introduction to degrowth
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction Degrowth François Schneider
Research & DegrowthICTA, UAB
Second international conference on Economic Degrowth for Sustainability and EquityPlenary session, Barcelona, 26 March 2010, www.degrowth.eu
We are living in times when humans are meeting the limits of
industrial development
What is degrowth?
An “equitable downscaling of production and consumption that increases human well-being and enhances ecological conditions at the local
and global level, in the short and long term”.Cleaner Production 18 (2010) 511–51
Degrowth is not a goal in itself
Multiple strategies of degrowthDegrowth is supported by a movement which
involves a range of strategies, which includes oppositions & “dissensus”voluntary simplicity and frugal innovationstheorisation & Divulgation in science and artsstruggles and political actions for the change of
some institutionsstruggles and political actions to conserve some
institutions.
Convergence of strategies
2- Alter-growthVoluntary Simplicity
1- Anti-growthCivil Desobedience
4- De-growthRedistributionCultural Change
5- No-growthSustainable society
3- A-growth: Research & Divulgation
Multiple concerns of degrowth
Degrowth is a voluntary reduction of the economic system for reasons of :
1- resource constraints2- well-being3- equality4- ecosystems sustainability5- cultural diversity6- democracy
Forecast of energeticgrowth in the world
International Energy Agency 2001
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
1971 2000 2010 2030
Mto
ns o
il eq
RenewablesHydraulicNuclearGasOilCoal
1- resource constraints
“forecast” of energetic degrowth in the world
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
1971 2000 2010 2030
Mto
ns o
il eq
RenewablesHydraulicNuclearGasOilCoal
For the meaning of life2- well-being
20% of humanity (Industrialised countries)
contribute to 86% of world spendingspossess 87% of the cars of the world (...)
3- equality
There are more than 500 000 000 cars in the world
€
With the generalisation of the rate of motorization in the world, we would have 6 times more cars in 50 years(3 billions cars)
www.ladecroissance.net/
4- ecosystems sustainability
For human relations & Conviviality
5- cultural diversity
ÿ
March for degrowth - 2005
For a deepening of democracy
6- democracy
CASSEURS DE PUB
“with a degrowth of 4% for 30 years we could avoid climate catatrophe , final exhaustion of natural resources and save our economy while in the same time save humanity and nature even if you consider this secondary”
Extract from the postcard to the ministry in 2001
Economic
Social
Environmental
Economy
Sustainable Development
Social
Environmental
Economy
Sustainable Degrowth
SustainableDevelopment
Environment Social
Economic
Environment SocialEconomic
Sustainable Degrowth