Category Archives: Environment
No growth, slow growth or green growth?
In the February 10, 2020 issue of The New Yorker magazine, journalist John Cassidy has a very interesting article called Can we have prosperity without growth? (In the print version, the article is titled “Steady State.”) Cassidy surveys a wide spectrum of … Continue reading
The Case for Growth: An Interview with Marc Andreessen
In my last few posts I’ve been looking into the relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability. Can we find a healthy balance between them? Or are they fundamentally at odds? Well a couple of weeks ago I was listening … Continue reading
A Safe and Just Doughnut
Today’s post is about the doughnut. I’m not talking about an ordinary sugar-glazed, jam-filled, deep-fried doughnut. No, this is a safe and just doughnut we can all live in together. If safe and just aren’t the flavors you normally look … Continue reading
Is Decoupling GDP Growth from Environmental Impact Possible?
Can we have economic growth while reducing our impact on the environment? Some people believe growth is incompatible with sustainability and that we need to move to a “no growth” or even a “de-growth” economy. Others think we can still … Continue reading
Peak Stuff
I’m going to try something different in this post. Instead of reviewing a book, I’m going to look at a research paper called “Peak Stuff — did the UK reach a peak in material consumption in about 2001-3?” Sounds pretty … Continue reading
More From Less
More From Less is a book about dematerialization Demawhat? No, it’s not some sort of Star Trek transporter technology. Dematerialization is the phenomenon of producing the same goods from less material and energy. It’s real, it’s important, and Andrew McAfee … Continue reading
Growth
People used to think growth was a good thing. Politicians, economists and business leaders brag about healthy or robust growth in jobs, GDP, and profits. But that’s changing. These days, growth is often described as excessive, uncontrollable, and unsustainable. In … Continue reading
Losing Earth
Losing Earth By Nathaniel Rich Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, 2019 The Sunday New York Times Magazine devoted its entire August 1, 2018 issue to a single article called Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change by … Continue reading
Origin Story
Every religion, every culture, and every nation has its origin story. Origin stories tell us who we are, where we come from, how we got here, and how we should live with one another. They give us a common understanding … Continue reading
Blackfish City
Blackfish City By Sam J. Miller HarperCollins, New York, 2018 A warrior woman comes to the city of Qannaq in a small skiff accompanied by an orca and a polar bear. Who is she? Why has she come? What’s her … Continue reading
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