Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #degrowth
Most recents (24)
1/ Today is Show Your Stripes Day, and I'm here to shed light on Belgium's numbers and why it's crucial to take action NOW. Let's dive in and see how we can be part of the solution! #ShowYourStripes #ClimateEmergency
A thread 🧵
A thread 🧵
2/ 🌡️🌍Belgium has been experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand. Rising temperatures & extreme weather events are clear indicators of the urgent action needed to combat this global crisis. Here are some numbers that highlight the challenges we face.
3/ 🌍 Belgium has seen a significant increase in average temps over the past few decades. Since the 1800s, the temp has risen by 1.8°C, with the increase accelerating in recent years. This warming trend threatens ecosystems, agriculture, & overall well-being of our society.
#THREAD
Advocates of #degrowth say that addressing the #climatecrisis requires nothing less than a fundamental rejection of the whole principle of continuous economic growth as a policy objective.
Is #degrowth finally becoming a realistic option?
ft.com/content/e2f966…
Advocates of #degrowth say that addressing the #climatecrisis requires nothing less than a fundamental rejection of the whole principle of continuous economic growth as a policy objective.
Is #degrowth finally becoming a realistic option?
ft.com/content/e2f966…
The concerns of #degrowth advocates have, slowly but surely, moved from the fringes of Europe’s policy debate to at least being granted a hearing in the EU institutions. European parliamentarians recently organised the second iteration of a conference entitled “Beyond Growth”.
Green MEP Philippe Lamberts says he faced “quite a lot of pushback from the [European] Commission” at the first “Beyond Growth” conference in 2018. The attitude then, he says, was “if I didn’t believe in growth, I should find another job”. Five years on, it is a different story.
What is it to be a doomer?
I believe that society - global developed societies in the aggregate - are going to push the global ecosystem into a state which is not hospitable to standard model H. Sap. I think we're going to break some combination of natural systems to the point
I believe that society - global developed societies in the aggregate - are going to push the global ecosystem into a state which is not hospitable to standard model H. Sap. I think we're going to break some combination of natural systems to the point
2. Where neither the manner nor the quantity of participants in human society worldwide can continue as we have known it this past hundred years.
That's really all we're talking about, is the last hundred, hundred and twenty years.
You could go back over 200 to get the roots. But
That's really all we're talking about, is the last hundred, hundred and twenty years.
You could go back over 200 to get the roots. But
3. that's less than one year, for each hundred thousand years, that we've been here as Homo Sap.
For the most recent .00001% of our time here we've used high energy, concentrated energy, to accelerate the rate of our work.
Fucked things up to a fare thee well in the process. Fast
For the most recent .00001% of our time here we've used high energy, concentrated energy, to accelerate the rate of our work.
Fucked things up to a fare thee well in the process. Fast
Hi it's the crazy old guy with the hobby horse.
Speed.
Just this weekend I've seen several tweets which take a stance like mine, that we can't build our way out.
#degrowth is dragging a chair up to the table and demanding to be heard.
Good. I approve. Thank you.
Speed.
Just this weekend I've seen several tweets which take a stance like mine, that we can't build our way out.
#degrowth is dragging a chair up to the table and demanding to be heard.
Good. I approve. Thank you.
What I am giving you is the specific action which leads to, forces, degrowth.
We live in a growth economy paradigm. Joe Biden is the President we need if we want to continue the growth economy paradigm. He's great at buying concrete and steel, diesel fuel and electricity. More.
We live in a growth economy paradigm. Joe Biden is the President we need if we want to continue the growth economy paradigm. He's great at buying concrete and steel, diesel fuel and electricity. More.
3. Economic growth and Quadrillion BTU units - Quads, one solid measure of energy throughput - go hand in hand.
Economic growth means that more materials get moved, processed, manufactured, packaged, shipped, bought, opened, used, thrown away.
Each step takes energy.
Economic growth means that more materials get moved, processed, manufactured, packaged, shipped, bought, opened, used, thrown away.
