A socialist path to sustainability

Bell, K.

Abstract

In its 2006 Sustainability Index Report, the World Wildlife Fund determined that there is only one nation in the world that is currently living sustainably - and that nation is Cuba. This assessment was based on Cuba’s high levels of social development, in conjunction with a small per capita ecological footprint. Cuba also rated 7th place in the global ‘Happy Planet Index’ survey carried out by the New Economics Foundation (the UK only reached 74th place). How did Cuba, a small island of only 11 million people, struggling with a US embargo and devastating annual hurricanes, achieve these extraordinary distinctions? And what can environmentalists elsewhere learn from Cuba’s challenges and successes?
In 2008-2009, I went to Cuba as part of my PhD research on environmental justice, to find out the answer to these questions. Using secondary data analysis, alongside participatory methods as well as formal interviews with NGO activists, environmental experts, government officials, citizens and worker organisations, I was able to trace the history, context, struggles and ongoing problems that lie behind Cuba’s environmental achievements. This article is based on some of my findings.

Citation

Bell, K. (2011). A socialist path to sustainability

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2011
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2011
• Journal: Cuba Si
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Cuba, environment, environmental justice, WWF, nature
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/961152
• Publisher URL: https://cuba-solidarity.org.uk/cubasi/article/154/a-socialist-path-to-sustainability