Jason Hickel on how degrowth will save the world (part two)
Dec 19, 2021
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Jason Hickel discusses 'green growth' and challenges decoupling growth from resource use. He debates the compatibility of the Green New Deal with degrowth principles and warns of increased worker exploitation in a capitalist green transition.
Transitioning to renewable energy within capitalism may intensify material exploitation for renewables.
Circular economy's growth-focused limitations may hinder sustainable resource use goals and internalize costs.
Deep dives
Negative Outcome of COP26 and the Failure to Address Global Emissions
The outcomes of COP26 were considered a failure, with countries' pledges leading to significant global warming overshoot. The pledges made fell short of reducing global emissions, crucial for staying under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Even with commitments to phasing down coal, not phasing out, the necessary emissions reduction targets seem unattainable, signaling a bleak outlook for climate justice and the planet's future.
Transition to Renewable Energy and Resource Extraction Challenges
Transitioning to renewable energy while maintaining capitalism could result in intensive exploitation of materials necessary for renewables. Materials required for renewable technologies are extracted, often from the global south, leading to environmental and social impacts. Without reducing energy demands and addressing material extraction, renewable energy firms could replicate the destructive practices seen in fossil fuel industries.
Limitations of Circular Economy Concept in Addressing Growth Impacts
The circular economy concept, focusing on recycling and closed production loops, faces limitations in a growth-focused system. While promoting recycling and sustainability, the circular economy may not effectively reduce overall resource extraction levels. Growth-oriented economic models may outpace recycling capacity improvements, hindering sustainable resource use goals and internalizing costs could conflict with the goal of cheapening inputs for capital accumulation.
Need for Collaborative Movements to Address Ecological Crisis
Addressing the ecological crisis requires collaboration between radical environmentalist analyses, labor unions, and anti-colonial social movements. Unions clinging to growthism for short-term gains should engage in dialogues promoting sustainable policies that enhance livelihoods without relying on growth. Aligning with global south movements advocating for degrowth can foster a just transition to a sustainable post-capitalist economy.
Jason Hickel returns to PTO for the second part of a two part interview on his book, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World. We talked about the concept of 'green growth', and why the notion of decoupling growth from intensive resource use is ultimately unconvincing. We also chatted about the Green New Deal and whether it is compatible with the politics of degrowth. And finally we talked about Jason's argument that a green energy and resource transition, if undertaken with no challenge to the growth imperative of capitalism, could pave the way for radically increased exploitation of workers.
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