This podcast episode is a deep-dive about the the research entitled, ⁠"Post-growth: the science of wellbeing within planetary boundaries"⁠. This research examines the burgeoning field of post-growth economics, challenging the conventional wisdom that continuous GDP growth is essential for societal well-being. The authors explore ecological, social, and economic limits to growth, arguing that exceeding planetary boundaries jeopardizes both the environment and human well-being. They analyze the limitations of "green growth" strategies, proposing alternative policies like reduced working hours and universal basic services to achieve prosperity without relying on constant economic expansion. The review also discusses the political and geopolitical implications of transitioning to a post-growth model, including the need for international cooperation and addressing inequalities between the Global North and Global South. Finally, the authors highlight knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions for advancing the post-growth agenda.

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Reference:

Kallis, G., Hickel, J., O’Neill, D. W., Jackson, T., Victor, P. A., Raworth, K., Schor, J. B., Steinberger, J. K., & Ürge-Vorsatz, D. (2025). Post-growth: The science of wellbeing within planetary boundaries. The Lancet Planetary Health, 9(1), e62–e78. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00310-3

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This podcast was created with the assistance of ⁠NotebookLM⁠.

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Keywords: growth, post-growth, well-being, degrowth, GDP

Hey r/Degrowth! I've been reflecting a lot on what it would mean if each of us actually comes back to Earth in future lifetimes—and how that aligns with degrowth principles. In a sense, if we’re all “returning travelers,” then the planet we inherit tomorrow is the one we ourselves shaped today.

• Reimagining Growth: Degrowth encourages us to question the obsessive pursuit of endless economic expansion. The #LiveLikeYouWillReturn mindset does the same, because if we might personally face the long-term fallout of overconsumption, how could we possibly keep depleting resources?
• Stewardship, Not Exploitation: Degrowth centers on living within planetary boundaries. If we believed we would literally come back to the same world in future lives, we’d be more motivated to protect local ecosystems, support shorter supply chains, and embrace simpler, more balanced living.
• Fairness Across Generations: Degrowth isn’t just about smaller footprints for the planet—it’s also about justice and equity. This “returning voyager” perspective naturally extends that moral lens beyond just our children or grandchildren. It implies we might be part of that future generation needing clean water, fertile land, and community well-being.

I recently put together a quick video exploring this possibility. Whether or not you personally buy into reincarnation, it’s an interesting thought experiment for reimagining policies and daily habits. I’d love to hear your take: Does seeing Earth as a place we might literally return to reinforce degrowth values? Or is it just another motivational angle in the broader push for a truly sustainable society?

Notably what if all religions could demand that people not follow growthist ideological beliefs that are in contradiction with religious doctrine such as that of measuring human life according to how much "GDP" a person can provide you that are incompatible with their core doctrines? Simply excommunicate the people who put growthism before their religion or try to syncretise to subvert things into being about that.

I know "inquisitional practice" has become a dirty word but did you know it originated as a means for the Sassanids to protect their religion from Roman colonisation of their faith (Since Rome was known for using syncretism for taking over religions) long before the church adopted it?

Even the Gaulish and Briton Druids were thought to have enforced their intellectual authority against colonial influences by excommunicating those who defied their intellectual authority over legal, social and religious matters.

In modern form it would just mean traditional religious communities safeguarding against anything subversive, whether through decentralised means or an administration by excommunicating people who try to put growthism above religious doctrine.

This would be genuine protection against subversive influences. In this case against people trying to determine morality or theology using growthism against the traditional orthodox doctrine.

I already know Half-Earth Socialism, Beecarbonize, Daybreak and En-Roads climate simulator. Do you know any other games? What about simulators?

Hello guys, first time poster here!

We are stuck in this growthist economy for the time being, so I thought it would be helpful to share brands we know of that adhere to some or many degrowth principles. That way we can help each other use our "consumer power" for good and also live a little closer to our values.

