Sci., Tech.

, and Society
Science 100

Human Flourishing as Reflected in

Progress and Development

Sci. Tech., Society, and the Human Condition

04 Chapter
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
The golden rule of our economy . . .

GROWTH

because

politicians corporations we need to

pursue GDP as have fiduciary we need to we need to reduce poverty
an indicator of duty to create jobs pay debts and improve
progress shareholders lives

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

But there’s a PROBLEM . . .

GDP growth is tightly linked to

environmental degradation.
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
We are presently overshooting Earth’s ecological capacity by 64% . . .

. . . and this is mostly due to

overconsumption in rich nations

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Rich countries need to . . .

1. Cut their emission to zero (by 2050, so this implies 10% per year)

2. Cut their material consumption by 75% total

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Can we still do this while still growing the economy?

“Green Growth”
Continue to grow the GDP while nonetheless reducing resource use and
carbon emissions

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
The Science
1. It is physically impossible to achieve absolute decoupling of GDP from
resources use over the long term

2. It is possible to achieve absolute decoupling of GDP from CO2 emissions,

but not at a rate that’s fast enough to keep us from blowing the C
budget for two degrees

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

innovation isn’t vital . . . it is.

But, in the context of continued growth, it will not be enough.

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Our only option is for rich countries to scale down aggregate economic
activity.

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

De-growth does not mean immiseration!
In fact, we can improve human well-being while reducing material corruption

US GDP per Europe’s GDP Costa Rica

capita in 1975 per capita is GDP per
was 50% 40% less than capita is one-
lower than it us. fifth that of
is today the US.

better social indicators across

happiness, wages, happiness, life
the board (educ., health,
poverty rate longevity, etc.) expectancy
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development
So how do we get there?
This is not just about changing personal behaviour.

This is about designing a new economic system…one that doesn’t need

endless growth.

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

 Fairer Ban
Change how Change Solve the
distribution advertising
we measure shareholder productivity
of existing in public
progress value rules trap
resources places

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

Resources: use them no faster than they can regenerate

Waste: generate it no faster than it can be safely absorbed

Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development