Reply #12: In the long-term, zero growth is an optimistic goal [View All]

...as at some point in our history we have to look at our utilization of resources, and say we can't expect to continually increase our consumption on a finite world. Already we are in the midst of our planet's sixth great extinction event, largely caused by the huge share of space and resources we demand just to maintain the status quo.

And if the disappearance of other life on the planet isn't sufficient to suggest a need to curtail our continual growth, then there is climate change. Economic activity is inherently linked to energy consumption, which in largely allowed by our use of fossil fuels. If you look at graphs tracking carbon emissions and economic activity, they correlate quite well - meaning that growth in the economy=growth in carbon emissions=our grandchildren's planet will be a very difficult place to live. "It's hard now" is an objection, but insisting on more growth now makes it exponentially worse down the road for nearly everyone else.

It would be nice if more people could see the connection.