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from the state to the corporation (as agents of citizenship) and from politics to markets (as the sphere of citizenship). These shifts promote consumer and corporate
citizenship and transform the citizen from a political being (zoon politikon) into an
economic being (homo economicus) (Cao 2015). The extent of how market rules are
incorporated into social and political relations is leading some authors to argue that
we are moving from being societies with market economy to becoming market societies (Sandel 2012). Cao (2017) states that neoliberalism shifts rapidly ‘towards the
language of individual and corporate responsibility through self-regulation, and a
shift towards economics in general (e.g. market rules and values) and consumption
in particular (e.g. sustainable consumption) in the dominant articulations of environmental citizenship’. As the author adds, ‘Citizenship is being consumed by market values, and active citizenship is often synonymous with shopping’. In the
position of the academic who does not know whether to ‘cry or shout’ in the surroundings where Environmental Citizenship is understood as sustainable consumption, Cao acts as a citizen and votes for the use of the term ‘Environmental
Citizenship’.
3.3 Levels of the Economic Dimension of Environmental
Citizenship
The characteristics and intensity of the economic dimension of Environmental
Citizenship change at the global, national and local level. Each level presents a variety of different criteria to consider for analysis ranging from global with the Kyoto
Protocol, OECD framework, the Paris Agreement and the UN Environment
Programme to more regional agreements on all continents. National governments
tend to base their local policies and initiatives to fit within a larger regional and
global framework. Local initiatives will also vary depending on a country’s social,
political and economic situation. Also, economic dimension of Environmental
Citizenship could be perceived ambiguously, distinguishing between personal and
communal (local, regional, national and global) levels (Berglund and Gericke 2016).
Aiming for a comprehensive analysis of economic challenges and opportunities
regarding Environmental Citizenship, key stakeholders were identified as examples
for existing green economy trends.
3.3.1 Global Level
Understanding the structures, impact and trends of global economic markets is a key
element for Environmental Citizenship. Economic globalisation has created a rapidly growing market – independent of national economies and driven by the international movement of goods, services and capital. Trade openness, foreign direct
3 Economic Dimensions of Environmental Citizenship
from the state to the corporation (as agents of citizenship) and from politics to markets (as the sphere of citizenship). These shifts promote consumer and corporate
citizenship and transform the citizen from a political being (zoon politikon) into an
economic being (homo economicus) (Cao 2015). The extent of how market rules are
incorporated into social and political relations is leading some authors to argue that
we are moving from being societies with market economy to becoming market societies (Sandel 2012). Cao (2017) states that neoliberalism shifts rapidly ‘towards the
language of individual and corporate responsibility through self-regulation, and a
shift towards economics in general (e.g. market rules and values) and consumption
in particular (e.g. sustainable consumption) in the dominant articulations of environmental citizenship’. As the author adds, ‘Citizenship is being consumed by market values, and active citizenship is often synonymous with shopping’. In the
position of the academic who does not know whether to ‘cry or shout’ in the surroundings where Environmental Citizenship is understood as sustainable consumption, Cao acts as a citizen and votes for the use of the term ‘Environmental
Citizenship’.
3.3 Levels of the Economic Dimension of Environmental
Citizenship
The characteristics and intensity of the economic dimension of Environmental
Citizenship change at the global, national and local level. Each level presents a variety of different criteria to consider for analysis ranging from global with the Kyoto
Protocol, OECD framework, the Paris Agreement and the UN Environment
Programme to more regional agreements on all continents. National governments
tend to base their local policies and initiatives to fit within a larger regional and
global framework. Local initiatives will also vary depending on a country’s social,
political and economic situation. Also, economic dimension of Environmental
Citizenship could be perceived ambiguously, distinguishing between personal and
communal (local, regional, national and global) levels (Berglund and Gericke 2016).
Aiming for a comprehensive analysis of economic challenges and opportunities
regarding Environmental Citizenship, key stakeholders were identified as examples
for existing green economy trends.
3.3.1 Global Level
Understanding the structures, impact and trends of global economic markets is a key
element for Environmental Citizenship. Economic globalisation has created a rapidly growing market – independent of national economies and driven by the international movement of goods, services and capital. Trade openness, foreign direct
3 Economic Dimensions of Environmental Citizenship