13  The evolution of carbon capitalism in the English regions

Sustainable mitigation, carbon modernization, and selective carbon economies

William Eadson

Introduction

By the mid-2000s sustainable development had become a near-ubiquitous policy discourse in Europe and North America, as noted by Swyngedouw:

I have not been able to find a single source that is against ‘sustainability’. Greenpeace is in favor, George Bush Jr. and Sr. are, the World Bank and its chairman (a prime warmonger on Iraq) are, the Pope is, my son Arno is, the rubber tappers in the Brazilian Amazon forest are, Bill Gates is, the labor unions are.

(Swyngedouw 2007: 20)

That such a disparate collection of individuals were all apparently committed to sustainable development ...

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