Hot or Cool Institute is a public interest think tank that explores the intersection between society and sustainability, we bring together researchers and practitioners to facilitate solutions to global problems.
- November 28, 2023
The paper establishes the basis for understanding the inter-related nature of the multiple crises that human societies confront today, from climate change to growing social inequality. To address rising global complexity, the authors advocate for holistic approaches that generally are not adequately recognised among diverse communities that are busy perceiving these crises from their own specific viewpoints.
The paper places special emphasis on six perspectives: ecological, care work, gender equality, social and ecological justice, post-colonial, and post-anthropocentric. The paper highlights the fundamental origin of the multiple crises being faced today: an economic system based on capital accumulation kept in force by patriarchal structures and the vested interests of a white supremacy rooted in colonialism.
The authors then explore remedies for these crises, elucidating why conventional solutions often encounter constraints, and outlining the rationale behind the imperative for radical approaches. They explain how approaching a caring society can be helpful in this regard.
In sum, the paper explains why the transformation to equitable, low-carbon societies cannot be achieved within the current paradigm of growth, competition and patriarchy. This paradigm is founded on exploitation. Without addressing the various crises that this implies, it will not be possible to fully transform the systemic exploitation that threatens the world today. If the problem is addressed only piecemeal, then the dominant capitalist system will be able to appropriate the various parts in order to continue the exploitation. The authors show that care is a value that can guide humanity to set up systems in a different way – if care is translated into mindset, practice, policy, infrastructure and economic systems.
This document is a background paper for the report Economies That Dare to Care: Achieving social justice and preventing ecological breakdown by putting care at the heart of our societies.
