THE ECOLOGICAL DEBT The campaign and its future J.Martinez-Alier, 17/5/04

1. THE ECOLOGICAL DEBTThe campaign and its future J.Martinez-Alier, 17/5/04 • Several currents of thought and action led to the campaign of the Ecological Debt, from around 1990. • In Latin America, long awareness of expoliation (Potosi, guano, quebracho...). Galeano’s Venas Abiertas. Also, in the 1950s and 1960s, the CEPAL’s doctrine on the deterioration of terms of trade.

2. The campaign of the Ecological Debt, origins in Latin America • Now, in 2002, we know that Latin America is exporting six times more tons than it is importing. Ecologicallly unequal exchange. • In around 1990, awareness also of ozone layer threat. The Instituto de Ecologia Politica in Chile launched campaign on Ecological Debt. Help from J.M. Borrero of Cali (Colombia). Alternative “treaty” in Rio in 1992, on the link between external debt and ecological debt.

3. In India • Because of the accident in Bhopal in 1984, one of the components of the Ecological Debt has immediate resonance in India, i.e. the unpaid, unrecognized environmental liabilities of transnational companies. • Same issue with Texaco in Ecuador, Shell in Niger Delta. Several South African cases.

4. Corporate unaccountability • This is indeed one issue which is here to stay. Discussion in the USA on what to do with ATCA – law which allows class action suits in the USA for damages done by USA citizens/ companies abroad. • European legislation?

5. Also in India, Latin America, Africa: “Biopiracy”, a word from 1993, a practice for five centuries • From the international discussion on Farmers’ Rights within FAO, the word Biopiracy came into use. It points to the asymmetry between the free use of traditional seeds and peasant knowledge developed over 8000 years, and the payment required for the use of so-called improved commercial seeds and the restrictions on their use.

6. Many cases of Biopiracy • Pat Mooney (of RAFI, now ETC) introduced the word Biopiracy, 1993. • The practice in very old. Not only for agricultural seeds and knowledge. Also for medicinal plants. • A scandal every month, because of attempts to take patents –Neem, and basmati rice in India, quinua varieties in Bolivia, yellow bean in Mexico, ayahuasca in Amazonia...

7. Export of toxic waste • This another component of the Ecological Debt from North to South, namely the damages from exports of toxic waste. • In theory prohibited because of Basel agreement. • In practice, many cases. For instance, Alang ship breaking yards in Gujarat.

8. Exported risks • One should also include among the “exports of toxic waste”, the damage done because of nuclear testing in the Pacific during decades (by the USA, France). • Also, the damage done by introducing unsafe or untested technologies – the examples of DBCP in banana planations, asbestos in South Africa and elsewhere.

9. Components of the Ecological Debt • The environmental liabilities of transnational companies – a question more relevant every day. • Ecologically unequal trade – e.g. the EU imports four times more tons than it exports. Displacement of environmental loads from North to South through trade. We also import cheap exhaustible resources. Questions more relevant every day because we take a “social metabolic” view of the economy.

10. Components of the Ecological Debt (cont.) • Biopiracy – many current examples. The CBD of 1992 introduced remunerated Bioprospection, but this is often only disguised Biopiracy. • Exports of toxic waste from North to South, also introduction of technologies of uncertain effects – no application of Precautionary Principle. More relevant than ever.

11. Components of the Ecological Debt (cont.) • Finally, the “greenhouse effect debt”, the “Carbon Debt” – increasing every day. • It was Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain from the CSE, New Delhi, who in 1991 published Global Warming – a case of environmental colonialism. Who is the owner of the sinks (oceans, soils, new vegetation), and reservoirs (atmosphere) of carbon dioxide?

12. Kyoto as “grandfathering” • Kyoto agreement of 1997 is better than nothing. Nevertheless gives emission rights very generous to the rich countries. We can produce almost as much CO2 as in 1990 (while our per capita production in the EU is 3 times the world average). • Calculations of the “Carbon Debt” : Damage Costs or Abatement Costs.

13. The “Carbon Debt” • The Damage Costs would require to count the damages in the future in money terms, give them a present value. Prices of human lives, disappeared species? • The Abatement Costs : how much it would cost to reduce emissions by 50% or 60%. Not the necessary emissions but the luxury emissions.

14. One early calculation of the Carbon Debt (abatement costs) • Jyoti Parikh, 1995. 25% of population produce 75% of emissions. Need to reduce total emissions by half, say, about 3000 million tons of carbon. First 1000 million tons could be reduced at cost of 15 US$/ton, then marginal costs increase. Take average of only 25 US$/ton. Annual subsidy of 75,000 million USS$ from South to North (or from poor to rich).

15. More on the Carbon Debt • Other calculations have been published – for instance by Christian Aid (Who owes who? 1999). Several articles by Andrew Simms. • Possibility of international law suits from Pacific Islands, or AOSIS. Also from NGOs. Against “northern” governments for failure to prevent increased greenhouse effect.

16. Private Ecological Debt –liabilities of private companies (Dow Chemical-Union Carbide, Repsol, Agip, Chevron-Texaco...). Or “biopiracy” companies or toxic export companies. Public Ecological Debt – owed by all citizens, who are represented by states. For instance, because of Ecologically Unequal Trade. Or the Carbon Debt. Public and Private Ecological Debt? A useful distinction?

17. SUMMARY • There is an Ecological Debt towards Future Generations and towards other Species. • Here we focus on the Ecological Debt from North to South. The USA, the EU, Japan are creditors of External Debt but big debtors on account of the Ecological Debt. • There is certainly a “north” in all countries, and a “south” in all countries, but there are patterns of unequal trade, biopiracy, occupation of environmental space... between North and South.

18. ISSUES OF EVER INCREASING RELEVANCE • The components of the Ecological Debt are then - the Environmental Liabilities of TNC, - the damages from Toxic Waste exports, - the gains the North has obtained and obtains from Ecologically Unequal Trade and Biopiracy, - the Greenhouse Effect Debt (or Carbon Debt). Much need for further studies directly related to concrete situations, useful for local groups. But, WHERE AND WHO ARE THE ACTORS?

19. Who will claim (or support the claim of) the Ecological Debt? • Who are the social groups, or agents that claim the Ecological Debt? This is the main question now for the Campaign. • The new government of India? The PT government of Brazil? Will some parts of the the UN system use the concept of the Ecological Debt? Will the World Social Forum include the Ecological Debt really as one main issue? Will Jubilee South continue to push it? Role of the media? Role of academic research? Northern allies: European Greens? Human Rights groups?