Policy category summary: The AJP recognises the profound impact of our lifestyles, economic metrics of success, dietary choices, and leisure activities on the environment. The core issue that urgently needs to be addressed is the current unsustainable trajectory, particularly in terms of environmental degradation. The AJP advocates for a paradigm shift in economic models, enabling an inclusion of externalities of the natural world, and a move away from short-term gain to long-term ecological sustainability, prioritising wellbeing over relentless growth, and emphasising the importance of sustainable and future focused change to ensure a balance between human activities and planetary boundaries.
We promote the adoption of circular economy principles, community-led initiatives, and local resilience measures to minimise negative impact on the ecological footprint. We envision a society that measures success, not only by economic metrics, but also by the health of ecosystems, the wellbeing of communities, and the ethical and moral treatment of non-human animals, aligning with a holistic and sustainable approach to living and thriving.