So, in our system, the econmoy has to constantly grow (by ´virtue´ of interest), right?
Econmic growth usually entails more ressource consumption and more waste.
So, some ecologists say, we need to raise efficiency - use less ressources and energy per unit produced. Like one of my profs.
Say the economy just grows (leaving the current troubles aside for a moment) by just 2% each year, generating the same growth in ressource and energy consumption and waste production, without increased eco-efficiency. Let it do so for, say, 50 years - i mean thats what we all want, right? We want the economy to steadily grow, or else we will loose jobs... So the economy grows by 2% p.a. for the next 50 years: In order to keep energy and ressource consumption and waste production at the same level, by what factor would we need to increase our eco-efficiency in order to keep your ´ecological footprint´ (which is already too big) the same? To spare you the math (but please, do check it yourself): By a factor of 27, roughly. So what would need 100 kw/h today would have to consume less than 4 kw/h in 50 years.
So can we save the earth in capitalism?
Econmic growth usually entails more ressource consumption and more waste.
So, some ecologists say, we need to raise efficiency - use less ressources and energy per unit produced. Like one of my profs.
Say the economy just grows (leaving the current troubles aside for a moment) by just 2% each year, generating the same growth in ressource and energy consumption and waste production, without increased eco-efficiency. Let it do so for, say, 50 years - i mean thats what we all want, right? We want the economy to steadily grow, or else we will loose jobs... So the economy grows by 2% p.a. for the next 50 years: In order to keep energy and ressource consumption and waste production at the same level, by what factor would we need to increase our eco-efficiency in order to keep your ´ecological footprint´ (which is already too big) the same? To spare you the math (but please, do check it yourself): By a factor of 27, roughly. So what would need 100 kw/h today would have to consume less than 4 kw/h in 50 years.
So can we save the earth in capitalism?
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