Can we make the transition to a new economy in time?
Andrew Simms is both a political economist and a compelling storyteller with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we’re facing and how these are interconnected. As co-author of the original ‘Green New Deal’ and books like ‘Cancel the Apocalypse: The New Path to Prosperity’ and ‘Economics – A Crash Course’, he has made it his business to find out not just if we can make the type of changes required to avoid climate breakdown, but whether we can do so at the speed and scale needed.
In our relatively wealthy and high consumption countries, he sees an important shift from an economy of high material consumption to one where we spend more on experience and culture. Travelling—where we go, how we get there and what we do on arrival—is a big part of that.
Andrew says that we have all of the knowledge, resources and technology to re-design a living economy that can thrive within planetary boundaries, but it means shifting expectations and re-imagining how we live. There is a surprising number of precedents to demonstrate that we can change course. Hence, he poses the question: “What’s holding us back from aiming higher or thinking more boldly?”
Excited to listen to Andrew Simms’ complete vision on a new economy? You can watch his full keynote from the Travel to Tomorrow summit on the 12th and 13th of September 2019 in Bruges.
