Growth and its Agents - Danger or Chance for the Great Transformation Towards a Sustainable Society?

Will we be able to limit our ever growing energy and resource demand? Is a transition into sustainability truly possible? Prof. Dr. Éric Pineault, Degrowth expert and Professor of Sociology at the University of Québec at Montréal, will present his perspective about drivers of growth. These might slow down or even prevent paths towards sustainable societies in various ways. Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind, President of the Wuppertal Institute, will sketch where questions of critique of capitalism connect to the Wuppertal Institute’s transformation research.

The subsequent discussion will aim on weighing these arguments and gauging how realistic potential paths should be seen in this light, identifying crucial points and actors. Aspects will be whether developments like circular economy or renewable energy-based ways of production should be rather seen as drivers or moderators of growth, and in how far economic actors like corporations play a problematic or constructive role. Also, the relevance of demand via consumption versus production will be discussed.

The event will take place on 30 January from 18 to 20 o'clock in the auditorium of the Wuppertal Institute, Döppersberg 19 in 42103 Wuppertal. Registration by e-mail to pr@wupperinst.org is requested.