Demystifying green growth: the urgency of incorporating biophysical limits into decoupling measurement

Abstract

This analysis explores the environmental consequences of economic growth, highlighting the debate between «green growth» and degrowth strategies. Proponents of green growth aim to maintain economic development while mitigating environmental harm through technological innovation, energy efficiency, and a shift towards a service-oriented economy. Their goal is to decouple growth from resource consumption and pollutant emissions. Conversely, degrowth advocates argue that continued economic expansion is unsustainable given finite resources, calling for a deliberate reduction in production and consumption to ensure environmental viability and fairer resource distribution. Current metrics for measuring decoupling are criticized for failing to adequately consider biophysical limits, potentially presenting wealthy nations as greener than they truly are. This oversight obscures the ecological and economic conflicts exported to poorer countries. A new decoupling measure is proposed, incorporating these biophysical constraints and revealing the North’s dependence on a socio-ecological subsidy imposed on the South. The conclusions emphasize the need for more comprehensive and equitable environmental indicators. It’s suggested that rich countries may need to adopt degrowth policies to align with global sustainability goals. This approach would promote greater environmental justice and lead to an effective reduction in global environmental impact, recognizing that affluent nations may need to scale back their economies to achieve true sustainability.