Rethink the economy, save the planet

To most economists, growth is as essential as the air we breathe. But according to some scientists, our dependence on economic expansion is the single biggest threat to the planet, and our quality of life. New Scientist brings together key thinkers in this growing minority who believe that if we are serious about saving our planet we must rethink the economic system...

In recent weeks it has become clear just how terrified governments are of anything that threatens growth, as they pour billions of public money into a failing financial system. How do we square Earth's finite resources with the fact that as the economy grows, the amount of natural resources needed to sustain that activity must grow too?

In a special issue, New Scientist brings together key thinkers from politics, economics and philosophy who disagree with the growth dogma but agree with the scientists monitoring our fragile biosphere. Ecological economist Herman Daly explains why our economy is blind to the environmental costs of growth ("The World Bank's blind spot"). Tim Jackson, adviser to the UK government on sustainable development, believes that technological fixes won't compensate for the hair-raising speed at which the economy is expanding ("Why politicians dare not limit economic growth").

Gus Speth, one-time environment adviser to President Jimmy Carter, explains why he believes green values have no chance against today's capitalism ("Champion for green growth"), while Susan George, a leading thinker of the political left, argues that only a global government-led effort can shift the destructive course we are on ("We must think big to fight environmental disaster").


newscientist.com