Post-growth: A Viable Path to Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C
A Pathway to Limiting Global Warming: Insights from Pioneering Study
At a time when climate action is more urgent than ever, Policy Lab is proud to share the revolutionary findings of “Post-Growth: A Viable Path to Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C,” a scientific study that highlights the critical role of economic strategies in addressing climate change.
Conducted by Policy Lab co-founder Aljoša Slameršak, along with esteemed colleagues Giorgos Kallis, Daniel W. O’Neill and Jason Hickel, the study makes a compelling case for rethinking our economic growth models.
The study, published in the prestigious journal One Earth, was led by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), the Universitat de Barcelona (UB), the University of Leeds and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). It highlights the stark contrasts between the paths of continued economic expansion and the adoption of post-growth principles in mitigating climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Key findings and implications
The study’s lead author, Aljoša Slameršak, highlights the critical window of opportunity between 2023 and 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. The research challenges the prevailing assumption that high rates of economic growth can coexist with effective climate mitigation strategies. By analysing different growth scenarios, the study shows that maintaining economic growth rates around 4% per year, as currently projected in climate mitigation scenarios, is fundamentally incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Daniel W. O’Neill also points out that reducing economic growth rates below the historical trend of around 2% per year could significantly reduce CO2 emissions, providing a viable strategy for bridging the gap between current emissions trajectories and sustainable climate goals.
Towards a post-growth future
The research highlights the need for a transition to post-growth economies, particularly in high-income countries, to prioritise human well-being and environmental sustainability over relentless economic expansion. Jason Hickel outlines potential post-growth interventions, such as addressing inequalities, ensuring universal access to decent living standards, and increasing public investment in low-carbon energy transitions.
Giorgos Kallis concludes that economic growth, as currently pursued, limits the options for averting dangerous climate change. This important study calls on policymakers in wealthy nations to rethink economic growth as a primary objective, paving the way for a post-growth future focused on social and environmental well-being.
Policy Lab’s commitment
While Policy Lab did not directly contribute to this groundbreaking research, we stand firmly behind its implications and the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards a post-growth economy. By promoting this study and its findings, Policy Lab aims to encourage a wider understanding and adoption of sustainable economic practices that are consistent with our planet’s ecological limits and our collective quest for a more equitable world.
The full article: https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(23)00507-9
