Discussion on theories of degrowth

Abstract

Degrowth is presented as a radical yet increasingly relevant climate policy and advocates of the model defend it as addressing the structural drivers of the environmental crisis, particularly overconsumption and the dependency on continuous economic growth. This article proposes a discussion on different climate policies and their political feasibility compared to the degrowth model. Defenders of the degrowth model explore the finite nature of the planet’s natural resources and evaluate degrowth as a potential pathway toward environmental sustainability and social equity. The degrowth model challenges the dominant neoliberal assumptions that equate well-being and progress with GDP growth, proposing instead a shift toward circular economies and more localized, low-impact livelihoods.

However, the paper also investigates critics of degrowth as a climate solution that would foster inequalities in the Global South, where economies are often dependent on export-oriented industries and vulnerable to fluctuations in global demand. While degrowth could alleviate some of the harms caused by globalization and extractive capitalism by promoting local economies, a just transition to degrowth requires strong governmental investment in the welfare system and redistributive policies, especially to protect marginalized communities from job losses and economic disruptions. Ultimately, degrowth prompts a broader reflection on society’s capacity to adapt to ecological limits and redefine progress beyond economic accumulation.

Keywords

climate change, degrowth, economic growth, consumerism, Greenhouse gas emissions, environmental justice, Political feasibility, Biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, circular economy, social justice, environmental policy, minimalism, local economies, capitalism critique, renewable resources, Minimalism, sustainability, resource depletion

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