"Man is born free. Freedom is leiwand (Austrian for great)."
This is how Hannes Androsch recently summed up what we probably take for granted as the most important achievement of modernity in an interview. But what if the perceived boundlessness of our freedom makes other, essential things rather "un-lewand"?
As a human race, we consume 60% more worldwide than our planet can provide in terms of resources each year. If we Central Europeans were to set the tone for the whole of humanity in terms of lifestyle, we would have to spread ourselves over 3 Earths in order to have enough resources. It is becoming increasingly obvious that we cannot go beyond the planetary boundaries in the long term. In light of the fact that we are now being presented with the climate crisis, species extinction etc. as a bill, a kind of 'consumption hangover' is slowly setting in.
A sense of proportion is therefore required in order to live within the bounds of what is possible. But (where) is the prosperity? And can a life within this defined framework still feel self-determined, worth living and free? Due to the pandemic, many people have chosen the word "restrictions" as their personal bad word of the year. Difficult times to come up with arguments about the finite nature of our planet. Challenge accepted:
Guard rails for the future
Together with his colleague Will Steffen, the renowned scientist Johann Rockström has mapped out this framework with the concept of "planetary boundaries". It shows in which areas we have already clearly exceeded the limits through our "consumption" and where we are still within the limits (see illustration). The current diagnosis is not very encouraging: in the area of biodiversity (species extinction) and the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle, the limit has already been massively exceeded. With uncertain consequences.
Nevertheless, the approach provides a very valuable orientation: it defines our scope for action. It shows what the framework, the "safe operating space for huminity" (safe operating framework for humanity) looks like. If we want to remain guests on this planet, the freedom of the future will find its place entirely within this framework.
Our current, glowing red border crossings have a lot to do with how we cultivate land and, as a result, what we eat. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that Rockström himself takes to the stove and calls on us to save the world by cooking. His cookbook "Eat Good: a cookbook that changes the world" openly declares this claim.
Freedom in a donut?
Of course, cooking alone will not be enough. Major changes to political and economic systems are also needed. If economist Kate Raworth were "chef de cuisine" when it comes to the economy, her recipe suggestion would be the doughnut. Mainly because of its shape. In her opinion, this circle with a hole is the ideal image of a sustainable economic system. The ring of dough would be the framework in which a good life finds its place. If an area moves in the direction of the "hole", this means scarcity. If you leave the donut to the outside, there is overuse.
Raworth gives the economy of the 21st century a regenerative, distribution-oriented design in 7 steps. And links this restructuring of the economy to the hope of bringing humanity's prosperity into harmony with nature.
The city of Amsterdam is putting its money where its mouth is in terms of donut economic reconstruction due to the coronavirus pandemic: it is no longer backing the old, less crisis-proof horse, but is restructuring Amsterdam's economy according to the principles of the donut economy. This means, for example, that the massive housing shortage in Amsterdam is now to be countered with new ecological buildings (e.g. wooden buildings) that do not break the 'donut' in terms of climate and resources.
The clue to the donut model: freedom-lovers do not have to worry about losing their freedom. Old, questionable freedoms (e.g. overconsumption, food waste, etc.) are replaced by new, more sustainable freedoms and models and made redundant relatively painlessly.
Outlook
Now, of course, we would like to invite an ambassador from the future to find out what this 'new freedom' really feels like, all within the framework. If he were standing in front of me, I would be only too happy to ask him whether we have learned to share resources more fairly 'within the framework'? Whether a good life for everyone (worldwide) now counts more than maximizing profits? Whether we can once again chat easily with children about the future and phrases like "You can look forward to what awaits you" seem appropriate again? Is it not also extremely liberating to be able to look to the future with complete optimism?
Perhaps the future ambassador would smile mysteriously at this point. Perhaps he would slip me a fortune cookie as a parting gift and murmur: "Try this". I would hastily crack the cookie and probably look in amazement at the three simple but incredibly powerful ingredients for the future: efficiency, resilience, sufficiency (see box below). Are these the magic words for enjoying a life of freedom despite the finite nature of our planet? We decide that. Every day anew.
Three ingredients that change the world
Efficiency: Use resources as sparingly as possible and - where possible - manage them in cycles
Resilience: focus on high social, economic and ecological resilience (in order to be able to cope with the unplanned - such as a pandemic)
Sufficiency: "What is enough is never too little" (Heini Staudinger). Saying goodbye to "too much" in our society (key words: food waste, overconsumption, hypermobility)
About the author
Dr. Sybille Chiari is part of the editorial team of "Nachhaltigkeit. Neu denken" and has been working on the topics of sustainability and climate communication for many years - both as a researcher and writer. She is part of the Scientists for Future movement and chairwoman of the Bele Co-Housing association (community housing project with organic, regenerative agriculture www.belehof.at).
