Decoupling

The Contested Circle – Part 2: Green Growth’s Illusion: Why Efficiency Alone Cannot Sustain the System The Ideological Comfort of Decoupling The circular economy has ascended to the forefront of global policy, business, and research agendas, largely predicated on a powerful and comforting narrative: that of sustainable growth. This narrative, often dubbed “Green Growth,” promises a win-win outcome where economic growth and environmental preservation are successfully reconciled, allowing the economy to hum nicely without wrecking the planet. The appeal is immense, suggesting that humanity can decouple economic activity from resource consumption and environmental impact simply by becoming more efficient and innovative. ...

The Contested Circle – Part 4: Quantifying the Decoupling: How Circularity Mitigates Carbon and Secures Supply The Dual Imperative: Climate and Commerce The ascent of the Circular Economy (CE) is fundamentally rooted in its capacity to address the dual challenges of climate change and economic vulnerability. The traditional linear economy, through relentless material extraction and processing, contributes significantly to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions; material extraction and use account for 70 percent of global GHG emissions. ...