In a recent evening presentation, Mark discussed unprecedented levels of “experimentation” occurring around the world regarding sustainability, transitions, alternative economics, and energy. Many people, it appears, are noting the challenges faced by societies and trying small-scale solutions, prototyping a way forward: performing experiments. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this in recent days, and I believe there are some very good reasons for the phenomenon that Mark observes.
The first reason for experiments is that challenges are real and urgent. From CO2 emissions to stagnant wages to declining net energy to deforestation to extinctions to soil degradation to declining water quality to sliding economic growth, the problems are difficult and important, and both people and the planet have it hard the world over. Transitions to something better are needed, and problem-solvers and societal change agents try to fix things. Starting in their own backyard. On a small scale.
The second reason for experiments is that systems at all levels (firm, municipality/city, province/state, national, and world) are designed to reject destabilizing factors, to regard them as pathogenic. Full-scale transitions are resisted by entrenched interests, and, as a result, it is devilishly difficult to change today’s socio-political-economic regimes.
Third, and related to the second item above, society-wide transitions will take significant financial investment. Proposed transitions are, more often than not, comprehended as (financial) risks, and the recent instability of the world’s economic order contributes to risk aversion in decision-makers at all levels. It is perceived that there is simply not enough cash for a full-scale overhaul of our energy infrastructure, for example.
When the three elements above are combined, the only option for societal change agents is experimentation. Doing nothing is not an option! And they can’t risk being gobbled by the systems that reject transitions. They must remain small. They must experiment.
What I don’t know is whether, on balance, this is a good thing. We need to undertake significant, large-scale transitions now, at speed. But we’re not. On the other hand, I’m not sure we know exactly what should be done and how to make needed transitions without causing significant harm (unintended consequences!) to the planet’s human and non-human inhabitants. Thus it seems that experimentation around transitions is an important aspect of defining a new society; it provides a means of uncovering the way things ought to be and explores options for how to get there.
Which is precisely why, as a scholar, I find South Africa in general and Stellenbosch University in particular to be both incredibly rewarding and endlessly stimulating. Sustainability and energy issues are at or just beneath the surface always, the present water crisis being a good example. And there are at least three entities on campus actively engaged in important experimentation: the CRSES, where I was a visiting scholar; the Sustainability Institute, where I spoke and where I have several friends; and the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, which shares a site with STIAS and where I had the fascinating meeting Friday with Jannie who asked “When are you coming back?” at our parting. (How is it that I connect with him on my LAST working day in the Western Cape?) The challenges faced by the world are big, but South Africa is small enough to see them up close and to have access to important decision-makers and creative thought leaders. I will miss so much the day-to-day immersion in these issues that stimulates my thinking and provides opportunities for collaboration. The time was, simply put, far too short!
Despite my deep sadness at leaving, I take heart from previous experience. In 2010, I was also sad, even resentful, at departing Stellenbosch. But it came to be that the end of my physical presence in South Africa was only the beginning of projects that continued without me; of further teaching opportunities (at CRSES in 2012); of additional visits (2014); of invited lectures to the CRSES Energy Policy module; of new, rich collaborations; of other invited talks; and of the courage to try new things: to experiment! So now, in 2016, I’m encouraged to think that the coming years will be full with more of the same. I’m sad but not bitter. Let the experiments continue!
For the above reasons and more, South Africa has been a very good friend to both Tracy and me throughout our careers. As I wrote from Ghana, “all of this raises the questions: how good of a friend am I? are you?” I have tried very hard to be as good to South Africa as it has been to me, to give back as much or more than I get. I can only hope that I succeeded.
To all the friends to whom I’ve said “goodbye” in the last few days: Dankie! (Thank you!) And to South Africa: Sala kakuhle! (Stay well!)
Now one final goodbye: to this blog. I’ve enjoyed writing, and I hope readers have enjoyed reading. “Until next time…”
—Matt
