When enough is enough: Introducing sufficiency corridors to put techno-economism in its place

AMBIO, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 53(7), С. 960 - 969

Опубликована: Апрель 26, 2024

Today's ecological crises are entwined with inequality dynamics, yet prevailing techno-economic approaches in climate research and policy fall short addressing the crisis as distributional crisis. Recognising limitations of techno-economism, focused on markets (price adjustments) technology (efficiency gains), this contribution introduces sufficiency corridors a concept, field, approach. Sufficiency represent space between floor meeting needs ceiling ungeneralisable excess, i.e. within corridor everyone has enough (to satisfy needs) while no one too much endanger planetary boundaries need satisfaction). Establishing such entails process over time that continuously narrows gap floors ceilings, lifting former pushing down latter by strengthening forms consumption production contribute to satisfaction shrinking those do not. The article discusses profound implications approach for how societal reality is reproduced and/or changed, highlighting decisions eliminate options sectors realms production. After questions decision-making potential realise corridors, concludes growing scientific consensus complement measures remains inadequate. Instead, possibility transformation design hinges embedding techno-economism subordinating it framework.

Язык: Английский

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A Future Growth Model for Building More Housing and Infrastructure with Less Embodied Greenhouse Gas

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 58(25), С. 10979 - 10990

Опубликована: Июнь 13, 2024

Global demand for housing and the climate crisis have created a seemingly impossible choice between need to build more emit less from construction materials. Here, we present future infrastructure growth (FIG) model, generalizable method finding pathways enough while reducing material emissions, in line with commitments. FIG uses open data quantify emissions of existing neighborhoods as if they were built new; it then these quantifications forecast cradle-to-gate embodied new residential buildings linear construction. This novel approach allows detailed analysis that scales city, region, and/or national level captures variability norms, designs, codes. We demonstrate on Canada, using model find neighborhood-level drivers most effective reduction strategies through 2030 2050. Current practices will cause 437% overshoot Canada's commitments targets are met. Avoiding this requires near-total reliance multiunit best-in-class design supported by improvements manufacturing, building within urban boundaries, halving use

Язык: Английский

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Rethinking sand circularity through sufficiency

One Earth, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 8(2), С. 101207 - 101207

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Growing role of concrete in sand and climate crises

iScience, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 26(5), С. 106782 - 106782

Опубликована: Апрель 29, 2023

Concrete production poses multiple sustainability challenges, including resource over-exploitation and climate change. Here we show that growing global demand for buildings infrastructure over the past three decades has quadrupled concrete production, reaching ∼26 Gt/year in 2020. As a result, annual requirements virgin aggregates (∼20 Gt/year) exceeded extraction of all fossil fuels (∼15 Gt/year), exacerbating sand scarcity, ecosystem destruction, social conflict. We also despite industry efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by ∼20% per unit mainly through clinker substitution improved thermal efficiency, increased outweighed these gains. Consequently, concrete-related have tripled between 1990 2020, its contribution risen from 5% 9%. propose policy agenda should focus more on limiting growth changing how structures are designed, constructed, used, disposed address crises.

Язык: Английский

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Growth dependency in the welfare state – An analysis of drivers in the UK's adult social care sector and proposals for change

Ecological Economics, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 220, С. 108159 - 108159

Опубликована: Март 18, 2024

Modern economies rely on economic growth for stability and prosperity. Further, periods of stagnation recession are currently associated with poor health wellbeing outcomes citizens. However, 50 years research indicates that this state dependency is ecologically unsustainable. It therefore critical we better understand the our welfare systems, how to overcome it. In paper first offer a working definition dependency, clarifying its core dimensions. Next, taking UK's adult social care sector as case study, argue dependencies emerge in result three distinct dynamics: 1) manifest needs; 2) labour productivity growth; 3) pursuit rents. Lastly, propose novel, sector-led framework identifying, analysing transforming dependencies. We make not inevitable, but instead product specific social, structural factors can be disrupted transformed, if find political will do so.

Язык: Английский

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The Potential of Post-Growth Planning: Re-Tooling the Planning Profession for Moving beyond Growth

Planning Theory & Practice, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 24(2), С. 287 - 295

Опубликована: Март 15, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Achieving biodiversity net gain by addressing governance gaps underpinning ecological compensation policies

Conservation Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 38(2)

Опубликована: Окт. 9, 2023

Abstract Biodiversity compensation policies have emerged around the world to address ecological harms of infrastructure expansion, but historically compliance is weak. The Westminster government introducing a requirement that new developments in England demonstrate they achieve biodiversity net gain (BNG). We sought determine magnitude effects governance gaps and regulator capacity constraints on policy's potential impacts. collated BNG information from all major across six early‐adopter councils 2020 2022. quantified proportion outcomes promised under at risk noncompliance, explored variation strategies used meet developers’ liabilities, occurrence simple errors metric calculations. For large energy infrastructure, liabilities frequently met within projects’ development footprint. small developments, purchase offsets was most common. estimated 27% units fell into exposed them high noncompliance because were associated with better‐condition habitats delivered on‐site unlikely be monitored or enforced. More robust mechanisms (e.g., practical for monitoring enforcement) would help ensure delivery this on‐site. Alternatively, more gains could through off‐site offsetting. latter case, we demand rise by factor 4; substantially increase financial contributions developers conservation activities private land. Twenty‐one percent applications contained recurring error their One‐half these approved councils, which may indicate under‐resourcing council assessments. Our findings resourcing shortfalls undermining effectiveness.

Язык: Английский

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Principles for using evidence to improve biodiversity impact mitigation by business

Business Strategy and the Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 32(7), С. 4719 - 4733

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2023

Abstract There is an increasing expectation on the private sector to address biodiversity impacts and contribute towards global conservation goals. Appropriate evidence use can help businesses avoid losses realise gains, reduce ineffective or suboptimal action, whilst minimising biodiversity‐related risks securing opportunities from engaging with biodiversity. We review status of evidence‐based action in sector, where previous studies have identified concerning trends, explore barriers that may currently be hindering practice. To learn this, improve quo, we propose a set principles for impact mitigation. outline tools resources move practice achieve each these principles. Meeting would outcomes businesses' related actions. However, business more fully goals, broader political socio‐economic issues also need addressing.

Язык: Английский

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Modelling what matters: How do current models handle environmental limits and social outcomes?

Journal of Cleaner Production, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown, С. 143777 - 143777

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Competent retrofitting policy and inflation resilience: The cheapest energy is that which you don't use

Energy Economics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 121, С. 106648 - 106648

Опубликована: Март 29, 2023

Given that it is widely acknowledged the cheapest energy which you don't use, we take a tangential approach to issues of prices and inflation focus on efficiency policy reduces demand at source. Our housing retrofitting from an institutional or framework perspective. We briefly set out what (since this moving target), need for in UK. then Climate Change Committee's current assessment policy. This brings fore government's minimalist 'developing market'. argue invokes individualised market psychology both conceptually practically problematic, given urgency situation uncertainty. conclude by suggesting fundamental rethink required.

Язык: Английский

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