Rewilding Earth Podcast: Episode 146

Title: Randy Hayes’ Roadmap for an Ecological Civilization
Host: The Rewilding Institute
Guest: Randy Hayes
Release Date: April 11, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 146 of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, hosted by Frankie Oliver, conservation legend Randy Hayes returns to present a comprehensive roadmap for establishing an ecological civilization. Building upon his previous discussions, Hayes delves into the urgent need for systemic change to mitigate humanity’s destructive impact on nature. This episode offers a blend of insightful discourse, strategic planning, and actionable steps aimed at rewilding our planet.

The Shift from Ideas to Implementation

Randy Hayes emphasizes the critical transition from merely generating ideas to implementing them. He reflects on advice from William "Bill" Reese, a prominent economic ecologist in Canada, who urged him to focus on how to achieve desired outcomes rather than just discussing them.

Randy Hayes [00:19]: "This is not the age of ideas anymore. This is the age of implementation."

Hayes argues that the fundamental ideas necessary for ecological restoration are already established; the challenge now lies in executing these concepts effectively.

Five Societal Systems for Ecological Civilization

Hayes outlines a strategic approach centered around transforming five key societal systems. These systems are crucial leverage points that, if reformed, can significantly reduce humanity’s environmental footprint.

1. Economic System

   • Subsidy Reduction: Hayes advocates for the reduction of subsidies to extractive industries, including oil, gas, mining, logging, and industrial fishing.
   • True Cost Economy: Transitioning to an economy where goods and services account for their environmental impact, making unsustainable practices financially unviable.

   Randy Hayes [04:00]: "The reduction of subsidies to all extractive industries."

2. Energy Production System

   • Shift to Renewable Energy: Moving towards 100% renewable energy sources while addressing the limitations of relying solely on wind and solar.
   • Nuclear Energy Consideration: Acknowledges current dependencies on nuclear power to meet rising energy demands driven by technologies like AI.

   Bill Reese [04:16]: "Consumption system and the energy production system."

3. Energy Consumption System

   • Halving Energy Use: Targeting a 50% reduction in overall energy consumption within the G20 economies.
   • Eliminating Wasteful Practices: Cutting down on unnecessary energy expenditures, such as excessive manufacturing and transportation of low-value goods.

   Randy Hayes [04:41]: "Quit producing stupid stuff. This is an emergency."

4. Agricultural Production System

   • Transition to Ecological Farming: Aiming for 100% ecological farming globally to end industrial agriculture, which is a leading cause of species extinction.
   • Soil Restoration: Reversing the degradation of industrial soils to restore fertility and ecosystem health.

   Randy Hayes [10:37]: "Shifting to 100% ecological farming globally. Right. The end of industrial agriculture."

5. Planet’s Life Support System

   • Nature Protection Targets: Striving to protect 50% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2050 to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
   • Insect Population Recovery: Addressing the alarming decline of insect populations, essential for pollination and ecosystem balance.

   Randy Hayes [11:06]: "Planet's life support system... protecting the web of life."

Challenges in Achieving Ecological Civilization

The conversation delves into the immense challenges faced in implementing these systemic changes:

• Political and Economic Resistance: The entrenched power of extractive industries and their influence on government policies pose significant obstacles.

  Frankie Oliver [17:45]: "Every one of the five systems... touches on the oligarchy who is now completely in charge of everything."

• Public Awareness and Education: There is a need for massive educational campaigns to inform the public about the ecological crisis and necessary actions.

  Randy Hayes [06:19]: "An educational campaign... a media campaign, a communications campaign."

• Economic Transition Costs: Shifting subsidies and restructuring economies require substantial financial investments and could lead to job losses in traditional industries.

  Bill Reese [07:06]: "A budget for the first three years was $32 million just to launch a campaign of this scale."

Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles

Hayes and Reese propose several strategies to navigate these challenges effectively:

• Comprehensive Media Campaign: Launching a large-scale media effort to disseminate the ecological message, targeting both traditional and digital platforms.

  Bill Reese [14:00]: "A global campaign here... influencers to get up to speed on improving their message."

• Collaborations and Partnerships: Engaging with communication experts like Frankie Oliver and leveraging their expertise to reach wider audiences.

  Randy Hayes [22:43]: "Partnerships with people like Frankie Oliver... to reach through talk shows and media platforms."

• Policy Advocacy: Pushing for legislative changes to remove subsidies from harmful industries and promote sustainable practices.

  Bill Reese [16:15]: "Reducing government subsidies to extractive industries... making bad activities financially unviable."

• Economic Reformation: Implementing a true cost economy where environmental impacts are factored into the cost of goods and services.

  Randy Hayes [16:15]: "A true cost economy... goods and services had to cover their pollution costs."

Vision for the Future: An Ecological Civilization

Hayes paints a vision of an ecological civilization characterized by:

• Bioregional Economies: Developing self-sufficient regional economies that focus on sustainability and low-impact living.

  Bill Reese [27:42]: "Continental networks of bioregional economies... 95% self-sufficient."

• Rewilded Landscapes: Restoring natural habitats and ensuring that at least half of each continent and major island is preserved or rewilded.

  Frankie Oliver [12:21]: "Rewilding because it feels like the overarching thing... shifts in agricultural and energy systems."

• Ecologically Informed Democracy: Reforming democratic systems to prioritize ecological truths and long-term sustainability over short-term political gains.

  Randy Hayes [31:17]: "Democracy as we've known it has a fundamental flaw... we need ecologically informed democracy."

• Cultural Shifts: Encouraging societies to value art, culture, and ideas that support ecological health and rewilding efforts.

  Bill Reese [28:00]: "Trading globally in art, culture, and ideas... not so much physical stuff."

Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode concludes, Randy Hayes and Bill Reese urge listeners to actively engage with the outlined roadmap. They highlight the importance of individual and collective action in driving the necessary systemic changes. Hayes calls for immediate implementation, emphasizing that the window for effective action is rapidly closing due to escalating environmental crises.

Randy Hayes [33:36]: "Grab your project and run with it."

Frankie Oliver encourages listeners to support the movement by engaging with the resources available on the Rewilding Earth website and participating in ongoing efforts to promote ecological civilization.

Frankie Oliver [36:01]: "We're looking for your leadership... any way we can help you, we're there for you."

The episode serves as a motivational blueprint for activists, conservationists, and concerned citizens to collaborate towards a sustainable and rewilded planet.

Key Takeaways

• Immediate Action Required: The transition from idea generation to implementation is crucial to address the escalating ecological crisis.
• Systemic Transformation: Five key societal systems—economic, energy production and consumption, agricultural, and life support systems—must undergo significant reform.
• Comprehensive Campaigns Needed: Effective media, education, and policy advocacy are essential in driving the necessary changes.
• Collaborative Efforts: Partnerships across disciplines and regions are vital to achieving a global ecological civilization.
• Hope Amidst Challenges: Despite formidable obstacles, the vision of an ecological civilization remains attainable through persistent and coordinated efforts.

Notable Quotes

• Randy Hayes [00:19]: "This is not the age of ideas anymore. This is the age of implementation."
• Bill Reese [04:16]: "Consumption system and the energy production system."
• Randy Hayes [31:17]: "Democracy as we've known it has a fundamental flaw. We need ecologically informed democracy."
• Frankie Oliver [12:21]: "Rewilding because it feels like the overarching thing... shifts in agricultural and energy systems."
• Randy Hayes [33:36]: "Grab your project and run with it."

For further information and to support the initiatives discussed in this episode, visit Rewilding Earth.