Endless growth is reckless

August 3, 2025

Mark Diesendorf’s article The principal barrier to a rapid energy transition makes for sobering reading. With clear calculations, he shows that unless we significantly curb the growth of global energy consumption, renewables won’t replace fossil fuels fast enough to counter climate change. His solution? A steady-state economy based on reduced energy demand and planned degrowth.

The IEA says global energy intensity — energy used per unit of GDP — must fall 4% annually to reach net zero, double the 2010–2019 rate. But how do we get there?

In Pearls and Irritations (May), Diesendorf outlined five steps: demote GDP and promote universal public services; introduce a green jobs guarantee; apply modern monetary theory; develop policies that support sustainable goods and a circular economy; and significantly reduce energy use, especially in Global South manufacturing.

The biggest obstacle is our belief that economic growth is synonymous with progress and poverty reduction. While the pillars of the upcoming Economic Reform Roundtable have potential for a more sustainable future, talk of a steady-state economy is unlikely. But on a heating, finite planet, endless growth is not just unsustainable – it’s reckless.