Mongabay Newscast

The many social and ecological benefits of a 'degrowth' world

Jan 30, 2024

Timothée Parrique, an economist from Lund University and an expert in degrowth economics, dives into the concept of degrowth—challenging the idea of endless growth in a finite world. He discusses how scaling back consumption in wealthier nations can improve global equity and environmental health. Parrique argues that by prioritizing well-being over GDP, communities can thrive ecologically and socially. He envisions a future where sustainability and happiness coexist, transforming urban planning and redefining prosperity beyond traditional economic metrics.

01:18:12

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Timothée Parrique

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Quick takeaways

Degrowth promotes a necessary shift in wealthy nations towards reduced consumption to allocate resources more equitably for lower-income countries.

The critique of GDP as a measure of economic health highlights how true societal well-being requires addressing inequality and resource distribution.

Implementing degrowth principles in urban planning, as seen in cities like Amsterdam and Brussels, fosters sustainability and prioritizes ecological health alongside community needs.

Deep dives

The Concept of Degrowth and Sustainable Development

Degrowth, originating in France in the early 2000s, advocates for a downscaling of production and consumption, particularly in wealthy nations, to reduce ecological footprints and promote sustainability. This concept challenges the traditional notions of sustainable development, which often equate economic growth with improvement. It posits that true sustainable development requires a 'two-speed' approach, where rich regions must intentionally consume less to free up resources for the Global South to build productive capacities and adapt to climate change. By reframing degrowth as a planned democratic process aimed at improving well-being rather than simply reducing output, advocates seek to create a more equitable distribution of resources globally.

Intro

5min

Rethinking Growth: The Path to Degrowth

31min

Rethinking Urban Development

22min

Redefining Prosperity: Beyond GDP

10min

Housing, Zoning, and Environmental Policy

4min

Imagining a Degrowth Future

5min

Reflections on Conversation and Community Support

2min

Can 'degrowth' solve our economic, social, and ecological problems? Economist Timothée Parrique thinks so. On this episode of the Mongabay Newscast, he joins co-host Rachel Donald to interrogate this 20+ year-old concept that critiques the notion of limitless growth in a finite world, and which offers tangible gains for people and planet.

The current economic model stretches the ecological limits of the planet – the Planetary Boundaries. Parrique says degrowth is a pathway for rich countries to scale back production and consumption – much of which contributes nothing to human well-being, research indicates – making room for low and middle-income nations to raise their standards of living, while allowing natural systems to continue supporting the ecosystem services humanity needs, like clean air and water.