In October-December 2022, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG) and the Conservation Research Institute at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with The Club of Rome, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, and the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University hosted the 50th Anniversary of the 'Limits to Growth' seminar series.
In this series, while promoting the message of the Club of Rome in shaping policy with the five turning points of Earth for All, the speakers brought to light a number of critiques of the 'Limits to Growth' case over the years, and every presentation covered some of these criticisms. Specifically, Jorgen Randers covered his 50 years journey from the publication of ‘the Limits to Growth’ to the ‘Earth 4 All’ while highlighting the reasoning behind the five turning points (poverty, inequality, empowerment, food, energy); Gaya Herrington discussed her empirical evidence based on real data analysis on the validity of the LTG scenarios; Julia Kim covered the issue of measurement of progress presenting the case of Bhutan in using the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index; Ugo Bardi used an analogy of a chain reaction to explain simple models of depletion in minerals, energy and fisheries, and demonstrated how models can also be falsified using data; Mamphela Ramphele moved the focus to human action, and the importance of human consciousness and interconnectivity to make a change at the societal level; Roberto Pasqualino proposed an update on the LTG model while including the financial sector, green tech, and climate; finally, Jayati Ghosh concluded the seminars in December 2022 by focusing on the reduction of inequality as the fundamental leverage point to support change towards a just and sustainable society. Recordings of all the videos from the series are available in a Youtube playlist.
Following the conclusion of the 50th Anniversary of the 'Limits to Growth' seminar series at Cambridge, it is now our great pleasure to invite you to join us to hear from Sandrine Dixson-Decléve, co-president of The Club of Rome and lead author of Earth for All discussing the opportunities for transformative change in time of polycrisis at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) on the 8th of February from 17:30 to 19:30 (GMT).
The event details are provided via the link as well as below. Please note that the deadline for registration is 5 February 2023.
- Who: Sandrine Dixson-Decléve, co-president of The Club of Rome and co-author of Earth for All
- Title of the talk: Transformative change in a time of polycrisis: from The Limits to growth to an Earth for All
- When: 8th February 2023 17:30 - 19:30 UK Time
- Where: The Entopia Building, 1 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1GG (CISL Headquarter)
- Organized by: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) (hosting the event) in collaboration with The Club of Rome, Cambridge Centre for Environment Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG), and Global Sustainability Institute.
- Format: In-person presentation in Cambridge followed by Q&A with the audience
- Registration form for both online and in-person attendance (deadline to register 5 February 2023).
In this in-person event, Sandrine Dixson-Decléve, co-president of The Club of Rome and co-author of Earth for All, will discuss why we can grasp the opportunity of transformative change in the time of a global polycrisis in such a decisive decade for humanity. The next ten years must see the fastest economic transformation in history. Earth4All is an international initiative to accelerate the systems-change we need for an equitable future on a finite planet, building on the legacies of The Limits to Growth and the Planetary Boundaries frameworks. Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity was published in September 2022 and presents the results of a remarkable two-year research collaboration.
During her talk Dixson-Decléve will provide an overview of the findings from the book including:
- Results of new global modeling that indicates falling well-being and rising social tensions heighten risk of regional societal collapses
- Two alternative scenarios – Too-Little-Too-Late vs The Giant Leap – and what they mean for our collective future
- Five system-shifting steps that can upend poverty and inequality, lift up marginalized people, and transform our food and energy systems by 2050
- A clear pathway to reboot our global economic system so it works for all people and the planet.
Please register here to attend online or in-person.
For more info please visit the event description page.