Summary of Growth Until Not... | Frankly #7

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

Nate Hagens argues that growth will eventually end, and that we should start preparing for this eventuality. He critiques the green growth story and the degrowth movement, and suggests that a sustainable future will require a multi-pronged approach that takes into account all of the different philosophies that have been put forward.

• 00:00:00 Nate Hagens discusses degrowth and green growth with a focus on concepts of GDP per capita and how it does not reflect human progress. He points out that there are three scenarios for the future which he describes as the end of growth, degrowth, and green growth. He provides examples of why each scenario is an uncomfortable idea and how individuals and communities can use that discomfort to change their behavior.
• 00:05:00 Nate Hagens disagrees with the idea that we can extend growth for much longer, and argues that there are many other planetary boundaries that are ignored when trying to optimize for climate. He also argues that we are not going to optimize for carbon and climate outcomes at the same time, and that when we optimize for climate, we are also optimizing for other planetary boundaries.
• 00:10:00 Nate Hagens critiques the green growth story by pointing out that even if we are able to have low-carbon, affordable, scalable energy, it will not decrease our material footprint due to the cultural driver of GDP. He also critiques the degrowth movement for its belief that emissions can be decoupled from GDP.
• 00:15:00 Nate Hagens explains that the current global economic system is not working for everyone, and there are no quick fixes for redirecting the momentum of the system. Hagens also discusses the growth critical philosophies of Herman Daly and other thinkers. He argues that all of these philosophies offer solutions that need to be taken into account if we are to have a sustainable future.
• 00:20:00 Nate Hagens warns that growth will eventually end, and that many people in the Global North will not be able to adapt to this change. He suggests that preparations should be made in anticipation of this moment, and encourages individuals to think about how they can best adjust to a world without growth.