GAYA HERRINGTON: Complete global collapse by 2040? The prediction is “right on track”...
Aug 22, 2023
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Gaya Herrington, a global collapse expert and adviser for the Club of Rome, reveals alarming insights from her work, underscoring the predictions from the 1972 MIT study about imminent societal collapse by 2040. She argues that unchecked economic growth is pushing us toward disaster. Gaya discusses the importance of systems thinking, advocating for a shift in priorities towards sustainability and human well-being. She highlights the role of indigenous knowledge and proposes transformative changes needed to avert these looming crises.
Gaya Herrington emphasizes that humanity's continuous economic growth approach is unsustainable and must stop to avoid global collapse.
Systems thinking is crucial for understanding the intricate interactions within economic and ecological systems, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions.
Addressing key leverage points like regenerative agriculture and income inequality can help forge a sustainable future beyond mere growth.
Deep dives
Price Adjustments in the Wireless Industry
Big wireless companies have been raising prices in response to inflation, leading to Mint Mobile's decision to decrease their prices significantly. Mint Unlimited, previously priced at $30 per month, is now offered at just $15, contrasting sharply with the trend of increased costs in the industry. This intentional lowering of prices aims to provide consumers with a more affordable alternative, countering the profit-driven motives of larger companies. By offering a more accessible price point, Mint Mobile is positioning itself as a consumer-friendly option in the competitive wireless market.
The Limits to Growth Report
In 1972, the Club of Rome published the significant report 'The Limits to Growth,' which predicted that humanity's relentless pursuit of infinite growth on a finite planet would lead to eventual collapse. The report's findings suggested that without substantial changes in consumption and production patterns, society would face a decline in essential metrics like industrial output, food production, and overall welfare by around 2040. The research emphasized the need for a shift away from growth-centric economic models towards more sustainable practices. Nearly 50 years later, a new analysis reaffirmed the report's predictions, suggesting that current trends closely mirror the dire scenarios it outlined.
The Role of Systems Thinking
The podcast argues for the use of systems thinking as a critical framework for understanding the complex interactions within global economic and ecological systems. Traditional models often fail to account for feedback loops and the interplay of various factors, which can lead to unintended consequences and persistent problems. Systems thinking enables a comprehensive view that encompasses both social and environmental dynamics, highlighting the importance of looking beyond simple, linear solutions. This approach reveals that merely pursuing technological fixes is inadequate without addressing deeper systemic issues, including consumption patterns and societal inequities.
Transformative Change and Leverage Points
To avert impending collapse, the podcast identifies five leverage points that can drive transformative change within our societal structures. These include environmental strategies like regenerative agriculture and energy transition, alongside crucial social aspects such as reducing income inequality and promoting gender equity. By addressing these areas, a more just and sustainable framework can be built for future development. This requires concerted efforts to reposition our economic goals away from mere growth and towards enhancing overall human well-being and ecological health.
The Sacredness of Planetary Boundaries
The conversation emphasizes the concept of planetary boundaries, which serve as vital limits that humanity must respect to maintain ecological balance and societal welfare. Violating these boundaries could lead to irreversible damage to ecosystems and human society, making it crucial to recognize and act upon these limits before facing dire consequences. The idea is not merely to adhere to a restrictive viewpoint but to embrace the concept of limits as a means of fostering a healthier relationship with our planet. In doing so, societies can work towards sustainable practices that prioritize both human needs and ecological integrity, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling existence.
Gaya Herrington (Club of Rome adviser, “global collapse” expert) hit headlines when she showed that a world-stopping 1972 MIT study and bestselling book predicting the collapse of civilisation by 2040 was…right on track. She was a KPMG economist and financial advisor to the Dutch government when she released the report in 2021. I read it and was left speechless.
Gaya’s now just published a book, Five Insights for Avoiding Global Collapse, which sets out a bunch of surprising ways we might be able to save ourselves in time. Gaya’s message is stark: Economic growth must stop now! We are hitting the global limits of our more-more-more approach and the decline will be fast. What does the data tell us that can save us? The answer won’t be what you’re expecting. In this chat we flesh out how systems theory works, why we’re obsessed with growth and why rich white men resist change the most.