This is the third session of the Young Greens’ The Pillars of Green Politics series.

Based on understanding the fundamentals of Green politics under the pillars of ecology, social justice, nonviolence and democracy, the six-week series drills down into some key concepts which we see as defining our unique Green approach. In this session, we will explore Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Universal Basic Services (UBS) as two approaches that can build resilient communities and social justice.

Ever since their early foundation, Green parties around the world have advocated paying a non means-tested payment, or UBI, to all citizens. This could help support those in the greatest need to have some financial independence, tackling poverty, and providing greater bargaining power for workers against exploitative bosses.

Public services are also recognised as crucial institutions in building a just society. From public education to the National Health Service, these institutions are some of the most egalitarian parts of our economy and society. UBS takes this further and argues that human needs are universal. Needs can be met by collective provisioning and extend beyond just the bare essentials, including social participation, education and information. By meeting a range of needs we can create a more just, equal and sustainable society.

Sometimes advocates of UBI and UBS are seen as in conflict. But what do these crucial approaches really mean? What are the arguments in favour and what are the challenges to these agendas? Can the two approaches be reconciled?

For this discussion we will be joined by two fantastic guests to help us navigate these and many other questions.

Guy Standing is a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London. He is a co-founder BIEN, the Basic Income Earth Network, and is the author of multiple books including Basic Income: And How We Can Make it Happen, The Precariat and The Corruption of Capitalism.

Maeve Cohen is a Project Lead for The Social Guarantee, an organisation dedicated to advancing the arguments for UBS. She co-founded the student society Rethinking Economics dedicated to teaching pluralist approaches to economics that has grown into an international network of students and researchers. Maeve has also written about a feminst Green New Deal for the Women’s Budget Group and Women’s Environmental Network.

Following each speaker, audience questions will be put to the panel before the session closes.

This session is open to all that are interested in finding out more about these crucial topics.