
【Affiliation】Associate Professor, Iwate University
【Field of expertise】Environmental taxation, local and childcare finance
Akiko Oishi
【Affiliation】Oto-Kurashi-Design Institute / Reiva Shinsengumi, Osaka 5th District
【Field of expertise】Public administration
Nonoue Ai
【Affiliation】Member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly
【Field of expertise】Local government, referendum, transportation policy
【Message】
Towards establishing a Green New Deal policy in the post-corona/with corona era.
In a world hit hard by the new coronavirus infection, the global consensus is that large-scale fiscal stimulus is essential for livelihood security and economic structural change.
When we think about what we need to mobilize public funds for, including future industrial policies, we believe that we need to work towards building a sustainable global environment with the Green New Deal as a major pillar.
Kazuhiro Shirasaki
【Affiliation】Director of BI Society of Japan
【Field of expertise】Basic Income
【Message】
For my generation, Ivan Illich is remembered as an impressive thinker who worked in the 1970s, the turning point of American-style capitalism and its sub-genre, Japan's rapid economic growth. In the epigraph of his book Energy and Fairness, the words "Socialism will arrive on a bicycle" appear in the epigraph of his book. Looking back at my own trajectory up to this point, I can safely say that I have acted with a mutual understanding of the meaning of "socialism" and "coming by bicycle" in parentheses. In terms of movement theory, I have been wavering between the two extremes of "social-democratic environmentalism" and "post-state ecological community movement" against the backdrop of the parliamentary party system. As such, I am beginning to think that I might be able to bring those ideological wanderings together with monetary system reform (monetary reform) and basic income (the national dividend) over the past decade. I am not sure how much I can be of help to the GND Policy Study Group, but I am looking forward to learning and discussing together with you. I am looking forward to it. Please look forward to it.
Masayoshi Iyota
【Affiliation】Part-time lecturer at Osaka Seikei University/work for a climate change NGO
【Field of expertise】Climate Change
Kenji Hayakawa
【Affiliation】Translator
【Field of expertise】Translation and Philosophy
【Message】
High quality information on Green New Deal policies in easy to understand translations.
Mathsuo Tadasu
【Affiliation】Professor, Ritsumeikan University
【Field of expertise】Theoretical Economics, Anti-Austerity Economy
Kim Gunsam
【Affiliation】 Assistant Professor of Economics, Rikkyo University
【Field of expertise】Local government finance, childcare finance, social security
