Decent work and economic growth

ell, if I can’t get a decent article out of that subject, I’m in the wrong job. That was what I first thought when I read the ‘upcoming Sustainable Development Goals’ title published by The Editor each month. Turns out that it’s rather more di cult than it first looked, thanks Liana!

Trouble is, how does anyone balance the need for economic growth, with decent jobs (I won’t be qualifying what a decent job is here) against a backdrop of concern. Concerns for our environment, government-backed carbon emission reduction, along with finite resources and a scarcity of capital for perceived risky ventures. In the West (global north), we tend to have an appetite for ‘more of the same, thank you very much’. That’s seemingly the way it is.

People who know me well know I’m one for a car and motorcycle. Yes, I know they pollute, yes I know they’re noisy, yes they can even kill. But most of us use them a lot, even if we don’t own or drive one ourselves. We do it not for fun, not for leisure, but out of necessity to get to work, take the kids to school, see our families. I could go on. Myself, I tend to cycle a bit most weeks, take the train occasionally (if it turns up) when going into town, but it’s my car I use mainly, as I’m usually carrying other people or heavy bulky stu .

WUsing the car as a vehicle for this next bit (no pun) is quite useful, I think. Most of us can relate to them and most will recognise the problems I’m going to describe next.

Car production provides countless jobs; market research, design, production, sales and aftercare, not to mention all of the feeder industries in fabrication, electronics and fuel. It’s a global phenomenon which underpins many lives and trades. It’s staggering when you think about it.

But cars are ‘bad’. Some Counties are introducing travel restrictions to control car use and make walking and cycling more attractive. Low emission zones and restricted access times, mean that only those with the right vehicle can enter or travel to a particular place. This can create a situation where only wealthy people can work or shop in a particular area, causing divide. Cutting pollution; a good thing, but favouring a certain technology and setting tari s; creates a divide. Creating divisions reduces choice and freedom which could then reduce economic growth. This is all heavy stu .

UK Government has declared a ban on the sale of all petrol and diesel powered cars by 2030, only 7 years away. They’re seemingly convinced that a battery or hydrogen powered vehicle is the way to go. This is only good news for the car industry and all the feeding activity relating to it. There will be winners and loosers of course as some won’t be able to make the switch, but others will be able to re-train, creating opportunity.

But, don’t think for one moment that this latest government drive for 2030 is all about the environment, far from it. Those with longer memories might remember the gold rush to diesel powered vehicles in the 1980s which only really ended in the late 2010s – remember Dieselgate? Diesel’s improved economy, and lower CO2 output made it the greener choice – at that time. We always knew that diesel is a dirtier fuel, but our governments and industry quietly forgot about that. We all paid less tax on those cars too – seems ironic now as we’re bombarded with messaging from the same governments and manufacturers to ditch diesel vehicles, many with good clean performance, in favour of battery powered cars.

Last year, I went for a blast in my mate’s Tesla Model 3 and I was astounded by the incredible performance. It was like being inside an iPhone, with its sleek design and useful features. This car like every one made before it has provided jobs and prosperity, but it’s not as guilt-free as some would have you believe. Tesla, like all other electric vehicle manufacturers are turning to lithium/ cobalt cells to power their creations, and those cells have a shorter-than-conventionalengine lifespan. These finite raw materials have to travel long distances, and are mined, sometimes by hand, doing damage in other parts of the world we don’t usually see.

Daily life in rural Wales will certainly prove this Tesla’s robustness for the duration of its lease as it will be put to work on muddy country roads. I’ll be following its longevity with interest. I wonder how it will last reliably for more than 5 years. It’s a complicated thing with lots of sensors, electronics and materials that must work in harmony. One wonders if a shorter life-cycle will suit the industry more than the user. Who knows? Will electric cars truly reduce emissions with short product life-cycles, I’m skeptical.

How do I conclude all this? The car industry needs to make cars, car sales provide decent skilled jobs with long careers in design, research, production, sales, finance, service and repair. Cars, vans and trucks support just about every other trade I can think of. It’s all good stu . But it’s all really bad stu , because none of that is any good for our planet. Not even a Tesla.

I’m going to end this article in the same way I end many of these things and it goes something like this; the cheapest and greenest things are the ones you already have. Look after them, service and maintain them. Critically assess any bold claim made by anyone trying to sell you a replacement or embarrass you into buying new. Government policy U turns are frequent, public opinion takes a little longer… Time for a cuppa.

Chris Hare