We're colonizing the future, by David Van Reybrouck - Editions Actes sud, 1er March 2023 - 64 pages
In the tradition of Against elections (2014), David Van Reybrouck has written a brief and unparalleled plea for climate justice. An irrevocable observation that becomes a lesson in resistance and optimism, and proposes political solutions capable of renewing democratic life.
In the epilogue to RevolusiDavid Van Reybrouck writes that "mankind is confiscating the coming century with the same ruthless rigor with which it appropriated entire continents in ancient times. 2020," he continues, "wields its power over 2080 with an arrogance and indifference that make your head spin." But he doesn't stop at this idea of temporal colonization, which is so relevant and efficient. He proposes four modes of action for involving citizens in the decision-making process and its execution.
His first recommendation concerns citizens' forums (whose members are elected by lot), introduced in Against Elections. David Van Reybrouck cites the Citizens' Climate Convention as an example, but criticizes its mediocre application. He then proposes a method (a series of partial referendums) to "filter" the conclusions of such a convention without falling into the arbitrariness of government decisions.
Going beyond the national level, he criticizes the lack of solidarity between states at international meetings, and suggests a remedy in the form of a "Global Assembly" (a United Nations initiative), a kind of citizens' convention at world level, also elected by lot.
To involve citizens in implementing decisions, he recommends a rather revolutionary measure: the introduction of "individual emission rights". At the beginning of the year, each citizen would receive from his or her government a personal quota of emissions (recorded on his or her smartphone, bank card or some other medium) not to be exceeded. Depending on their actions (filling up with petrol, taking a plane trip...), a conventional number of "rights" would be debited from their account. The most virtuous would be able to resell the remainder of their rights on a dedicated market, while the others would be forced to buy additional rights. A way of "making the rich pay".
David Van Reybrouckborn in 1971, is an essayist, historian, novelist and playwright. His books include Congo. The story (2012, prix Médicis essai, Babel no. 1279); Against elections (2014, Babel no. 1231); Odes (2021), and Revolusi. Indonesia and the birth of the modern world (2022).
