Degrowth refers to the planned reduction of how much energy and resources are used in an economy, with the intention of increasing community prosperity, health and wellbeing at the same time. 

Many societies and economic systems have been designed to constantly increase the amount of energy and resources they use, and these are the main drivers of ‘growth’, as measured by governments. Overuse of fossil fuels and natural resources are causing the climate emergency. Meanwhile, the unequal and exploitative ways these resources are extracted and used is unfair and negatively impacts human wellbeing. 

Degrowth aims to tackle these problems simultaneously by using less of the world’s finite energy and resources and putting wellbeing ahead of profit. This could be achieved through more sharing, less consumerism, and stopping the planned obsolescence of products, which are made to break or need replacing.

Degrowth does not necessarily mean reducing the growth of gross domestic product (GDP), which is a measure of economic growth, so its name is something of a misnomer. It means moving away from GDP increases as a political objective, and instead shifting directly to goals around well-being and prosperity, while using less energy and resources. 

Some argue that degrowth approaches are best applied to wealthier countries whose high consumption is driving the climate emergency. Reductions in this consumption can open up more resources for the Majority World, which may need increases in energy and resource use to reach a point where human needs are being met.

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• ▶️ How to Save the Planet: Degrowth vs Green Growth? (Oxford Smith School, YouTube)

• 🗣️ Degrowth: why some economists think abandoning growth is the only way to save the planet (The Conversation) 

• Degrowth: what's behind this economic theory and why it matters today (World Economic Forum)

• Join a degrowth campaign or network, and educate yourself on the topic. 

• Consider whether your organization targets 'growth' in a healthy way. Will it cause more resources and energy to be used, and does it contribute to peoples' wellbeing?