18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
Evan Steiner, focused on resource mobilization at One Project, details his journey to this role, beginning with a passion for the environment. Early experiences in environmental education ignited his concern for the ecological crisis, leading him to question its root causes. He explored the business world, working with social enterprises and impact investing, hoping to effect change from within. However, Steiner realized that these approaches failed to address the systemic issues at the heart of the problem. This realization led him to delve into new economics, viewing the ecological crisis as a symptom of a flawed economic system. Recognizing the stark funding disparities between neoliberal capitalism and alternative economic models, Steiner sought to bridge this gap. He joined One Project, drawn to its mission of supporting post-capitalist economic initiatives, ultimately leading him to his current focus on resource mobilization for grassroots and frontline groups.
And earlier in my career, my thinking was, okay, well, it's businesses and corporations, they're causing so much of the issues. So I went and worked in the business for good space, the social enterprise impact investment world. and was there for a few years and saw really a lot of great work and wonderful people, but that it still wasn't quite getting at some of the structural issues that I was interested to explore.
Steiner emphasizes the inadequacy of solely focusing on climate change, advocating for a broader understanding of the ecological crisis. He argues that current economic structures, particularly the growth paradigm, are unsustainable and bound to fail due to their inherent reliance on infinite growth. Steiner highlights the contradiction of an economic system demanding endless growth within a finite ecological system, noting the lack of evidence for genuine decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation.
You have an economic system predicated on infinite growth that's inherent in a lot of the financial system, interest rates, discounted cash flow. The purpose of capital is more capital, this kind of capital supremacy. And that growth is inextricably linked to energy, material use, and waste, at least currently.
Steiner stresses the inextricable link between environmentalism and social justice, criticizing the historical antagonism between the two movements. He argues that addressing one without the other is futile, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these issues. Steiner highlights organizations like the Climate Justice Alliance as examples of effectively addressing this intersection, promoting a holistic approach that recognizes the shared fate of social and ecological well-being.
Both of them... are right. Valid points. You can't bypass either. I think that's the key insight. And you have to go deep into both of them. And both are very difficult.
Steiner challenges the prevailing notion of market fundamentalism, advocating for a more balanced economic structure. Drawing from Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics, he emphasizes the importance of considering four key quadrants: the market, the state, the household and communities, and the commons. Steiner critiques the tendency to view economics solely through the lens of the market and state, neglecting the critical roles of communities, households, and the commons. He argues that the commons, often overlooked and undervalued, are essential for a sustainable and equitable future.
So market fundamentalism is Which defines is basically neoliberalism market fundamentalism would say all economic activity should be in that one quadrant So it's then designed to extract from the state and say the state should just be an extension of the market it should you should send your kids to Don't take care of the kids together. Send them to daycare. Send them to some way.
Steiner defines post-capitalism as a move away from the pursuit of capital for its own sake, suggesting a shift towards an economy prioritizing shared societal outcomes, well-being, economic democracy, and ecological health. He acknowledges the nascent state of post-capitalist models and the diverse range of approaches, including degrowth, doughnut economics, and solidarity economies.
The broader definition, if you look at what most people are using capitalism to refer to private property in the markets, you run into a lot of real challenges with private property. And that's just one of the core worldview assumptions that the vast majority of people are operating as like that's sacred cow, so to speak. There's a quote by Andreas Malm that I think is very pithy description of our situation, which is that private property will cost us the earth.
Steiner highlights the challenges within philanthropy, noting its limited resources and tendency towards incrementalism rather than bold, systemic change. He emphasizes the disconnect between funders with financial resources and those with on-the-ground expertise, advocating for greater collaboration and resource sharing. Steiner criticizes the tendency of philanthropy to focus on intentions rather than tangible impact, stressing the need for more rigorous analysis and a willingness to support radical experimentation.
But I'll say a few things about philanthropy and try to be kind about it. One is structurally the people with the money are not the people with the domain expertise. And part of the challenge is because they have money, they think they have some unique insight or they think that the way that they made money is appropriate in all circumstances and in their social change efforts.
Steiner expresses skepticism regarding the potential of Web3 and crypto to contribute meaningfully to a post-capitalist future. While acknowledging some promising projects, he cautions against the widespread tendency within the space to prioritize rhetoric over tangible impact. He raises concerns about the commodification of nature through initiatives like carbon and biodiversity credits on the blockchain, questioning whether such approaches can genuinely address the ecological crisis without further exacerbating existing inequalities. Steiner calls for a more cautious and values-aligned approach to integrating emerging technologies into efforts aimed at social and ecological well-being.
I think it's a great inquiry. It's how I approach any space. You can approach psychedelics the same way. You can approach new economy, regenerative space. There's going to be 95% of noise. One percent clear signal and then a few percent Fuzzy hard to detect got it right and so when I look at that space I try to say okay, where's where's the substance here?
Steiner concludes with a call for deep, introspective work, emphasizing the psycho-spiritual dimensions of navigating the current polycrisis. He stresses that this work is not about self-indulgence but rather about cultivating the inner resilience and clarity needed to respond effectively to the challenges at hand.
I would just share that we're in a really peculiar time. And there's a lot of real psycho-spiritual work that comes with this. And that can be exhausting or daunting. Also, it's really rewarding and exactly what to be doing right now.
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