Global scenarios from a growth-critical perspective
This study criticizes the climate protection scenarios considered in the IPCC reports as inadequate. The proposed measures continue to be based exclusively on conventional growth models and allow for temporary exceedances of the 1,5°C or 2°C warming limits. Excess emissions are to be subsequently recaptured using risky CO2 removal technologies. Effective policy measures beyond the logic of growth, such as reduced production and consumption in certain sectors such as heavy industry, thus find little entry into climate policy and social discussions.
Revised and expanded edition of our analysis “Growth Reduction in Climate Protection Scenarios” , on the occasion of the IPCC Special Report on staying within the 1,5°C limit of global warming.
Climate protection scenarios demonstrate how climate protection goals can be achieved using various measures and policy instruments at the national or international level. However, based on the status quo of growth-focused politics and a culture of consumerism, they narrow their focus to technical solutions such as the use of renewable energies and efficiency technologies. The possibilities for social changes that lead to a reduction in economic growth through different production and consumption patterns are ignored. This is problematic. Firstly, it prevents these options from being incorporated into policy advice, and secondly, it also prevents them from being initiated in public debate.