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#CircularEconomy

5 posts3 participants0 posts today

#Degrowth can work — here’s how science can help

Wealthy countries can create prosperity while using less materials and energy if they abandon #EconomicGrowth as an objective.

By Jason Hickel, Giorgos Kallis, Tim Jackson, Daniel W. O’Neill, Juliet B. Schor, Julia K. Steinberger, Peter A. Victor & Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, 12 December 2022

Excerpt: "The global economy is structured around growth — the idea that firms, industries and nations must increase production every year, regardless of whether it is needed. This dynamic is driving climate change and ecological breakdown. High-income economies, and the corporations and wealthy classes that dominate them, are mainly responsible for this problem and consume energy and materials at unsustainable rates.

"Yet many industrialized countries are now struggling to grow their economies, given economic convulsions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resource scarcities and stagnating productivity improvements. Governments face a difficult situation. Their attempts to stimulate growth clash with objectives to improve human well-being and reduce environmental damage.

"GDP is getting a makeover — what it means for economies, health and the planet

"Researchers in ecological economics call for a different approach — degrowth. Wealthy economies should abandon growth of gross domestic product (#GDP) as a goal, scale down destructive and unnecessary forms of #production to reduce energy and material use, and focus economic activity around securing human needs and well-being. This approach, which has gained traction in recent years, can enable rapid #decarbonization and stop ecological breakdown while improving social outcomes. It frees up energy and materials for low- and middle-income countries in which growth might still be needed for development. Degrowth is a purposeful strategy to stabilize economies and achieve social and ecological goals, unlike recession, which is chaotic and socially destabilizing and occurs when growth-dependent economies fail to grow.

"Reports this year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (#IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on #Biodiversity and #Ecosystem Services (#IPBES) suggest that degrowth policies should be considered in the fight against #ClimateBreakdown and #biodiversity loss, respectively. Policies to support such a strategy include the following.

"Reduce less-necessary production. This means scaling down destructive sectors such as #FossilFuels, mass-produced meat and dairy, #FastFashion, #advertising, #cars and aviation, including #PrivateJets. At the same time, there is a need to end the #PlannedObsolescence of products, lengthen their lifespans and reduce the purchasing power of the #rich.

"Improve #PublicServices. It is necessary to ensure universal access to high-quality #HealthCare, #Education, #Housing, transportation, Internet, #RenewableEnergy and nutritious food. #UniversalPublicServices can deliver strong social outcomes without high levels of resource use.

"Introduce a green jobs guarantee. This would train and mobilize labour around urgent social and ecological objectives, such as installing renewables, insulating buildings, regenerating #ecosystems and improving social care. A programme of this type would end unemployment and ensure a just transition out of jobs for workers in declining industries or 'sunset sectors', such as those contingent on fossil fuels. It could be paired with a #UniversalIncome policy.

"Reduce working time. This could be achieved by lowering the retirement age, encouraging part-time working or adopting a four-day working week [and hybrid or remote work]. These measures would lower #CarbonEmissions and free people to engage in care and other welfare-improving activities. They would also stabilize employment as less-necessary production declines.

"Enable #sustainable development. This requires cancelling unfair and unpayable debts of low- and middle-income countries, curbing unequal exchange in international trade and creating conditions for productive capacity to be reoriented towards achieving social objectives.

"Some countries, regions and cities have already introduced elements of these policies. Many European nations guarantee free health care and education; Vienna and Singapore are renowned for high-quality public housing; and nearly 100 cities worldwide offer free public transport. Job guarantee schemes have been used by many nations in the past, and experiments with basic incomes and shorter working hours are under way in Finland, Sweden and New Zealand.

"But implementing a more comprehensive strategy of degrowth — in a safe and just way — faces five key research challenges, as we outline here."

Read more:
nature.com/articles/d41586-022

Archived version:
archive.ph/AtJ87
#FourDayWorkweek #RemoteWork #HybridWork #CircularEconomy #CapitalismKills #RightToRepair #ProtectMotherEarth #CorporateColonialism #BuyLess #BuyNothing #LibraryOfThings #SolarPunkSunday

www.nature.comDegrowth can work — here’s how science can helpWealthy countries can create prosperity while using less materials and energy if they abandon economic growth as an objective.

#Tennessee: #LibraryOfThings at the #NashvillePublicLibrary

"Why buy when you can borrow? The Library of Things features an array of useful items—including activities and games, health and fitness equipment, tools and electronics, food and party items, crafts and hobbies, and musical instruments—that you can borrow for free for up to 3 weeks."

