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01.02.2025

We can do more with less

We’ve been primed to think that “less” always means a loss. But what if “less” could mean “more”?

Let’s imagine a world where something extraordinary has happened: economic activity has slowed down, and not by mistake–this act is known as degrowth. We produce and consume fewer things–or rather, we produce only what is important, making sure everyone’s basic needs are met. In this reality, the products and services that harm the environment and do not serve our well-being have been abandoned.

What would this world look like? It would mean less work–because we produce less and more time to make art, hang out with our loved ones, and meet with friends at the park. It would prioritize affordable, fresh food from local producers. It would be underpinned by high-quality education, public transport, and healthcare. Instead of our energy and resources being spent on meaningless profit-driven pursuits, they would be harnessed for our benefit.

This isn’t about deprivation—it’s about focus. For those of us who have enough, we can live better with less. It’s not about abandoning technology but ensuring it serves us. For example, psychologists could enhance social cohesion instead of driving consumerism with retail psychology. While new technologies would prioritize public benefit over profit, like using clean public transport or prioritizing decentralized, user-controlled social media.

We cannot phase out industries that harm people and the planet without political power. But we can start small: by changing our perspectives and behaviours to bring about cultural change. The challenge lies in reimagining our priorities. Today’s system rewards destruction.  Mining, and dumping plastic into the oceans are currently more profitable than recycling and cleaning up ecosystems, while care and sustainability remain undervalued.

Embracing a post-growth economy would liberate us from the endless need for economic growth at the expense of the planet’s resources and our own wellbeing. By slowing down and consuming more mindfully, we would be free to focus on different kinds of innovations that benefit societal cohesion and environmental rehabilitation, rather than the pursuit of profit through extraction and overproduction. To put this in context, Earth Overshoot Day fell on 1st August in 2024. This is the day by which humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services that year exceeds what Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate. It’s easy to see that with the world’s current focus on relentless growth, we’re living beyond the planet’s means - with disastrous consequences.

At its heart, degrowth is about social justice. We need to raise living standards for most of the world, while the world’s wealthiest must learn to live with less. In the first 10 days of 2025, the world’s wealthiest 1% used up their fair share of the carbon budget for the year. In just 10 days. By contrast the world’s poorest 50% would take nearly three years to match this.

In week one of Degrowthuary, let’s start simply. What could we do without? How could we imagine a better future, where technology and innovation is focused on improving society and wellbeing? And what can we do to live happier with less?

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