{"id":15008,"date":"2024-10-11T08:27:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T07:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=15008"},"modified":"2025-01-20T16:19:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T16:19:12","slug":"green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#7d8b94\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"878\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 51%\" style=\"object-position:50% 51%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k.jpg 878w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 878px) 100vw, 878px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part Two<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-10-11T08:27:01+01:00\">11 October 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">We continue our series exploring alternative economic models. Here, in the second of three parts, we examine green growth, which seeks to achieve continued economic growth that is more environmentally sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read&nbsp;<em>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part One<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Path to Green Growth<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The environment is often thought of as an infinite source of natural resources.  But as our pressing environmental crises make clear, <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/03\/global-resources-dwindling-as-demand-rises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the earth\u2019s resources are not infinite<\/a>. Nor are they able to cope with current levels of high demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To achieve green growth there needs to be a paradigm shift. How we harvest natural resources and interact with the wider environment has to change.&nbsp;Under a green growth model, the environment can be considered natural capital. Currently, that capital is often inefficiently managed, with precious resources wasted or used inefficiently.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"878\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k.jpg 878w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tj-k-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 878px) 100vw, 878px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If the environment is considered as productive capital, it makes sense to invest in it. In this \u201cgreener\u201d framework, environmental policies increase economic outputs by improving environmental conditions, for example, policies that prevent soil erosion would long-term lead to more productive agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A main driver for degrowth is also the transition towards sustainable energy systems, such as investing in renewable energy sectors including solar and wind and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imf.org\/en\/Topics\/climate-change\/energy-subsidies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ending fossil fuel subsidies.<\/a> To accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technology, standards, regulations and subsidies can be diverted from supporting the fossil fuel industry and instead invested in renewable energies. If the right economic levers are pulled, including investment in innovation incentives, then this can facilitate the acceleration of the development of zero-emissions technologies, which will be vital to manage a transition to green growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Rebound Effect&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many proponents of green growth believe that technological breakthroughs and innovation will ensure absolute decoupling in the future and more efficient resource use. However, some researchers predict that the potential rebound effect cancels out any possible gains in resource efficiency.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rebound effect is caused as improvements in resource efficiency means the reduction of costs for goods and services, which in turn drives up demand. And may lead to a situation of our <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/we-dont-buy-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">growing population consuming more resources rather than less.<\/a> Any rebound effect that increases the extraction of primary resources will exacerbate negative environmental impacts and contribute to further degradation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"979\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/krisztina-papp.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15012\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/krisztina-papp.jpg 979w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/krisztina-papp-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/krisztina-papp-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>UNEP itself recognises the risk of a rebound effect of any potential improvements in resource efficiency, stating: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Resource efficiency alone is not enough. Productivity gains in today\u2019s linear production system are likely to lead to increased material demand through a combination of economic growth and rebound effects.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In light of this, UNEP has suggested further investigation into the <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/09\/redistribute-resources-eliminate-waste-circular-economy-part-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Circular Economy model<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Green Growth Happening?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the past decade, some high-income countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK, have reduced their CO2 consumption emissions while increasing their gross domestic product (absolute decoupling) \u2013 which has been hailed as a success of green growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, according to one study in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(23)00174-2\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Lancet,<\/a> despite these 11 countries achieving absolute decoupling between 2013 and 2019, the emission reductions achieved fell far short of their Paris Agreement obligations.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1011\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/marcin-jozwiak.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/marcin-jozwiak.jpg 1011w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/marcin-jozwiak-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/marcin-jozwiak-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Paris Agreement requires that each country pledge to reduce their emissions to stay within the carbon budget.  The aim is to cap global warming at an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/science-environment-35073297\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increase of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the study: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>At the achieved rates, these countries would on average take more than 220 years to reduce their emissions by 95%, emitting 27 times their remaining 1.5-degree fair-shares in the process. To meet their 1.5 degree far-shares alongside continued economic growth, decoupling rates would on average need to increase by a factor of ten by 2025.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the climate crisis, the question is how fast countries can reach net zero emissions. Insufficient reductions will lead to dangerous global warming and worsen climate injustices, especially in low-income countries in the Global South. The challenge is achieving absolute decoupling quickly enough to meet Paris Agreement commitments. With so many sectors still reliant on fossil fuels, many researchers cast doubt on the potential of green growth transition.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, the study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(23)00174-2\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Is Green Growth Happening<\/a>, states: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u2026 if green growth is supposed to be consistent with the climate and equity targets of the Paris Agreement, then green growth has not been achieved in high-income nations, and it appears very unlikely to be achieved in the future.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>_________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is part two of&nbsp;<em>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth?<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read part one&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F09%2Fbuen-vivir-the-good-life-for-people-and-planet-part-one%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fagrowth-the-agnostic-approach-part-one%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fgreen-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fgreen-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two%2F&amp;text=Green%20Growth%3A%20Sustainable%20Future%20or%20Myth%3F%20-%20Part%20Two\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fgreen-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two%2F&amp;text=Green%20Growth%3A%20Sustainable%20Future%20or%20Myth%3F%20-%20Part%20Two\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/agrowth-the-agnostic-approach-part-one\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Agrowth: The Agnostic Approach &#8211; Part One<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-14960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simon-wilkes-S297j2CsdlM-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>We continue our series with this\u00a0lesser-known economic model that avoids both growth and degrowth. Agrowth advocates for indifference toward traditional growth metrics and prioritises broader social goals like environmental sustainability and social welfare.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/09\/endless-economic-growth-unsustainable-for-planet-and-people\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Endless economic growth unsustainable for planet and people<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-14754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fas-khan-zydtqCd0T3w-unsplash-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>As part of an upcoming project exploring alternative economic models, this article looks at how the current pursuit of endless economic growth drives environmental degradation and deepens social inequality. The traditional growth mindset prevails among our political classes, but it is not working for planet or people.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-one\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? &#8211; Part One<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-768x511.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/matthew-smith.jpg 939w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Green Growth asserts that continued economic growth can be compatible with staying in the ecological limits of our planet, with measures to decouple GDP growth from environmental impacts. It\u2019s become popular amongst policymakers, but climate scientists are sceptical that green growth can ever truly be green.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We continue our series exploring alternative economic models. Here, in the second of three parts, we examine green growth, which seeks to achieve continued economic growth that is more environmentally sustainable.","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":15010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[13,14],"class_list":["post-15008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-economics","tag-environment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? - Part Two - Population Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Green Growth is popular amongst policymakers, but climate scientists are sceptical that green growth can ever truly be green.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/green-growth-sustainable-future-or-myth-part-two\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Green Growth: Sustainable Future or Myth? - Part Two\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We continue our series exploring alternative economic models. 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