New Books Network Our Common Future: The Birth of Liberal Environmentalism
Sep 19, 2025
David Runnels, an environmental policy researcher and former collaborator with Jim McNeil, delves into the fascinating origins of liberal environmentalism. He explores how an oil man from Alberta and a socialist from Saskatchewan launched the concept of eco-development, shaping global environmental policy. Runnels highlights McNeil's pivotal role in drafting 'Our Common Future' for the Brundtland Commission, which framed sustainable development. The discussion navigates the tensions between capitalism and sustainability, raising questions about the future of this paradigm.
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Dust Bowl Childhood Shaped A Career
- Jim McNeil remembered being an ecological refugee after the Dust Bowl buried homes near his childhood in Saskatchewan.
- That early trauma shaped his commitment to public works like the South Saskatchewan River Dam to prevent repeat disasters.
Win‑Win Vision Of Growth And Environment
- Jim McNeil argued economic growth and environmental management aimed for the same goal: a better quality of life.
- He believed technocratic social guidance and investment could steer growth toward sustainability.
The Unlikely Global Duo
- Morris Strong recruited Jim McNeil to advise the UN's 1972 Stockholm conference after reading McNeil's book.
- That pairing made the Saskatchewan policy wonk and the globetrotting Strong into a global environmental team.
