ABSTRACT
Global change represents a new context for local planning that cannot safely be ignored. Both ecological and socio-economic trends at the global scale should now be a major consideration in reframing local development policy. This chapter presents a precautionary, transformational approach to sustainability planning. It develops the rationale for re-writing global society's dominant economic narrative to reflect limits to growth. Drawing on various disciplines from cognitive psychology through environmental science, sociology, economic history and development planning, the chapter outlines some of the broad framing necessary at the global level and specific policies needed at the national and (bio)regional scales to achieve a planned descent to a sustainable steady-state. Localism agenda in the UK is actually consistent with the subsidiarity argument for re-localization. The world would have to abandon its core myths of perpetual technological progress and material growth, and focus instead on de-growth towards a sustainable steady-state with greater equity.
