Ten percent of energy is not enough (Part 2): Weak versus strong degrowth
 

Carlos de Castro

My previous article (“10 per cent of energy is not enough”) had just two objectives: 1. I wanted to show that a reduction in energy consumption that is sustainable for the second half of the 21st century leads to average per capita and global levels that are even lower than those [indicated] by studies published under so-called ‘post-growth’ or ‘degrowth’ scenarios. I based my argument on another article of mine, a synthesis of research and publications spanning more than a decade and a half, focusing — though not exclusively — on energy, and carried out in collaboration with my research group, GEEDS, at the University of Valladolid. In it, I state that the scenario I propose is not realistic but optimistic; yet, even so, it yields a techno-sustainable potential of around 25 per cent of the final energy we currently use.

2. I wanted to show why even that 25 per cent is unrealistic and, therefore, why all scenarios that propose higher figures are unrealistic, given the difficulties, barriers and lack of feedback at various levels that have not been taken into account in the analyses, scenarios or models.


For a full read of this essay, click here or on the picture to download the pdf file.