Researcher warns at the UNAMAZ stand that the economy must be collective to prevent environmental damage.

Progress needs to be thought about and put into practice with a focus on collective, not individual, benefits, and the social and environmental costs of production must receive greater attention from world society — which are still largely neglected today. The warning was made this Saturday (15) by Professor Jon Erickson, from the University of Vermont (USA), author of the book The Illusion of Progress, during his participation at the UNAMAZ stand at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30).
Erickson explained that his book is titled as such because, for over 150 years, the dominant economic theory has argued that economic decisions are individual and that production is also based on individual choices. "These choices of economic man are an illusion, because none of this is, in fact, individual. Decisions must always be collective," he stated.
The researcher and writer expressed interest in collaborating with the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and other Brazilian and Pan-Amazonian institutions, such as UNAMAZ, to advance the construction of a "new form of economy: the ecological economy".

Accompanied by Professor Larissa Chermont, PhD, from the Faculty of Economics at the Institute of Applied Social Sciences of UFPA, Erickson gave a lecture and participated in debates with university professors and students at the Pavilion of the Association of Amazonian Universities (UNAMAZ). “UNAMAZ kindly welcomes us for the presentation of Professor Jon Erickson's book, which is part of the…”
The Society for Ecological Economics of the United States and the International Society.
We, from the Brazilian Society of Ecological Economics (EcoEco), together with UFPA, have initiated a cooperation to organize a program that will be submitted to UNESCO as a possible professorship, bringing together research, teaching and outreach projects in the area of ecological economics,” explained Larissa.
The project will involve the Amazon Ecological Economics Laboratory, created as an extension initiative and coordinated by the professor. “The focus of this program, developed in partnership with UNAMAZ and institutions from eight Amazonian countries, will be to monitor environmental policies in the Pan-Amazon region and understand how ecological economics offers a more realistic view of economic activity and bioeconomy. We will assess to what extent the region's public policies align with…”
"This perspective," he added. The proposal will be submitted to UNESCO by early 2026.
Following the lecture, Professor José Seixas Lourenço, Pro Tempore President of UNAMAZ, reinforced the network's commitment: “Professor Jon Erickson, count on us at UNAMAZ in this project, because we will not see a sustainable world without a new vision of planning and actions that consider all the people on the planet.”
Founded in 1987, UNAMAZ brings together universities, research institutes, and third-sector institutions from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.