How could degrowth tackle environmental issues and social inequities?

The “degrowth” movement has recently picked up traction among academics and activists by advocating substantial cuts to production and consumption to address existing environmental issues and social inequities.

Author of "Housing for Degrowth" Associate Professor Anitra
Nelson from the RMIT Centre for Urban Research. 

After nearly two months launching her new book in 21 cities across Europe, Associate Professor Anitra Nelson is back in Melbourne to explain how degrowth could work in Australia and to launch Housing for Degrowth as part of the 2019 National Sustainable Living Festival.

What exactly is “degrowth” and a degrowth approach to future sustainability?

The degrowth movement critiques market societies, where the dynamic of growth is essential to the way economies operate but results in substantial global environmental destruction, including dangerous levels of carbon emissions and climate change.

In response, degrowth advocates call for reductions in both production and consumption, i.e. diminished energy and material flows through our society. Such reduction is a common aim of all who aspire to planetary sustainability.

The degrowth approach is distinct because we focus on growth as a cultural, economic, political and social imperative of market societies and, therefore, the need for a holistic program to achieve degrowth.

Read the story from RMIT University by Anitra Nelson - “How could degrowth tackle environmental issues and social inequities?”