The latest IPCC report to limit global warming to 1.5° presents four scenarios. Three of them strongly depend on negative emission technologies, which are highly controversial as they have not been proven to work at the required scale and represent an “unjust and high-stakes gamble”. The IPCC also provides a fourth scenario that does not rely on negative emissions, but which notably requires that “global material production and consumption declines significantly”.
A reduction of economic activity is necessary and just – and can lead to human flourishing.
Moss Graffiti Image: Kulturlabor Trial&Error, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
To sustain the natural basis of our life, we must slow down. We have to reduce the amount of extraction, pollution, and waste throughout our economy. This implies less production, less consumption, and probably also less work.
The responsibility to do so must lie mainly on the rich, who currently enjoy a disproportionate share of our resources. But we should also do things differently, as much of today’s economic activity is of little benefit to human wellbeing. Imagine what could be if we organized democratically to produce what we actually need, distributed those resources fairly, and shared them in common. This, in a nutshell, is the vision of degrowth: a good life for all within planetary boundaries. And while this might seem utopian…
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The Most Revolutionary Act 
yes. sounds good. but if you aint talking about the degrowth of the pentagon youre just whistling past the graveyard. otherwise while we are down here degrowthing the pentagon will still be out there ecociding us.
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Absolutely, nomad. In my view the defense contractors need to be the first to go.
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that would solve so many of our problems. in addition to those mentioned by Johnstone, it would go a long way in curtailing geoengineering, which is likely the primary cause of global warming and bird and bee die offs.
http://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=27876
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speaking of which a miss the huge bumble bees that used to guard my doorway during the warmer months (because of the bush near my door). also Ive noticed there is not as much chemtrailing in my area since Trump took office. though i doubt there is a causal relationship, since he doesn’t give a damn about degrading nature. probably coincidence.
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Anyone who visits a grocery store or any shopping center can see that overproduction, as we have now, has led to glutted markets of cheap plastic junk, frivolous trinkets, degraded, processed food, and a steady increase of packaging to product ratios. De-growth is already happening, because people are maxed out on credit and taxes and mis-allocation of resources.
Consumerist propaganda from advertising and the media glosses over the fact that production has vastly outstripped sales for most things. New cars are rusting at the docks. In port cities like Savannah, storage facilities are packed and new ones being built to store all the imports that no one can sell.
People don’t have homes to store their stuff, and many older people already have all the appliances and furniture they need, and for some, more than they need, of clothes, shoes, tools, and cars. These are the people who are just looking to get rid of stuff, not buy more.
And I completely agree with nomad, above, that we should start with the Pentagon.
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Very eloquent observation, Katherine. And you’re right. They can’t get people to buy shit the way they used to. I assume this is why the global economy has stagnated since 2008.
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