Economics for Rebels

Dr. Benjamin Franta discusses climate litigation, holding big oil accountable, historical responsibility, and the challenges of proving moral culpability. The podcast delves into the transition from physics to climate change activism, legal ramifications for big oil, and the difficulties in holding asset managers accountable for investments. Future forecasts include nature and cultural rights litigation against companies for climate damages.

Ecological economist Robert Costanza discusses societal addiction to economic growth in 'Addicted to Growth'. The podcast explores the analogy of addiction, the stages of dealing with addiction, and the need for collective vision based on sustainable principles. It delves into behavior change, creating shared visions for a sustainable future, and alternative decision-making methods like deliberative democracy and sociocracy.

Some key mainstream critiques of postgrowth economics revolve around labour, and what the labour market would look like in a postgrowth economy, with the common perception being that economic contraction tends to be associated with unemployment, and therefore that a postgrowth economy is socially unsustainable. But, if we are to transition to a postgrowth world for ecological reasons or because of secular stagnation, ecological economics needs to present a compelling story about what people’s jobs and lives could look like in this world. This episode’s guest Dr Ben Gallant is an expert in understanding and modelling postgrowth futures for the labour force, here to guide us through what employment in a postgrowth economy could look like. Hosted by Sophus zu Ermgassen. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Over the last decades, burning wood for energy has expanded in the EU, as have proposals for implementing Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). The origins of this questionable boom can be found in accounting loopholes, which allow burning woody biomass to be classed as carbon neutral and BECCS as carbon negative. Based on these loopholes and large lobby power, (woody) biomass has received generous subsidies and been counted towards renewable energy targets in the EU. A large international supply chain has developed, with wood pellets being shipped all the way from forests in the U.S. Southeast to generate energy in the EU. In this episode, we discuss all these issues with ecologist Dr. Mary Booth, founder and director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI). PFPI is a small non-profit organisation in the US working on forest biomass, energy, and climate issues. Hosted by Matilda Susan Gettins. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Eszter Kelemen discusses challenges in science-policy interface for environmental policy. Topics include inclusive participation, power dynamics, resource disparities, suggestions for improvement, and embracing continuous learning.

Ecological economics has a long tradition of disputing the mainstream economic view that people’s concern for the environment scales with income, and that it’s a luxury good. The main counterargument is the widespread evidence on environmental justice conflicts, encapsulated by what Joan Martinez-Alier called the ‘environmentalism of the poor’. Today, we focus on the role and importance of people working on the front lines of environmental degradation – biosphere defenders. Our guest today is Dr Claudia Ituarte-Lima. Hosted by Sophus zu Ermgassen. Edited by Aidan Knox.

When we say, “Money cannot buy conscience”, in today’s economy, we could not be further from the truth. Our current economy can turn absolutely anything into financial assets. Even irresponsible behaviour. A company that is incapable of reducing its carbon emission can just buy carbon credits and continue business-as-usual. Another that is about to ruin a habitat can offset its wrongdoing by paying money to someone else to save another habitat somewhere else. While these solutions may make bad behaviour slightly more costly, they do not stop them. Moreover, they contribute significantly to neocolonialism. Today’s guest, Frederic Hache explains us how these nature markets work and how they turn environmental policies into gambling casinos.

Andrew Fanning and Jason Hickel discuss climate reparation payments and inequalities in carbon emissions. They explore quantifying compensation for decarbonization, philosophical aspects of climate debt, overpopulation and overconsumption debate, and rebellion against current economic views. The podcast challenges traditional economic perspectives for just and sustainable transformations in the climate crisis.

The myth of green growth surrounds us wherever we look. Eco-modernisation’s promise that technological fixes will provide us with the efficiency we need to decouple environmental burdens from economic growth suggests that business-as-usual can continue. Today’s guest Timothée Parrique is the best to explain why this is not happening and why relying solely on technological solutions is like betting on green zero in roulette. Hosted by Alexandra Köves. Edited by Aidan Knox.

Rosie Collington discusses the decline of state ambition in addressing sustainability challenges. She explores the impact of consulting firms on government functions, emphasizing the need to rebuild state capacity for green transitions. The episode also touches on academia's role in demystifying ideas for sustainability solutions.