Each step takes energy.
🧵 Over the last three days, two conferences concerning the future have taken place.
Naturally, the only one the British media covered was the meeting of cranks, halfwits (hello Lee), racists, neo-fascists, far-right christian fundamentalists and assorted Tory ministers.
But…
Naturally, the only one the British media covered was the meeting of cranks, halfwits (hello Lee), racists, neo-fascists, far-right christian fundamentalists and assorted Tory ministers.
But…
…there was another conference.
The #BeyondGrowth2023 conference took place in the European Parliament & was a joyous meeting of many of the brightest, most progressive thinkers, political leaders, academics, scientists, economists and activists.
The conference…
The #BeyondGrowth2023 conference took place in the European Parliament & was a joyous meeting of many of the brightest, most progressive thinkers, political leaders, academics, scientists, economists and activists.
The conference…
… aimed to discuss and co-create policies for sustainable prosperity in Europe, based on a systemic and transformative approach to economic, social and environmental sustainability and its encompassing governance framework. #Degrowth
The organisers aim was to…
The organisers aim was to…
Some of my favourite threads and articles from the last week-ish, roughly in order of (1) problem -> (2) way forward -> (3) momentum:
(1) Problem: our growth-based economies are at the heart of our ecological crises
🧵 (1/16)
(1) Problem: our growth-based economies are at the heart of our ecological crises
🧵 (1/16)
"The fact is that we cannot keep growing the same cancerous way ‘except solar’. It’s like saying I’m going to switch lung cancer for eye cancer. I mean, still cancer…. we’re getting a brutal lesson this century whether we want it or not."
(2/16)
indica.medium.com/why-solar-wont…
(2/16)
indica.medium.com/why-solar-wont…
“…we must rapidly reduce consumption/destruction of natural resources and associated fossil fuel use. This is only achievable by reversing economic ‘growth’ …. This is not unrealistic or anti-capitalist — it’s counting.”
(3/16)
medium.com/@JacksonDamian…
(3/16)
medium.com/@JacksonDamian…
When it comes to choosing between achieving sustainability goals or pursuing growth, 99% (maybe more?) of the time companies will choose growth and expansion.
(1/9)
footwearnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/footwearne…
#degrowth
(1/9)
footwearnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/footwearne…
#degrowth
In this example Crocs can't achieve its initial sustainability goals because it acquired a brand and because of its "ongoing global expansion", even though they admit that their initial net-zero by 2030 goal was "neither vast nor fast enough".
(2/9)
(2/9)
To be clear, Crocs Inc had committed to a net-zero target and has a global head of sustainability, which is a "a newly created position at Crocs to help hit the ambitious goal of being net zero".
(3/9)
(3/9)
No to reform! My review of Kohei Saito's 'Marx in the Anthropocene: Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism'.
| Steady State Manchester steadystatemanchester.net/2023/05/02/no-…
#Saito #degrowth #Marx #anthropocene #BookReview
| Steady State Manchester steadystatemanchester.net/2023/05/02/no-…
#Saito #degrowth #Marx #anthropocene #BookReview
"Saito’s key finding, and key argument, is that the later Marx rethought his earlier positions, both as a result of, and as a reason for, pursuing extensive studies in the physical and biological sciences, on the one hand, and pre-capitalist societies on the other."
"Marx thoroughly revised his position. That included abandoning the notion of stages of history and, critically, the idea that socialism must follow capitalism, standing on the pillars it had erected."
🧵Jem Bendell's Deep Adaptation framework offers a different perspective on climate change, suggesting that collapse is inevitable, and that we must focus on personal and community #adaptation. This framework is built upon the 4R model: Resilience, Relinquishment, Restoration, 👇
and Reconciliation. Considering the concern of continuing industrialization and its impact on the environment, it is worth examining how the Deep Adaptation framework can guide us in determining the correct course of action.
