Q.: The alternative project you have in mind envisions a large role for the state. Yet, many on the Left have deep qualms about holding power of any kind, much less "seizing the reins," as you say, to affect systemic changes.
Klein: There has been a backlash in our generation of leftists against the centralized state socialism of previous generations. This is for obvious and understandable reasons. Since the 2008 economic crash, I see more appetite among the younger generation to engage with policy and to try to change power. You see it with the Indignados movement in Spain forming its own party and running in elections, in Iceland post-crisis, with outsiders going inside on their own terms. You see it at the municipal level with the minimum wage in Seattle. Where the pendulum swung really hard against any sort of engagement with formal politics, I see it swinging back where it’s like, "No, we’re not going to replicate those centralized structures but things are too urgent and too dire to ignore institutions of various kinds, including lawmaking. But we’re going to try to change it and build our belief in decentralization into the way we engage." Q.: Has this approach made a significant impact anywhere on energy and climate-related policies? Klein: A really great example is the energy transformation that has been going on in Germany. Thirty percent of the electricity produced there is now coming from renewable resources, mostly wind and solar and mostly through decentralized, community-controlled ventures of various kinds, including hundreds of energy co-ops. You also have large cities like Munich voting to reverse their electricity privatizations and become part of this energy revolution. What’s interesting about Germany is it really shows how you need strong policy to make a transition like that happen. It’s not about, "Hey, let’s start an energy co-op." No. That kind of fetish for very small-scale initiatives won’t get us where we need to go. What Germany has is a bold national policy. That’s how you get to 30 percent renewable electricity in such a short time, and they may very well get to 50 to 60 percent by 2030. It also shows you can design smart policy to systematically decentralize See more at: Interview: Naomi Klein Breaks a Taboo http://indypendent.org/2014/09/12/interview-naomi-klein-breaks-taboo In the news: Could Germany shutter coal plants in pursuit of green targets? Economy and Energy Minister distances himself from proposals that could see eight major coal-fired power plants decommissioned By James Murray - 25 Nov 2014 The German government is considering proposals to accelerate the phasing out of coal power in the country, after it emerged that the economy ministry is working on draft legislation that would impose new emissions limits on coal power generators. Reuters reported over the weekend that it has seen a document detailing how energy firms could be required to cut emissions by at least 22 million tonnes by 2020. The news agency said the rules would require the closure of 50 facilities that are already earmarked for decommissioning and the possible shuttering of a further eight coal-fired power stations. The proposed restrictions on coal emissions could form the centrepiece of a new wave of climate change policies from the Merkel government, which is expected to be announced early next month. The package, which is also expected to include new measures to enhance energy efficiency across the economy, comes as the government faces growing pressure to ensure Germany's legally binding target to cut emissions 40 per cent by 2020 against a 1990 baseline is met. The country has established itself as one of the world's largest clean energy markets in recent years, consistently generating over a quarter of its power from renewables. However, the controversial decision to phase out nuclear power has contributed to an increase in coal power generation in recent years and the government has warned that it is currently set to fall short of the 2020 target by between five and eight percentage points. There have been encouraging signs in recent months that Germany's emissions are starting to fall once again, as energy demand falls and renewables provide around 28 per cent of the country's power this year. full: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2383351/could-germany-shutter-coal-plants-in-pursuit-of-green-targets See also: Germany denies plans to close old coal plants in sprint to 2020 targets http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/germany-denies-plans-close-old-coal-plants-sprint-2020-targets-310288 _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
