A new politics for the era of environmental breakdown

Article

Environmental breakdown is accelerating and poses an unprecedented threat to our political system. This system is a key enabler of environmental breakdown, the major drivers of which include chronic short-termism, a failure to recognise and act on systemic problems, and a failure to integrate environmental concerns throughout policy. This challenge comes at a time when our domestic political system has come under exceptional pressure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and decades of growing inequality.

A new progressive politics in response to environmental breakdown is needed to achieve more sustainable, just and prepared outcomes at home and abroad. It is a politics that must enable a more productive, equal and sustainable relationship between the market and the state.

It must prioritise – above all else and in response to the growing risk of global cataclysm – a rapid shift in the economic paradigm, bringing human activity to within environmentally sustainable limits while narrowing inequality, improving quality of life, and becoming better prepared for the accelerating consequences of environmental breakdown. It must be more democratic and accountable. More representative and diverse; more resilient and long-term.

Accordingly, we develop proposals for a new model of domestic politics, one which is capable of better responding to environmental breakdown.

Related items

  1. Women in Scotland: the gendered impact of care on financial stability and well-being

    Women in Scotland are far likelier than men to take on childcare and other caring responsibilities, which puts them at an economic disadvantage. 
  2. One person handing a blue UK passport to another

    Citizenship: A race to the bottom?

    The ability to move from temporary immigration status to settlement, and ultimately to citizenship, is the cornerstone of a fair and functional immigration system.

  3. Reflections on International Women's Day 2025

    In a world that currently seems increasingly dominated by ‘strong man’ politics and macho posturing, this International Women’s Day it seems more important than ever to take stock of where we are on the representation of women in politics.