Resilience:Strengthening Our Communities and Systems👇
Resilience:Strengthening Our Communities and Systems👇
#Resilience refers to the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to withstand the shocks and stresses brought about by climate change and environmental collapse. The emphasis is on local resilience, including the development of self-sufficient food, water, and energy👇
Y'all know about me and #slowdown. If you're new here - which, by the way, welcome aboard, I've acquired some new readers lately and thanks for coming. But - if you haven't, please read my pinned tweet. It is a serious proposition to combat climate change and ecosystem collapse.
2. I don't think many people see the speed component of our culture the same way I do. I think most people see speed and think, miles per gallon, how big a difference can that make, and - it can make a big difference.
3. I wrote a thread a little while back where I googled a bunch of relevant facts and demonstrated with real numbers how we could reduce our fossil fuel use by literally millions of gallons of gasoline a year, just by slowing modestly.
Over the course of history, all new energy sources have been *incremental* to existing energy sources. This includes renewables - thus far they have not replaced fossil fuels, which continue to grow in usage. (1/7)
Our growth-based economic system means that we turn that new energy into more consumption rather than displace existing sources of energy. GDP and energy use are virtually correlated on a 1:1 ratio (2/7)
Thankfully we can live happy, healthy lives with less energy, this study shows that “decent standards of living could be provided to a growing global population for less than 40 per cent of the energy used around the world today.” (3/7)
euronews.com/green/2020/10/…
euronews.com/green/2020/10/…
Der IPCC zeigt: 1,5 Grad sind noch möglich – aber sehr unwahrscheinlich. Die größte Überraschung des Berichts hat es jedoch nicht in die Summary for Policymakers geschafft. Es geht um die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Klimakrise und Wirtschaftswachstum. 🧵1/12
Um die 1,5-Grad-Grenze nicht zu überschreiten, bleiben allerdings nur noch wenige Jahre; knapp zwei um genau zu sein. Die CO₂-Emissionen müssen ihren Höchststand spätestens 2025 erreichen, oder 1,5 Grad werden mit großer Sicherheit überschritten.
Die größte Sensation des Berichts allerdings ist folgende: Zum ersten Mal benennt der IPCC in aller Deutlichkeit den Zusammenhang zwischen Wachstumszielen und #Klimakrise. Das Fazit: Ein BIP-orientiertes Wirtschaftswachstum ist mit dem Pariser Klimaabkommen nicht vereinbar.
I am going to build a thread tonight on Erin's excellent thread from yesterday.
I invite all to read Erin's thread and her supporting documents. I will be addressing one of them later.
I call readers' attention to the graph here on the opening tweet.
I invite all to read Erin's thread and her supporting documents. I will be addressing one of them later.
I call readers' attention to the graph here on the opening tweet.
2. The pinky - beigey parts are what we're doing. "Implemented policies."
The green line is what we'd have to do to stay at or below 2° C, the blue one 1.5° C.
The red one goes the wrong direction. It slopes up.
After a while it appears to slope back down, but
The green line is what we'd have to do to stay at or below 2° C, the blue one 1.5° C.
The red one goes the wrong direction. It slopes up.
After a while it appears to slope back down, but
3. The upslope is real and the downslope is "projected."
So - it slopes up.
So - it slopes up.
@Bowenchris is so close to getting it.
Just a little bit further to go.
Those hard to abate sectors will need to be wound down.
Let’s start being honest. Offsets should be used to achieve targets over & above the science (>75% reduction for Aus).
🧵
Just a little bit further to go.
Those hard to abate sectors will need to be wound down.
Let’s start being honest. Offsets should be used to achieve targets over & above the science (>75% reduction for Aus).
🧵
Not to get to inadequate targets (43%). To compensate for our historic emissions and help other countries achieve their targets.
Not to allow environmentally harmful sectors to continue indefinitely.
Not to allow environmentally harmful sectors to continue indefinitely.
