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Home / GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Volume 24, Number 4

Why the Post-growth Debate Is Not a Wrong Turn

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Author: Loske, Reinhard

Source: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Volume 24, Number 4, 2015, pp. 236-239(4)

Publisher: oekom verlag

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.24.4.7

In their paper Jakob and Edenhofer (2014) argue that reflecting on conßicts between “degrowth” and “green growth” concepts is a useless thing. Instead of discussing the growth issue it would make much more sense to focus on what they call a “welfare diagnostics” approach that deßnes minimum requirements for basic needs. No doubt, this approach has its merits. It is more or less similar to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. But since the authors leave out real-world conßicts and interests as well as the economic drivers of growth, capital accumulation and consumerism, their approach appears quite apolitical. To keep quiet about growth imperatives and their compulsive dimensions is not an adequate answer to the challenges of sustainability.

Keywords: causes of growth; cultural and historical dimensions of “growth critique"; global inequality; overconsumption; sustainable economy

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 01 January 2015

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  • GAIA is a peer-reviewed inter- and transdisciplinary journal for scientists and other interested parties concerned with the causes and analyses of environmental and sustainability problems and their solutions.

    Environmental problems cannot be solved by one academic discipline. The complex natures of these problems require cooperation across disciplinary boundaries. Since 1991, GAIA has offered a well-balanced and practice-oriented forum for transdisciplinary research. GAIA offers first-hand information on state of the art environmental research and on current solutions to environmental problems. Well-known editors, advisors, and authors work to ensure the high quality of the contributions found in GAIA and a unique transdisciplinary dialogue – in a comprehensible style.

    GAIA is an ISI-journal, listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Science Citation Index and in Current Contents/Social and Behavioral Sciences.

    All contributions undergo a double-blind peer review.

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