Is it time to live better with less?
TRUE or FALSE – Listening Comprehension
Write T (true) or F (false) according to the video.
Degrowth supporters believe that GDP is the best way to measure progress.
Degrowth proposes reducing work hours in rich countries.
The coronavirus crisis caused an increase in global carbon emissions in 2020.
Degrowth and recession mean exactly the same thing.
Greta Thunberg supports the idea of infinite economic growth.
Low-income countries should stop all economic growth immediately.
The Club of Rome predicted industrial growth could lead to collapse.
Degrowth is a new idea that appeared after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Degrowth aims to make people happier and healthier rather than richer.
New Zealand, Scotland, and Iceland focus on wellbeing instead of growth.
Degrowth: A Dangerous Idea or the Answer to the Planet’s Crisis?
Rethinking Our Obsession with Growth
For over a century, economic growth has been the engine of modern societies. Bigger economies meant more jobs, higher incomes, and improved standards of living. Politicians, economists, and business leaders have long treated growth as a universal good — the key to solving social and environmental problems alike.
But what if growth is no longer serving us? Or worse — what if it’s now part of the problem?
This is the argument posed by the degrowth movement, a school of thought that challenges the very foundation of conventional economics. According to its proponents, the pursuit of endless growth is not only unsustainable — it’s accelerating environmental collapse, deepening inequality, and distracting us from more meaningful measures of progress. While these ideas were once confined to academia or fringe activism, they are now gaining mainstream attention.
A Movement Gaining Ground
In recent years, degrowth has moved from the margins toward the center of public debate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) mentioned degrowth in a major report for the first time, acknowledging its potential as a climate mitigation strategy. The European Research Council recently awarded $10 million to explore so-called “post-growth” economic policies. And the European Parliament is planning a high-profile “Beyond Growth” conference, expected to be attended by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Even financial institutions are beginning to notice. Analysts at investment bank Jefferies advised clients to consider how degrowth might impact markets, pointing to younger, climate-conscious generations who tend to value sustainability over consumption.
The Climate Emergency: A Wake-Up Call
There’s broad consensus among climate experts: to avoid the worst effects of global warming, the world must reduce carbon emissions by 45% before 2030, and continue rapidly after that. Most current strategies aim to achieve this through a transition to green energy and technological innovation — a vision known as green growth.
But degrowth advocates are deeply skeptical of this approach. They argue that infinite economic expansion will always demand more energy and resources — regardless of how “green” the technology is. Even if energy becomes clean, the physical production of goods still requires minerals, water, timber, and land — all of which are finite and often extracted under exploitative conditions.
Giorgos Kallis, a leading degrowth scholar at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, points out that even modest annual growth rates accumulate significantly over time. “An innocent 2 or 3% per year becomes seven times more economic activity in a century,” he says. “I don’t see that being compatible with the physical limits of the planet.”
What Does Degrowth Actually Propose?
Degrowth doesn’t mean simply “shrinking the economy” or forcing austerity. Rather, it involves rethinking what we produce, why we produce it, and for whom. It calls for limiting unnecessary production, reducing advertising-driven consumption, and creating systems that prioritize well-being over profit.
Advocates often talk about sharing more goods, extending the lifespan of products, reducing food waste, and deprivatizing essential services like transportation and healthcare. They promote the idea of “sufficiency” — having enough to live well, rather than constantly chasing more.
Some policies aligned with this vision include:
- A Universal Basic Income (UBI) that allows people to live decently without relying on polluting industries
- A four-day workweek, freeing time for community, rest, and care
- Redesigning cities to reduce car dependency and support local economies
Gabriela Cabaña, a Chilean degrowth researcher at the London School of Economics, believes that when people feel secure and have real choices, they tend to consume more wisely. “It’s about giving people the freedom not to consume,” she says.
Criticism and Controversy
Degrowth is not without its critics. Bill Gates, for instance, argues that the idea is “unrealistic,” insisting that asking people to consume less is politically unfeasible and morally questionable — especially when billions of people still live in poverty.
Others worry about job losses and social instability. Per Espen Stoknes, director of the Center for Green Growth in Norway, claims that degrowth idealists ignore historical realities: “They assume that if you bake a smaller cake, the poor will somehow get a bigger slice. That has never happened.”
Supporters of green growth point to countries like the UK and Romania, which have reduced emissions while growing their GDP. They emphasize the rapid drop in the cost of solar and wind energy as evidence that technology can help us decouple prosperity from environmental destruction.
A Global Justice Issue
Degrowth also raises ethical and geopolitical questions, especially for the Global South. Activists like Felipe Milanez, based in Brazil, highlight the colonial roots of extractivist economies. “The love for growth is extremely violent and racist,” he says. “It continues patterns of exploitation, just with new materials like lithium and cobalt instead of oil.”
Many in developing countries fear that the green transition will simply reproduce inequality — with rich nations continuing to consume at high levels, while poorer regions supply the raw materials.
Degrowth thinkers argue that any sustainable future must involve redistribution — of resources, technology, and power — not just reductions in consumption.
A Difficult But Necessary Conversation
The concept of degrowth is uncomfortable, even radical. It forces societies to question their deepest assumptions about success, progress, and happiness. But advocates say this discomfort is necessary. With global warming now projected to rise between 2.1°C and 2.9°C, based on current pledges, they argue there’s no time left for half-measures.
“The less time we have,” says Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito, “the more radical change is needed.” His 2020 book Capital in the Anthropocene became a surprise bestseller in Japan, selling nearly 500,000 copies — suggesting a growing appetite for alternative ideas.
Whether degrowth becomes policy or remains theory, it is helping to spark a crucial debate: Is growth always good? And what would a society look like if we stopped chasing it?
GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS
“More than 1,100 economists… signed an open letter.”
a) Wrote a law
b) Participated in a debate
c) Publicly supported a written statement
d) Held a protest
“They advocated for degrowth.”
a) Celebrated growth
b) Suggested a new growth model
c) Supported reducing economic activity
d) Opposed any economic policies
“GDP shouldn’t be considered a proxy for progress.”
a) Substitute or indicator
b) Result or consequence
c) Obstacle or barrier
d) Motivation or driver
“Degrowth is a planned contraction.”
a) A mistake in planning
b) A decrease decided in advance
c) An economic recession
d) A national emergency
“To keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, emissions must be cut.”
b) Stopped completely
c) Stabilized
d) Reduced