What is Degrowth?

By: Demaria et al

This article gives a historical context of the concept of “degrowth” and goes on to describe how degrowth in the context of the environment implies that the environment has inherent value without the economically profitable resources it provides. The degrowth movement within environmentalism critiques ideas of technological dependency, sustainable development, and even humans themselves as solely economically concerned actors within the ecological sphere. The authors claim that current interplays between humans, the environment and economics are problematic and that society needs to make a fundamental shift in order to disengage with this harmful relationship. While I think degrowth could be a viable societal shift towards environmental benefits, the authors fall too closely into a reoccurring narrative of environmental destruction which places humans and natures at opposite ends of a binary. Is it possible that in some situations wealth in fact, offsets local environmental issues? It’s important to consider this framework as a potential solution, but the article could address further the other factors that contribute to current economic practices causing harm, such as corrupt politics. Overall, I think the degrowth model has value but needs to be careful not to fall to closely into the trap of environmental cliché. In order for a message and societal shift to happen, one of the most important factors is moving away from clichés and telling stories that offer comprehensive and complete views of human/environment relations.