Scotland's Climate Assembly - process, impact and assembly member experience: research report

Appendix 2 – Systemic approach

Figure A. Scenario framework

Decision-making Centralised and Low Role of Profit:

• Plant for Climate
• “In Government we trust”
• Precedents: 2^nd World War, Marshall Plan, Lockdown in response to COVID-19

Decision-making Centralised and High Role of Profit:

• Green New Scotland
• “Public luxury, private sufficiency”
• Precedents: Scandinavian model, Green New Deal

Decision Decentralised and Low Role of Profit:

• Collaborative Communities Unite
• “Negotiating the commons”
• Precedents: Occupy Movement, Findhorn, Eigg Island

Decision Decentralised and High Role of Profit:

• Algorithmic Dreams
• “Technology will save us”
• Precedents: Silicon Valley, The Apollo Programme

Figure B. Scenario characteristics

Decision-making Centralised and Low Role of Profit:

• Societal Goal: Maintain habitable climate & access to resources
• Primary agent of change: The State
• Political/legal characteristics:
  • State authority & emergency powers
  • Large civil service/bureaucracy
  • Geopolitical alliances to secure access to resources
• Economic characteristics:
  • Centrally planned mobilisation & allocated resources
  • Production targets for key industries
  • Conscription to green industries & retraining labour

Decision-making Centralised and High Role of Profit:

• Societal Goal: Fairer Capitalism
• Primary agent of change: The State
• Political/legal characteristics:
  • Representative democracy
  • Balance of powers, checks & balances
  • Large civil service/bureaucracy
  • Political parties, mass enfranchisement
• Economic characteristics:
  • Highly regulated capitalism
  • Private ownership
  • Purpose driven companies
  • Wealth tax, corporation tax & land tax
  • State ownership of public service platforms & providers

Decision Decentralised and Low Role of Profit:

• Societal Goal: Community trust, wellbeing & self-determination
• Primary agent of change: Cities & communities
• Political/legal characteristics:
  • Developed authority
  • Participatory decision making, frequent elections, deliberative polling
  • Commons management principles
  • Citizen oversight committees
• Economic characteristics:
  • Co-operative business models & organised labour
  • Collective ownership of common resources
  • Local markets & alternative currencies

Decision Decentralised and High Role of Profit:

• Societal Goal: Evolution & innovation
• Primary agent of change: The private sector & entrepreneurs
• Political/legal characteristics:
  • Strong intellectual property rights
  • Deregulation
  • Strong competition laws
• Economic characteristics:
  • Public investment in fundamental research & universities
  • Low corporate tax rates
  • Tech incubators –

Figure C. Levels of action

What are the levels where action can be taken?

Inner level 1: individual

level 2: households, communities, neighbourhoods

level 3: organisations, businesses, public services

level 4: public policy, regulation, taxes, incentives

Outer level 5: society, norms, values, beliefs