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A post-growth pathway for the climate: the new study published in One Earth

What role does economic growth play in the fight against climate change? A recent study by Aljoša Slameršak, Giorgos Kallis, Daniel O'Neill, and Jason Hickel, published in One Earth, challenges the idea that GDP growth is compatible with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Current climate scenarios considered by international bodies, including the IPCC, generally assume sustained economic growth in the future. However, the authors' analysis suggests that lower or even zero growth could make mitigation strategies far more realistic.

The paper compares two contrasting pathways: one based on high economic growth and weak climate policies, and another that continues the low-growth trend seen between 2010 and 2020, but paired with strong climate action. The result? A low-growth scenario could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 13% by 2030, without the need for massive renewable energy expansion or highly ambitious technological efficiency improvements.

The core message is clear: a post-growth approach is not only feasible, but could also make it easier to meet climate targets in a fairer and more sustainable way. Still, even in the absence of growth, the authors stress the need for a concrete acceleration in reducing energy consumption and decarbonizing the global economy.

You can read the updated blog post on the MAPS project website here:
https://mapsresearch.eu/publications/the-labour-and-resource-use-requirements-of-a-good-life-for-all/

And access the full open-access article here:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2025.103008