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Make post-growth futures tangible with a sectoral perspective

Suter, Manuel LU ; Tsuchibuchi, Yuichi and Koch, Max LU orcid (2026) In PLoS Sustainability and Transformation 5(8).
Abstract
Post-growth science seeks to meet human needs equitably for all within the planet’s ecological limits, independent of GDP growth [1]. We propose that developing sector-specific post-growth visions, for example, in healthcare, energy, food, housing, education, or recreation, can help translate post-growth principles into concrete and relatable futures. Communicating such visions can broaden public understanding and engagement, connect scientific insights to lived experience, and provide a foundation for policy imagination. Without concrete visions, post-growth ideas risk remaining abstract and difficult to act upon for policymakers and citizens alike. This approach complements macroeconomic and systems-modeling work by grounding post-growth... (More)
Post-growth science seeks to meet human needs equitably for all within the planet’s ecological limits, independent of GDP growth [1]. We propose that developing sector-specific post-growth visions, for example, in healthcare, energy, food, housing, education, or recreation, can help translate post-growth principles into concrete and relatable futures. Communicating such visions can broaden public understanding and engagement, connect scientific insights to lived experience, and provide a foundation for policy imagination. Without concrete visions, post-growth ideas risk remaining abstract and difficult to act upon for policymakers and citizens alike. This approach complements macroeconomic and systems-modeling work by grounding post-growth futures in everyday practices and sectoral realities.

Among the current crises is a rise in ecological overshoot and social inequality, which are further exacerbated by declining population growth and a slowdown in global GDP. Globally, green growth—a position that aims to minimize environmental impact while maintaining GDP growth—remains the preferred response of most governments and international institutions. Yet this approach is increasingly being called into question. Empirical research indicates that absolute global decoupling of GDP growth from environmental pressures has not occurred at the pace required to meet the Paris climate targets [2]. A recent survey of over 3,000 researchers showed strong doubts that global GDP decoupling is compatible with keeping global warming below 2 °C [3]. These findings highlight the need for research that explores how human needs can be fulfilled independently of economic growth and within planetary boundaries. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Postgrowth, Degrowth, Sustainability, Transformation, Sectoral perspective
in
PLoS Sustainability and Transformation
volume
5
issue
8
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
ISSN
2767-3197
DOI
10.1371/journal.pstr.0000281
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
68d33ef4-e974-43a1-90da-8f4e0172662f
date added to LUP
2026-08-25 08:46:45
date last changed
2026-08-27 14:13:55
@misc{68d33ef4-e974-43a1-90da-8f4e0172662f,
  abstract     = {{Post-growth science seeks to meet human needs equitably for all within the planet’s ecological limits, independent of GDP growth [1]. We propose that developing sector-specific post-growth visions, for example, in healthcare, energy, food, housing, education, or recreation, can help translate post-growth principles into concrete and relatable futures. Communicating such visions can broaden public understanding and engagement, connect scientific insights to lived experience, and provide a foundation for policy imagination. Without concrete visions, post-growth ideas risk remaining abstract and difficult to act upon for policymakers and citizens alike. This approach complements macroeconomic and systems-modeling work by grounding post-growth futures in everyday practices and sectoral realities.<br/><br/>Among the current crises is a rise in ecological overshoot and social inequality, which are further exacerbated by declining population growth and a slowdown in global GDP. Globally, green growth—a position that aims to minimize environmental impact while maintaining GDP growth—remains the preferred response of most governments and international institutions. Yet this approach is increasingly being called into question. Empirical research indicates that absolute global decoupling of GDP growth from environmental pressures has not occurred at the pace required to meet the Paris climate targets [2]. A recent survey of over 3,000 researchers showed strong doubts that global GDP decoupling is compatible with keeping global warming below 2 °C [3]. These findings highlight the need for research that explores how human needs can be fulfilled independently of economic growth and within planetary boundaries.}},
  author       = {{Suter, Manuel and Tsuchibuchi, Yuichi and Koch, Max}},
  issn         = {{2767-3197}},
  keywords     = {{Postgrowth; Degrowth; Sustainability; Transformation; Sectoral perspective}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{8}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS Sustainability and Transformation}},
  title        = {{Make post-growth futures tangible with a sectoral perspective}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000281}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pstr.0000281}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}