Degrowth, green growth – or how do we save the world?

Climate change is here, as pretty much everyone in Germany now recognizes apart from a few deniers – not least because they are feeling it in their own lives. But what is the best strategy for living as humans in such a way that the earth can withstand us?

Prof. Dr. Niko Paech is a proponent of degrowth economics and professor at the University of Siegen. He was  a guest at the Empore in Buchholz at the invitation of the Climate Forum and explained his approach. The city of Buchholz wrote (excerpts): Paech “made it clear that the limits of economic growth had long since been reached. Sustainable development is only possible if it is distributed fairly on a global scale within strict ecological limits. This would mean that each individual would have to reduce their demands and live more modestly. ‘Our current level of prosperity cannot be maintained,’ emphasized Paech. ‘Enjoyment means setting limits for yourself.’

SUFFICIENCY, SUBSISTENCE AND DEPARTURE FROM GLOBALIZATION

According to his theory, three pillars are necessary to enable a life in dignity while at the same time conserving ecological resources: sufficiency (frugality), subsistence (self-sufficiency, repairing, sharing) and turning away from globalization (short supply chains, thinking and acting regionally).

I moderated the discussion, which was also attended by Sylvia Gienow-Thiele from the logistics company In-Time, local politician Dr. Jan Christian Dammann (SPD) and Jan Bauer, CDU member of the state parliament and deputy mayor of Buchholz. In my role, there was little room for my own convictions, which do not necessarily correspond to those of Paech.

CULTURAL CHANGE FOR DEGROWTH

So yes: I believe that all three strategies in the degrowth economy would help to protect the climate. However, two questions come to mind: Would frugality, self-sufficiency and regional economies be enough to stop and reverse climate change? And would we be able to bring about a cultural change in the necessary haste to make such a life palatable to people? It is a completely different life than the vast majority of people lead or aspire to today. Because I have my doubts about this, I advocate the strategy of the Cradle to Cradle concept.

CULTURAL ADAPTATION FOR CRADLE TO CRADLE

Cradle to Cradle is essentially about allowing raw materials to circulate in cycles in such a way that they can be reused indefinitely and no waste is produced. If all things are reinvented in this way, they are not harmful to this world. Simply moving from a throwaway society to an upcycling society requires an enormous cultural adjustment that has to be made. But it is significantly less than the adjustment that would be necessary for a degrowth society.

Perhaps it is possible to combine both concepts. In any case, more degrowth thinking would reduce the time pressure in which Cradle to Cradle would have to be implemented. It would bring people closer to living with nature again and show them how time-consuming food production is, for example. They would recognize the value of nature and natural cycles again. When it comes to the question of the reparability of things, the degrowth economy even speaks from the soul of many people who hate throwing almost new products into the scrap heap because they cannot be repaired.

And this aspect also comes close to Cradle to Cradle, where recycling plays a central role. However, it is central to the “C2C” concept as “design for recyclability”: a product must be manufactured in such a way that it can be disassembled and its materials reused.

NO CONFRONTATION OF THEORIES

There is much to discuss, and the good thing is that the goal of both strategies is the same. In this respect, a confrontation between the two does not make sense at all. In any case, the discussion in Buchholz gave the audience of around 100 plenty of food for thought. They are likely to have continued to discuss and ponder. The first step towards questioning one’s behavior and, if necessary, changing it – whatever the strategy.

To the report of the city of Buchholz about the event (in German)
Climate forum of the city of Buchholz (in German)