Post-Growth

In this interview, commons scholar Silke Helfrich discusses the connection between degrowth and the commons, and how these two concepts can help us build a sustainable economy.

It is vital now to distinguish between the terms “sustainable development” and “degrowth”, as while one has lost meaning, another is more relevant than ever. Written before the start of COP21, this piece sets apart the two and highlights the importance of changing our view of what constitutes a healthy, climate-friendly economy.

The ecological production project of the Green European Foundation (ECOPRO) centralises its focus on the development of sustainable green technologies in a post-growth society.

For many people it seems easier to imagine the end of the world, or even the end of capitalism, than to imagine the end of growth. To break this spell of growth, we bring you some of the policy proposals that are derived from the theory of degrowth.

Everyone agrees that we are in the midst of a massive financial and economic crisis – but how can it be resolved? A new publication from Green House think tank, ‘The Post Growth Project’, sets out to critically examine why growth is regarded as so central to our economic system, and to challenge the assumption that it is ‘bad news’ when the economy doesn’t grow.

Discussions among proponents of green growth and those of degrowth often fall within the category of debates that are not fruitful. But it is possible to give structure to it and to try to develop a better understanding of the link between growth, globalisation, new technologies and well-being.

The idea of degrowth has always been a strain Green thought, but what exactly would degrowth mean for our economy, society and relationship with the planet? Does degrowth provide the answer to the social and ecological crisis?

A relationship with, not against, nature should be one of the core principles of ‘green growth’.

Looking beyond (de)growth, what sort of economic and political changes are required in Croatia to bring about both an equitable and sustainable economy?

Responding to the third edition of the GEJ, ‘Beyond Growth/Degrowth’, this piece looks at the ecological movement’s relationship with modernity and science, and considers what implications this debate has for the Swedish Greens.