Radical dematerialization and degrowth
Abstract
The emission targets agreed in Paris require a radical reduction of material extraction, use and disposal. The core claim of this article is that a radical dematerialization can only be part and parcel of degrowth. Given that capitalist economies are designed to grow, this raises the question of whether, and under what circumstances, the inevitable `degrowth' can become socially sustainable. Three economic policies are discussed in this direction: work-sharing, green taxes and public money.
This article is part of the themed issue 'Material demand reduction'.- Publication:
-
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A
- Pub Date:
- May 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1098/rsta.2016.0383
- Bibcode:
- 2017RSPTA.37560383K