Ripa: "We in the ÖDP have known for a long time: green growth is a fairy tale"

(Brussels/11.09.2023) The two economists Jefim Vogel and Jason Hickel have examined the concept of "green growth" in an analysis published in the journal "The Lancet Planetary Health". The core message of their findings is that the necessary decoupling of the economy from CO2 emissions is progressing far too slowly to meet the Paris climate targets. As an example, they cite the UK, which, although a pioneer in climate protection, would have to decouple its economy from its CO2 emissions five times as quickly. Germany is in an even worse position because, according to the calculations, the economy would have to decouple more than 30 times faster than before within a few years. According to the two economists, such decoupling rates are not realistic if the economy is growing at the same time. Their conclusion: green growth approaches are unsuitable for industrialized countries to meet their obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement. Vogel and Hickel cite post-growth strategies as an alternative.

MEP Manuela Ripa from the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) sees herself and her party vindicated by the study. "We in the ÖDP are committed to an economy without the need for constant growth. We are committed to the idea of a post-growth economy, which is guided by the principle of 'less is more'. We want to achieve a better quality of life with less material expenditure. This requires a fundamental change in the economic framework. In any case, we in the ÖDP have known for a long time: green growth is a fairy tale.""

The ÖDP politician emphasizes that the current economic model, which is based on endless growth, has reached its limits. Continuous economic growth, which is based in particular on the consumption of fossil fuels, is leading to catastrophic global warming. And the endless pursuit of growth is based on the depletion of natural resources, the destruction of biodiversity and the creation of too much waste and pollution. Manuela Ripa is therefore campaigning for the post-growth economy in the European Parliament. In May of this year, she co-organized a three-day conference in the Parliament at which strategies for a European "Beyond Growth" economy were developed and presented. High-ranking speakers from EU politics, academia, trade unions, companies and civil society organizations took part .

Manuela Ripa said: "Public interest in a sustainable European economy is at an all-time high and such a landmark debate in the European Parliament is a powerful symbol. The Beyond Growth conference provided a unique opportunity to have a pluralistic debate on how we can find ways to live well within the social and environmental limits of our society. My panel with, among others, the world-renowned founder of the Doughnut Theory, Kate Raworth, addressed the question of whether we can stay within planetary boundaries through a circular economy. This conference is not the end of the story; more are to follow. It is time for the limits to growth to finally enter the consciousness of European decision-makers."

Click here for the event recording: https://youtu.be/bumnAZ4wKmE

Information on the Beyond Growth event can be found here: https://www.beyond-growth-2023.eu

The article in the Lancet can be accessed here:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00174-2/fulltext