Perhaps @auspol needs to be briefed on #degrowth? The only mathematically feasible way to limit warming to less than 2 degrees & avoid tipping points in the Earth’s system that will lead to Hothouse Earth.
illuminem.com/illuminemvoice…
illuminem.com/illuminemvoice…
Here is the recording of @jasonhickel speaking to the Dutch parliament on the topic of #degrowth earlier today.
It’s been described as a “masterclass in cutting through mainstream myths about the economy”.
It’s been described as a “masterclass in cutting through mainstream myths about the economy”.
Perhaps @StephanieKelton can be invited to speak to the Dutch parliament soon, to help clear up the myth of “the government is a household and needs tax revenue to spend”.
And perhaps @adribuller can talk to the Dutch parliament about how putting a price on everything is absurd.
Does #degrowth mean austerity? No, it means communal luxury. Here’s why:
Let’s use the example of a tool library. Currently, 55% of Americans own 5-10 power tools, while only 23% own 10+
Meanwhile, @TheToolLibrary has 3,000 tools, all free to check-out like a library book
Let’s use the example of a tool library. Currently, 55% of Americans own 5-10 power tools, while only 23% own 10+
Meanwhile, @TheToolLibrary has 3,000 tools, all free to check-out like a library book
If tools became more expensive— reflecting the negative externalities created by their production—it would reduce people’s ability to amass them
But paired w/ tool libraries, access to tools would dramatically increase, not decrease. This would make us richer, not poorer
But paired w/ tool libraries, access to tools would dramatically increase, not decrease. This would make us richer, not poorer
Not only would it increase your personal access to tools, it would increase everyone’s. And since you share the world w/ others, you would benefit from that as well: your neighbors would make more repairs, complete more projects, & there’d be fewer negative externalities
This is a fascinating deep dive into how the sustainability of bicycle production has changed.
A tale of planned obsolescence, overproduction, carbon inefficiency, rising energy and material use, and reduced life expectancy. @lowtechmagazine
solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2023/02/can-we…
A tale of planned obsolescence, overproduction, carbon inefficiency, rising energy and material use, and reduced life expectancy. @lowtechmagazine
solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2023/02/can-we…
While the energy and material used for the production of bicycles increased over recent decades, in line with carbon emissions, life expectancy decreases.
One reason are changing materials.
One reason are changing materials.
As we argue in The Future is Degrowth @VersoBooks:
"As long as the primacy of economic efficiency – rather than criteria of sustainability and utility – dominates design processes and investments in technical infrastructures, this transformation will not succeed."
"As long as the primacy of economic efficiency – rather than criteria of sustainability and utility – dominates design processes and investments in technical infrastructures, this transformation will not succeed."
This is an immensely important intervention.
A new manifesto that critiques the "clean energy" transitions of the Global North and offers an alternative vision from the Global South.
Please read this key analysis and the demands ⬇️
fpif.org/manifesto-for-…
A new manifesto that critiques the "clean energy" transitions of the Global North and offers an alternative vision from the Global South.
Please read this key analysis and the demands ⬇️
fpif.org/manifesto-for-…
It starts by taking stock of the post-Covid situation, in which the "engines of this unjust status quo—capitalism, patriarchy, colonialism, and various fundamentalisms—are making a bad situation worse"
And then analyses how the "energy transition" plays out differently in the Global South and the Global North
While reading yet another book that made beautifully the case that the relentless pursuit of economic growth is destroying our planet, something clicked.
I understood why environmentalists should be at the forefront of helping #Ukraine and Ukrainians defend against predation. 1/
I understood why environmentalists should be at the forefront of helping #Ukraine and Ukrainians defend against predation. 1/
This may seem a far-fetched connection, so let me explain.
There is no lack of well-argued treatises pointing out that the pursuit of economic growth is now eating our world alive.
I agree. Prioritizing economic growth means that environmental goals cannot be priorities. 2/
There is no lack of well-argued treatises pointing out that the pursuit of economic growth is now eating our world alive.
