The Growth–Environment Debate

Hardback

The Growth–Environment Debate

An Introduction

9781035333516 Edward Elgar Publishing
Ryan M. Katz-Rosene, Associate Professor, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, Canada
Publication Date: March 2025 ISBN: 978 1 03533 351 6 Extent: c 196 pp
In this timely book, Ryan M. Katz-Rosene expertly explains the origins and evolution of the great debate on the growth–environment relationship. He illustrates how some thinkers see economic growth as the best means to achieve sustainability while others see growth as the cause of humanity’s present ecological crisis.

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Contents
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In this timely book, Ryan M. Katz-Rosene expertly explains the origins and evolution of the debate surrounding the growth–environment relationship. He explores why some see economic growth as the best means to achieve sustainability while others see growth as the cause of humanity’s present ecological crisis.

The Growthz–Environment Debate covers economic, population, and material growth, and their turbulent relationship with environmental sustainability. Katz-Rosene identifies five distinct, competing discourses, each of which presents different interpretations of the growth–environment relationship, detailing their core claims, arguments, and sets of proponents. Drawing on ecological political economy and discourse analysis, the book enables readers to situate their own ecopolitical economic views within the great growth–environment debate.

This book is an essential read for students, scholars, and researchers of environmental economics, politics, and sociology. It is also valuable for policymakers wanting to learn about the complexities of the relationship between growth and sustainability, providing a detailed understanding of diverse perspectives on the issue.
Critical Acclaim
‘Ryan M. Katz-Rosene deftly traces the sharply different assumptions and arguments about the consequences of economic growth for global sustainability. His astute and incisive analysis is essential reading for understanding the political and societal discourses that have been shaping global environmental governance for more than half a century.’
– Peter Dauvergne, University of British Columbia, Canada
Contents
Contents
Preface
1 Introduction to The Growth–Environment Debate
2 Growth is Green: market ecology and roll-back neoliberal
environmentalism
3 Growth Can Be Green: Natural Capitalism and Ecomodernism(s)
4 Growth Misses the Point: Steady State and A-growth
5 Overthrowing growth: Eco-Marxism and the growth of Degrowth
6 The Damage of Growth is Done: neo-Survivalism, Human
Ecology, and Deep Adaptation
7 Conclusion: the great gamble
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