{"id":15046,"date":"2024-10-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-12T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=15046"},"modified":"2024-10-11T09:06:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T08:06:16","slug":"green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-three","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-three\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Three"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image\" alt=\"Man and coins\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 27%\" style=\"object-position:50% 27%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern.jpg 992w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Three<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-10-12T08:00:00+01:00\">12 October 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">Our third and final blog investigating the concept of green growth. We look at the physical limits of growth, where green growth fits into our current system and what might come next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read&nbsp;<em>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part One<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read&nbsp;<em>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Two<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Physical Limits of Growth<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Green growth relies on increasing resource efficiency, maximising the benefit of existing natural resources. This would reduce demand for extracting primary resources and lessen environmental pressures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, resource efficiency ultimately reaches physical limits that cannot be transcended. One example is improving agricultural efficiency by maximising the number of crops that an area of land can produce. The land will eventually reach a physical limit as the carrying capacity of the land is reached. If demand grows beyond the physical limits of the land, that necessitates the expansion and cultivation of more land. This would in turn have negative environmental impacts including deforestation and land degradation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"802\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/no_one_cares.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/no_one_cares.jpg 802w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/no_one_cares-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/no_one_cares-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, as the physical limits of resource efficiency are reached, continued GDP growth, as well as rising demand from population growth, drives resource use back up. As long as natural resource extraction continues, so too follows negative environmental impacts including groundwater depletion, biodiversity loss, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(23)00174-2\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Is Green Growth Happening<\/a>, concludes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8230;<em>decoupling of GDP growth from resource use, whether relative or absolute, is at best only temporary. Permanent decoupling (absolute or relative) is impossible for essential, non-substitutable resources because the efficiency gains are ultimately governed by physical limits. Growth in GDP ultimately cannot plausibly be decoupled from growth in material and energy use, demonstrating categorically that GDP growth cannot be sustained indefinitely<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Catch-22 of (De)Growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many climate scientists predict that the only way to achieve the necessary reductions in resource use and emissions is through a process of degrowth. When the world is already in <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/planets-annual-budget-of-resources-used-up-in-just-7-months\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ecological overshoot<\/a>, consuming the equivalent resources of 1.7 earths, it appears that to stay within planetary boundaries would require a process of degrowth. This would include reducing production and consumption, especially in high-consuming countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the continued insistence on green growth, despite various criticisms, assumes that it\u2019s not politically acceptable to question economic growth. World leaders are not prepared to voluntary limit economic growth to tackle the climate crisis or limit environmental degradation. It would be considered antithetical to the nation\u2019s own interests in continued economic prosperity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern.jpg\" alt=\"Man and coins\" class=\"wp-image-15051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern.jpg 992w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/mathieu-stern-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As described in the study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(23)00174-2\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Is Green Growth Happening<\/a>, policymakers face the inevitable catch-22 of degrowth that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>the politically acceptable is ecologically disastrous while the ecologically necessary is politically impossible<\/em>.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Post Growth<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Green growth has been criticised for relying on unrealistic assumptions about decoupling and energy efficiency. Furthermore, it is said to make overly optimistic predictions of future zero-emissions technologies. And so long as global resource consumption is on the rise, due to continued population growth and increasing consumption, so too does it become unfeasible to fully decouple GDP from negative environmental impacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst there is value in existing green growth policies that focus on investing in renewable energy and improving resource efficiency, it\u2019s also important to consider a path beyond the growth mindset. The idea of moving beyond growth is starting to gain traction, especially with mounting criticism of the idea of green growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In May 2023, the European Parliament hosted a conference on the topic of \u201cBeyond Growth\u201d. The main objective was to discuss policy proposals to move beyond the traditional approach of national GDP growth being the primary measure of success. This was a positive development that signals a shift to a post-growth landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"633\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Picture8.png\" alt=\"Woman and leaf\" class=\"wp-image-15053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Picture8.png 633w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Picture8-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Six national and regional governments, including Scotland, New Zealand, Iceland, Wales, Finland, and Canada, have joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/weall.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wellbeing Economy Governments Alliance<\/a>. The primary aim of the movement to transition to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p> <em>an economy designed to serve people and planet, not the other way round.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Green growth may provide a potential model for low-income countries to develop and expand their economies. This would put them on the path to sustainable development, ensuring millions of people raise their standard of living.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, with the ongoing climate crisis, where we are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adh2458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transgressing six planetary boundaries<\/a> \u2013 high income countries overwhelmingly responsible for this \u2013 it\u2019s important that we act urgently to reduce further environmental degradation by reducing demand for resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Green growth has been criticised by leading climate scientists as unfeasible to truly achieve the absolute decoupling required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource demand. It may be necessary for high-income countries to move away from a focus on growth. Instead, it may be necessary to prioritise reducing pressure on the environment to solve the ecological challenges the world faces.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is part three of&nbsp;<em>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth?<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read part one&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read part two <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F09%2Fbuen-vivir-the-good-life-for-people-and-planet-part-one%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fagrowth-the-agnostic-approach-part-one%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D15046\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D15046&amp;text=Green%20Growth%3A%20Sustainable%20Future%20or%20Myth%3F%20-%20Part%20Three\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2F%3Fp%3D15046&amp;text=Green%20Growth%3A%20Sustainable%20Future%20or%20Myth%3F%20-%20Part%20Three\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Two<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k.jpg 878w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>We continue our series exploring alternative economic models. Here, in the second of three parts, we examine green growth, which seeks to achieve continued economic growth that is more environmentally sustainable.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/09\/endless-economic-growth-unsustainable-for-planet-and-people\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Endless economic growth unsustainable for planet and people<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-14754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>As part of an upcoming project exploring alternative economic models, this article looks at how the current pursuit of endless economic growth drives environmental degradation and deepens social inequality. The traditional growth mindset prevails among our political classes, but it is not working for planet or people.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part One<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-768x511.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith.jpg 939w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Green Growth asserts that continued economic growth can be compatible with staying in the ecological limits of our planet, with measures to decouple GDP growth from environmental impacts. It\u2019s become popular amongst policymakers, but climate scientists are sceptical that green growth can ever truly be green.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our third and final blog investigating the concept of green growth. We look at the physical limits of growth, where green growth fits into our current system and what might come next. ","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":15051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[13,14],"class_list":["post-15046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-economics","tag-environment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? - Part Three - Population Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We look at the physical limits of growth, where green growth fits into our current system and what might come next.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-three\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? - Part Three\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our third and final blog investigating the concept of green growth. 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