I'll go first: Northern Playground is a clothing brand that focuses on making long-lasting clothes in timeless styles. They also emphasize ethical working conditions and produce their clothes in Europe. They refrain from sales and include repairs with many of their products. I've been very satisfied with the quality and durability of their clothes. It is expensive as it must be.

https://www.northernplayground.no/en

I am a classic Marxist. You no doubt have a bunch of false assumptions about what my perspective is based on a poor understanding of what a Marxist is but that is fine I can clarify in the comments.

Based on Marxist critical analysis of capitalism your movement seems doomed from the start to me. There is no mechanism within any capitalist structure to achieve your goals. Further, it requires a global people's revolution to be pursued by any government.

Anyone here disagree? Or are you all just watermelons? 🍉

Edit: ITT a bunch of people thinking Marxism is communism, calling themselves 'realist' without realising all ideologies believe they see things as they really are and the name doesn't mean that whatsoever, and asserting points consistent with Marxism as if their not described first and better by Marx and Engels than themselves as if they are critiques of the originators of those ideas.

NITT anyone describing any possible mechanism for degrowth.

TLDR; y'all are a bunch of 🍉 unaware of their own position.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00310-3/fulltext

Hello,

I am already fairly versed in environmental questions but want to dig deeper into the ''degrowth theory''. I have been looking at reading either Less is More by Jason Hickel or Slow Down by Kohei Saito. Which of those would you suggest, or are there perhaps even better alternatives?

Calling all allies.

So-called Australia is the only former British Colony that celebrates its national day on the same day of its invasion. I encourage any of you who are in Australia, to join us on our day of mourning and march for change.

go to work to make things work. that works. if it works, it works. who cares as long as it works? i need work. im out of work. don't bother me i have too much work to do. she's depressed because she's out of work. im a worker who works. how does that machine work? how does light work? how does physics work? im unfamiliar with your work. work smarter not harder. work hard play harder.

please, just stop saying the word "work". in the internet age it is a word of insane people. just describe what it is you are doing, if you are doing something.

"im going to the office to make the billionaire that employs me slightly richer so that i can afford to live" is so much more sane to say than "im going to work".

/ end of rant

Here's another way to put it...how do we actually make degrowth...happen? Especially in our own communities?

Some ideas I've already had include:

- Living your values by consuming mindfully, mending your clothes, ect.

- Advocating for a "library of things" in your community.

However, these are just starting points and mostly involve reducing consumption. What else can be done? Contacting one's elected representatives to talk about degrowth? Writing letters to the editors of newspapers about degrowth?

I just recently found out about this movement, and once I got past the awful branding, I realised that it seems like a nice movement.

I still have one question- what would the degrowth society do? Would we produce just enough for everyone to have a decent standard of living, or produce a bit less than the maximum of what the environment can handle? Would we enforce maintaining the same standard of living over all time, or would we reach to strive higher, in a sustainable manner?

Basically, I'm asking about sustainable growth of living standards and sustainable space exploration.

Would love to hear a variety of thoughts!

People act like it’s a Malthusian death cult that wants to screw over the poor.

Like if they read anything about degrowth you know they want to take resources away from harmful industries like advertising and military and put it to housing.

It’s not making the main goal to make a imaginary number go up

Hello everyone, this is my first post here!

I've been lately engaged with some future oriented philosophies. My little journey started with Herbert Marcuse and his notion of repressed society that can be different, non-alienating, harmonious with nature due to technological advancement if we think about future alternatively and so on so on.
To my knowledge, at least on the left side, there is two, let's say, utopian schools of philosophy that advocate for breaking status quo: left-wing accelerationism and degrowth. I've been reading books on these, and they seem relatively complementary to some degree, and on the other hand, they continue to criticize each other in some aspects (for example, Alex Williams and Nick Srnirnek in Accelerationist Manifesto and Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work are against so called 'folk politics' that degrowth seems to incorporate, and Kohei Saito in Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto criticize accererationism, claiming that it is based on wishful thinking).

These two interest me, but I've wondered if there is maybe some other left-wing propositions for system after capitalism. I appriciate both of them to some degree, but I'd like to enrich my understanding and action against status quo.

I would like to see some other stuff on these - primarily contemporary, but anything is welcome.