Can 'degrowth' solve our economic, social, and ecological problems? Economist Timothée Parrique thinks so. On this episode of the Mongabay Newscast, he joins co-host Rachel Donald to interrogate this 20+ year-old concept that critiques the notion of limitless growth in a finite world, and which offers tangible gains for people and planet.
The current economic model stretches the ecological limits of the planet – the Planetary Boundaries. Parrique says degrowth is a pathway for rich countries to scale back production and consumption – much of which contributes nothing to human well-being, research indicates – making room for low and middle-income nations to raise their standards of living, while allowing natural systems to continue supporting the ecosystem services humanity needs, like clean air and water.
Related reading:
‘It’s Not the End of the World’ book assumptions & omissions spark debate
The nine boundaries humanity must respect to keep the planet habitable
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Image Caption: A bicycle lane in Fürth, Germany. Image by Markus Spiske via Unsplash.
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Timecodes:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:35) What is degrowth exactly?
(00:07:46) Is 'decoupling' the answer?
(00:12:52) Will 'limitless growth' improve quality of life?
(00:18:23) Wasted GDP in the USA
(00:25:28) Pushing the 'GDP button'
(00:35:20) Implementing degrowth
(00:47:57) A degrowth future
(00:56:44) Rachel & Mike post-chat
(01:12:45) Rachel asks Mike to imagine a day in a post-growth world
(01:16:42) Credits
Data scientist and head of research at Our World in Data, Hannah Ritchie, says her 'radically hopeful' new book that's getting a lot of press, "Not the End of the World: How We Can be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet," offers a pathway to solving the multiple environmental crises our world faces.
However, co-host Rachel Donald finds that key geopolitical challenges are left unaddressed by the book, leaving out important frameworks such as the planetary boundaries, and attempts to ride an "apolitical" line on solutions that inherently need policy shifts in order to be effectively implemented.
In this podcast interview, Donald challenges Ritchie on these questions and more. To hear specific topics discussed, refer to the chapter marks noted below.
Related reading at Mongabay:
The nine boundaries humanity must respect to keep the planet habitable
Mongabay Series: Planetary Boundaries
Please invite your friends to subscribe to the Mongabay Newscast wherever they get podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, or download our free app in the Apple Store or Google Store to get access to our latest episodes at your fingertips.
If you enjoy the Newscast, please visit www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge a dollar or more to keep the show growing, Mongabay is a nonprofit media outlet and all support helps!
See all our latest news from nature's frontline at Mongabay's homepage: news.mongabay.com or find and follow Mongabay on all the social media platforms.
Episode artwork by Pawel Czerwinski via Unsplash.
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Timecodes:
(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:03:57) - Renewable Energy and Political Will
(00:07:06) - Realism of Tech Solutions
(00:09:03) - Degrowth & Decoupling
(00:17:33) - Doomerism, Inequality & Politics
(00:28:45) - How does a transition happen?
(00:36:51) - Hannah defends terminology used in the book
(00:44:58) - Deforestation
(00:53:11) - Our World In Data & Bias
(01:06:19) - Mike & Rachel post-chat
(01:26:19) - Credits
In 2015, independent journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown and Sarawak Report uncovered the beginnings of what is now considered the world’s biggest money-laundering scandal. The crime resulted in billions stolen from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.
While former prime minister Najib Razak is now facing a 12-year prison sentence for his role in the crime, Rewcastle Brown herself has also faced legal actions against her, including an arrest warrant and an attempt to place her on Interpol’s Red Notice list of wanted fugitives.
Mongabay podcast co-host Rachel Donald speaks with Rewcastle Brown, the founder of the Sarawak Report, about what led her to investigate this scandal, as well as environmental destruction in Borneo.
Related reading:
Amid corruption scandal, Malaysia switches track on future of rail network
INTERPOL rejects Malaysia’s request to place journalist on Red Notice list