The Holiday Season and the Need for Degrowth: A Comprehensive Look

🌍The holiday season represents the height of overconsumption and overproduction, contributing to climate change and environmental destruction.

💡Degrowth is an alternative vision that calls for a reduction in production and a shift away from the growth paradigm.

🔄Degrowth must be connected to broader anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist, and anticapitalist struggles.

💰Economic growth under capitalism prioritizes capital accumulation, leading to increased emissions and exploitation of the imperial periphery.

🌱Degrowth aims to create a more equitable and sustainable world, prioritizing well-being over endless production and consumption.

What is degrowth?

—Degrowth is a planned, democratic reduction of unnecessary production in wealthy countries to restore balance with the natural world in a safe, just, and equitable way.

Why is the holiday season a problem?

—The holiday season is characterized by excessive consumption and waste, contributing to environmental degradation and climate change.

Why does economic growth lead to increased emissions?

—Under capitalism, economic growth is driven by capital accumulation, which often involves increased production and consumption, leading to higher emissions.

How does degrowth relate to broader struggles against imperialism and capitalism?

—Degrowth challenges the growth paradigm that is central to capitalism and imperialism, advocating for a more just and sustainable world.

What are the goals of degrowth?

—The goals of degrowth include reducing production, prioritizing well-being over economic growth, and fostering global ecological justice.

00:00The holiday season highlights the problems of overconsumption and overproduction in the modern world.

03:40Economic growth and capital accumulation are driving climate change and environmental destruction.

08:09Degrowth offers an alternative path forward, focusing on reducing production and connecting degrowth to broader struggles against imperialism and capitalism.

13:19The trap of green growth and the need for degrowth to address the climate crisis.