A Post Growth Deal

Introduction

How can we sustain human well-being within planetary boundaries? What policies and provisioning systems could enable societies to prosper without growth? What politics and alliances are necessary for seeing post-growth policies through, and how can the public be engaged in them? What new scientific paradigm could answer such questions?

Background

Societies face multiple intertwined crises. Bold alternatives are sorely needed. This project develops frameworks for Post-Growth Deals, from empirical research through to practical applications.

Project Development

1. Equitable North-South Convergence Scenarios
   First, we develop equitable North-South convergence scenarios, modelling human well-being achievement in all countries within planetary boundaries.

2. Post-Growth Policy Packages
   Second, we articulate post-growth policy packages for the Global North and South, assessing their political acceptability and modelling their effects.

3. Provisioning Systems Models
   Third, we develop models of provisioning systems to ensure future populations have adequate energy, food, shelter, health, and social security.

4. Political Movements and Alliances
   Fourth, we learn from political movements, studying politics and alliances that could bring post-growth transitions forward.

5. Practical Steps for Implementation
   Fifth, we identify practical steps to bring Post-Growth Deals to life, working with four representative communities to co-produce knowledge and action on the ground.

Potential Gains

The potential gains of this research are immense: post-growth transitions may unlock a far more ecologically stable and socially prosperous future than current trajectories lead to.

Paradigm Shift

REAL brings a paradigm shift moving post-growth science from economics to sustainability studies. We propose a new trans-disciplinary 5Ps of post-growth science, grounded in resource/energy modelling, political economy, and socio-political analysis—a skill set that no single researcher or team presently possesses.

Expertise of Principal Investigators

The PIs are leaders in their fields and bring complementary expertise in:

• Modelling of provisioning systems (JST)
• Political economy and North-South relations (J)
• The politics of socio-environmental transformations (GK)