Title of the Presentation

Sustainable prosperity in the United states-Building a Green Economy

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD1TABLE OF CONTENTSAgenda 3Our Planet is in trouble 4Overconsumption by Americansand its consequences 5,6Solution 7The path to degrowth 8-13References 14greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDAgenda: Creation of a Green Economy through DegrowthOn behalf of the United Nations, I would like to propose a strategy for creating a Green Economy that is based on sustainable development in the United States. This can be achieved through Degrowth.

I will explain what is the current status of overdevelopment in the United States and its impact on the society.I will then present the path to Degrowth.

greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDOur Planet is in troubleGlobal warming and the declining ecosystem show that economic Degrowth in overdeveloped countries is essential and urgent.

The Earths temperature is estimated to have risen by 4 degrees Celsius.

A small portion of the world's people use up most of the earth's resources and produce most of its greenhouse gas emissions.greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD4Overconsumption by AmericansThe average American consumes more than his or her weight in products each day, fuelling a global culture of excess that is emerging as the biggest threat to the planet.

The current vision of prosperity has negative societal consequences.

The Overconsumption culture is spreading to developing counties like China, India & Brazil.

greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDConsequences of overconsumptionIn 2012, 2 out of every 3 Americans, were overweight or obese.

Obesity shortens life spans, causes illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, and costs the United States $270 billion annually in medical costs and lost productivity.

Other consequences include high debt burdens, long working hours, pharmaceutical dependence, time lost in commuting, and social isolation.

greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDSolution: Degrowth Degrowth is the intentional redirection of economies away from the perpetual pursuit of growth.

Its goal is to create a steady-state economic system that is in balance with Earths limits.

It will improve wellbeing, strengthen community resilience, and restore Earths systems

greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDThe path to DegrowthRedefine Prosperity 9

Reduce overconsumption

Bridge the economic gap in society

Reduce Work hours

Cultivate a Plenitude economy

greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD2.Reducing overconsumptionreduce consumerism by shifting consumer behavior.

Differentiate between needs and wants.

Choice editing-Government can provide subsidies toward healthy sustainable goodsBusinesses can educate customers about what the healthiest and most sustainable choices are and price such products favorably.

Reduce consumption, recycle and reuse as much as possible.greenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD103. Bridging the economic gap in societyShifting tax burdens- advertising budgets of companies should be taxed.

Better distribution of incomes has a positive impact on human development, as reinforced by the 2011 Human Development Report.

The United States is twentieth in the human development rankings, while countries with high social equity fare better.

Research shows that more-equitable societies have less violent crime, higher literacy levels, are healthier and less overweight.greenFOR THE FUTURE5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD4. Reduce work hoursPsychologists Tim Kasser and Kirk Brown have found that longer working hours correlate negatively with life satisfaction levels and positively with ecological footprint.

redistribution of job hours- make the average work week shorter.Reduce unemployment

This will improve the quality of life for many people and reduce their ecological impacts and improve peoples well being; their health, social connectedness, and community engagement.greenFOR THE FUTURE5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD5. Cultivating a Plenitude economySociologist Juliet Schor has studied the relation between work hours and the high levels of consumption that accompany it. She calls for the controlled reduction of the consumer economy, with more people supporting themselves.

The combination of intentional shifts in working hours and inevitable market contractions could help accelerate this plenitude model.

Eventually people will reduce the 9-to-5 work/spend/consume lifestyle and actively seek out a plenitude lifestyle, working fewer hours at paying jobs and helping to rebuild local economies.greenFOR THE FUTURE5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDReferencesThe Path to Degrowth in Overdeveloped Countries, by Erik Assadourian, published in Worldwatch Institutes State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity.Juliet Schor, Sustainable Work Schedules for All, in Worldwatch Institute, op. cit. note 1, pp.9195The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard. http://www.storyofstuff.org/degrowthpedia.org

greenFOR THE FUTURE5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLDSustainable DevelopmentgreenFOR THE FUTURE

5432 Any Street West Townsville, State 54321555-543-5432 PH 555-543-5433 FAXwww.GREENFORTHEFUTURE.ORGLEARNHOW TOHEALTHE WORLD15