Can degrowth save the climate?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

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Summary

Since the 1960s, global GDP has been rapidly rising and living standards have reached record highs. But something else has been rocketing up too – carbon emissions. For years, scientists and economists have been asking: is it possible to grow without heating and polluting the Earth? And as the climate becomes more unstable, the issue is only becoming more urgent. Madeleine Finlay hears from two economists arguing for a change in how we measure a country’s success. Nick Stern is professor of economics and government at the London School of Economics and an advocate of green growth, an approach to growth that prioritises green industry. Jason Hickel is a political economist and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona who advocates degrowth, shrinking parts of the economy that do not advance our social and ecological goals.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:02.0	Since the 1960s,
0:03.0	since the 1960s,
0:10.0	global GDP, the main measure of economic growth, has been rapidly rising,
0:18.0	taking living standards to a record high.
0:27.2	But it's come at a cost, because at the same time, global carbon emissions have been rocketing up too.
0:30.7	For years, scientists and economists have been asking, is it possible to grow without heating and polluting the Earth?
0:39.6	And if so, can we actually do it?
0:44.4	As we race towards two degrees, the question has come out of niche academic circles and into the mainstream,
0:51.7	because if we don't answer it, the planet might for us.
0:58.1	So today, as part of the Guardian's special Beyond Growth series,
1:03.0	what's the future for economic growth?
1:05.8	And what would life look like without it?
1:09.5	From The Guardian, I'm Madeleine Finley, and this is Science Weekly.
1:19.2	UK GDP figures have hit the wires.
1:22.8	First look at fourth quarter GDP.
1:25.8	I want to get your reaction to today's GDP figures, which showed that the economy
1:29.7	has GDP grew.
1:31.4	It's just 1.4%.
1:33.0	They have instituted another Democrat shutdown.
1:35.6	The first one costing us two points on GDP.
1:39.9	Gross domestic product.
	...

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