I agree. Prioritizing economic growth means that environmental goals cannot be priorities. 2/
Many environmental and #degrowth thinkers see the "growth imperative" as an ideological choice that benefits the rich. They also see the growth imperative as "baked in" to societal structures. That is correct.
But the problem is that isn't the whole truth.
3/
But the problem is that isn't the whole truth.
3/
Someone asked me yesterday if the discovery nuclear fusion will mean we won't need degrowth anymore.
On the contrary, I think it underlines why degrowth is so important.
These 4 graphs show why.
On the contrary, I think it underlines why degrowth is so important.
These 4 graphs show why.
The short of it is, even if we invent a source of unlimited free energy, we are already crossing the boundaries of countless life support systems other than the carbon cycle.
In 2015, we had already crossed 3 planetary boundaries, including biodiversity.
In 2015, we had already crossed 3 planetary boundaries, including biodiversity.
Free energy won't solve that, we'll still need to transform and radically reduce our global material and energy use and destruction of ecosystems. In fact, it might speed it up.
#degrowth
#biodiversity
#nuclearfusion
#degrowth
#biodiversity
#nuclearfusion
Hilft #Degrowth beim Klimaschutz?
Das Wirtschaftswachstum soll verantwortlich sein für die #Klimakrise
Die Lösung: Zurück zur Wirtschaftsleistung der Siebziger Jahre.
Macht das Sinn?
1/9
Das Wirtschaftswachstum soll verantwortlich sein für die #Klimakrise
Die Lösung: Zurück zur Wirtschaftsleistung der Siebziger Jahre.
Macht das Sinn?
1/9
“Ökoenergie wird knapp und teuer bleiben”
Das ist Ulrike Herrmanns Diagnose in ihrem Buch "Das Ende des Kapitalismus"
Das Ausbaupotential bei Wind & Solar in de reicht nicht aus. Wir müssen mit 100% EE zwischen 1/3 und 2/3 unserer Energie importieren:
2/9
Das ist Ulrike Herrmanns Diagnose in ihrem Buch "Das Ende des Kapitalismus"
Das Ausbaupotential bei Wind & Solar in de reicht nicht aus. Wir müssen mit 100% EE zwischen 1/3 und 2/3 unserer Energie importieren:
2/9
H2-Importe sind nur eine technologische Lösung von mehreren:
1. Energieeffizienz
2. Carbon Capture
3. Kernenergie
zu 1.: Tatsächlich ist das deutsche Wirtschaftswachstum bereits seit ca. 2000 vom Energieverbrauch entkoppelt. Seit 2010 sinkt der Verbrauch sogar trotz Wachstum.
3/9
1. Energieeffizienz
2. Carbon Capture
3. Kernenergie
zu 1.: Tatsächlich ist das deutsche Wirtschaftswachstum bereits seit ca. 2000 vom Energieverbrauch entkoppelt. Seit 2010 sinkt der Verbrauch sogar trotz Wachstum.
3/9
I state as a thesis that the best chance humanity has to go escape the worst of the ecosystem catastrophe which is currently in progress is to reduce all energy use to historically available food energies, mill ponds, sailing ships, no cars, airplanes, steamships, trucks.
2. The primary and most highly rewarded daily activity for people everywhere would be to participate in a system which steadily increases ecosystem productivity at all levels everywhere.
Humans would rearrange themselves across the landscape in such a way that the most good
Humans would rearrange themselves across the landscape in such a way that the most good
3. could be done with the least energy.
Society would bear no outward resemblance to today. There would be no thing in use that moved faster than its own living ability. Feet would be the default transportation, with upgrades available to buggies.
Society would bear no outward resemblance to today. There would be no thing in use that moved faster than its own living ability. Feet would be the default transportation, with upgrades available to buggies.
La #décroissance n'a jamais été aussi populaire. Voici une sélection d'articles dans les médias.
THREAD/
THREAD/