Items include: Guitars, keyboards, ukuleles, and other musical instruments, radon detectors, baking supplies, tool kits, board games, fitness and sports equipment, and craft and hobby items.

FMI: library.nashville.org/services
#LibrariesRule #Libraries #LibrariesOfThings #SharingEconomy #SolarPunkSunday #BorrowDontBuy #Degrowth #CircularEconomy

Nashville Public LibraryLibrary of Things

#Michigan: #LibraryOfThings

"Welcome to a new era of borrowing at the #WestlandPublicLibrary—where you can borrow experiences, hobbies, and tools just as easily as you borrow books.

What is the Library of Things?

"The Library of Things allows you to borrow physical objects for use at home or on the go. You now have access to a diverse collection of items that cater to your curiosity and interests. From tools to help your next household project to craft kits that awaken your artistic side, our collection is designed to inspire and enrich your life."

Who can check out Library of Things items?

"Library of Things items can be checked out by Westland residents age 18 and older."

Borrowing limits

"Eligible patrons may borrow a maximum of two items at any given time. Library of Things items have a two week loan period and cannot be renewed."

Items include: Board games, puzzles, sports equipment, outdoor recreation, tech accessories, digital tools, audio equipment, arts and crafts, gardening, ghost hunting, outdoor exploration, cooking and baking equipment, cleaning and organizing equipment, event supplies, hand tools, automotive tools, measurement and precision tools, and more!

FMI:
westlandlibrary.org/featured-c
#LibrariesRule #Libraries #LibrariesOfThings #SharingEconomy #SolarPunkSunday #BorrowDontBuy #Degrowth #CircularEconomy

westlandlibrary.orgLibrary of Things – Westland Public Library

#UK: New #LibraryOfThings offers help in #ToughTimes'

Ben Mellor, 8 March 2025

"A new Library of Things will 'reduce waste' and help people struggling for money, organisers say.

"It will operate from #BeestonLibrary in #Nottinghamshire and open in the coming weeks, although an exact date has not yet been set.

"The service will allow people to borrow #HouseholdItems, rather than books, such as carpet cleaners, sewing machines, and children's party sets.

"Fiona Hartley, an organiser, said: 'These are typically things that might be a bit more expensive, and then you only use them once or twice, and then they sit in your cupboard unused.'

"She said times were tough at the moment and "this is just something that helps people save a bit of money and a bit of space in their homes".

"The project has received funding from the Beeston Civic Society and Broxtowe Borough Council to help with the purchase of items - totalling £1,500.

"This money will be spent on purchasing supplies and items to stock the library.

"Ms Hartley said there was a 'growing movement' behind Libraries of Things nationwide. Similar projects have been set up across the wider #EastMidlands.

"Peter Cribb, the district manager at Inspire, which runs Beeston Library, said he was 'excited at the potential'.

"'It's not something we've done before, you know we do loan out non-book items, but they're on a one-off basis,' he said.

"When the service starts, people will use an app to book an item they wish to use. Library staff will then retrieve the item.

"The maintenance of the items and the app will be operated and paid for by the volunteer groups, Mr Cribb said, and the library's role is to act as storage.

"Karrie Stainer is the chairwoman of the volunteers and said she first had the idea for the Library of Things over one year ago.

"However, she struggled to secure funding for the project until recently.

"'The underlying motivation really comes from #environmental issues, not being wasteful of stuff, not throwing stuff away,' she said."

Source:
bbc.com/news/articles/c5y4pyl7
#LibrariesRule #Libraries #LibrariesOfThings #SharingEconomy #SolarPunkSunday #BorrowDontBuy #Degrowth #CircularEconomy

The entrance to Beeston library
www.bbc.comNew Library of Things in Beeston offers help in 'tough times'The service will allow people to borrow household items such as carpet cleaners and sewing machines.

Every day’s a something day and apparently today is Global Recycling Day.

When done properly recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources.

Step R in my A-Z of simple steps to a better world is all about reusing, recycling and repurposing things.

Do you have a good story of when you’ve repurposed something and used it for something other than what it was first made for? Let me know if so!

🥾->🪴 Boots -> Flower Pots
📚->👨‍🌾 Bookcase -> Raised Beds
🧤->🪢 Rubber Gloves -> Elastic Bands

ethicalrevolution.co.uk/reuse-

Ethical Revolution · Reuse & Recycle - Ethical Revolution
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