Such changes are associated with a combination of factors (see EEA, 2020). water, materials, energy and greenhouse gases) associated with EU consumption patterns is often relative and varies between countries (Sanyé-Mengual et al., 2019 NTNU, 2020). acidification, eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions), the decoupling between growth and environmental footprints (e.g. While some EU countries achieved a reduction in some forms of pollution between 1995 and the mid-2010s (e.g. (2019), find no evidence of absolute decoupling between growth and environmental degradation having taken place on a global scale. Recent studies, such as Hickel and Kallis (2020) and Parrique et al. However, scientific debates on the possibility of decoupling date back to the 19th century and there is still no consensus. the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) propose decoupling of economic growth and resource use as a solution. Reproduced under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence ().ĭata from Olivier and Peters (2020) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions UNEP and IRP (2018) for material footprint and World Bank (2020a) for GDP. Relative change in main global economic and environmental indicators from 1970 to 2018 Several of Europe’s environmental footprints exceed the planetary boundaries (Sala et al., 2020 EEA/FOEN, 2020).įigure 1. Furthermore, technological development has so far been associated with increased consumption rather than the reverse.Įurope consumes more and contributes more to environmental degradation than other regions, and Europe’s prospects of reaching its environmental policy objectives for 2020, 20 are poor (EEA, 2019c).
Nomad sculpt driver#
While population growth was the leading cause of increasing consumption from 1970 to 2000, the emergence of a global affluent middle class has been the stronger driver since the turn of the century (Panel, 2019 Wiedmann et al., 2020). The global material footprint, gross domestic product (GDP) and greenhouse gases emissions have increased rapidly over time, and strongly correlate (Figure 1). Globally, growth has not been decoupled from resource consumption and environmental pressures and is not likely to become so (Parrique et al., 2019 Hickel and Kallis, 2020 Wiedmann et al., 2020). Global-scale, long-lasting and absolute decoupling may not be possible
material standards of living), in a more equitable way? What are we willing to renounce in order to meet our sustainability ambitions? purpose, solidarity, empathy), rather than in quantity (e.g. Could the European Green Deal, for example, become a catalyst for EU citizens to create a society that consumes less and grows in other than material dimensions?Īs global decoupling of economic growth and resource consumption is not happening, real creativity is called for: how can society develop and grow in quality (e.g. Maintaining this position does not have to depend on economic growth. The EU has achieved unprecedented levels of prosperity and well-being in recent decades, and its social, health and environmental standards rank among the highest in the world (EEA, 2019c). This comes at a crucial time for the EU, which faces urgent challenges and opportunities associated with fundamental change.
Nomad sculpt drivers#
It presents alternative perspectives on economic growth and human progress and explores the diversity of ideas needed to transform our society towards sustainability goals and fulfil the ambitions of the European Green Deal.īy building on the insights of EEA reports on drivers of change and sustainability transitions (EEA, 2017, 2019a, 2019b, 2020), this briefing explores alternative ideas about growth and progress with the aim of broadening the sustainability debate.
Nomad sculpt series#
This narrative is part of a series called ‘Narratives for change’ published by the EEA. Governments, scientists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worldwide are coming together to try to devise new ideas, policies, blueprints and narratives. Human civilisation is currently profoundly unsustainable. Numerous drivers of change interact in a highly complex interplay of human needs, desires, activities and technologies (EEA, 2020) and contribute to the Great Acceleration in human consumption and environmental degradation.
This narrative is part of a series called ‘ Narratives for change ’ published by the EEA Growth and narratives for change
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