DW Documentary 
Critics of growth want to bring the economy into harmony with the environment and social well-being. They see a world that functions without constantly wanting more. But is that realistic?
Hamburg chefs Marianus von Hörsten and Aaron Levi Hasenpusch have decided to turn their back on the idea that a business should always be growing. Their restaurant is closed on weekends. It means more free time and less stress, but also less turnover and less income. For them, it’s feasible.
Otto Fuchs produces specialized metal components for the automotive and aviation industries. His company is aiming for “green growth” — to grow while operating in a climate-friendly way. But this is no easy task. In Germany, climate protection and the transition to green energy cost a lot of money.
Ulrike Herrmann, author of Das Ende des Kapitalismus (The End of Capitalism) is skeptical about green growth. She says it’s not possible, and advocates instead for “degrowth” in order to save the planet. Restructuring the economy would consume vast amounts of clean energy, and Germany simply couldn’t install that many wind turbines. In other words, we’ll have to rein ourselves in.
After the 2008 financial crisis, Iceland introduced a new economic evaluation: the “Wellbeing Economy”. As well as measuring things that have a price tag, it also takes into account welfare and quality of life, including access to housing and green spaces, as well as gender equality. Negative factors like environmental degradation and the consumption of resources are also included. Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir is professor of sustainability science at the University of Iceland. She’s committed to the idea of a sustainable economy.
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9:06 These people are practically delusional. I'm not saying hyper-consumerism shouldn't be addressed, but give me a break about scaling back these industries; nonetheless Housing Construction. You don't build houses, costs go up, don't delude yourself.
I'm also 100% sure, people would clamor for any form or energy, if they couldn't watch TV, charge their phone, heat their homes. It's all talk. And, again, not saying solar, wind, tidal energy shouldn't be adopted.
Sure, NOW the issue of growth via CO2 emissions is in the global zeitgeist, but growing in perpetuity isn't an issue by the very nature of the universe – mine asteroids, the moon, planets. You can grow to the extent that technology allows. These people are thinking with narrow-mindedness.
why is that the people pushing the climate change are the ones making so much money and not changing their life styles while others do? Its disturbing
I assume that green growth means tree growth
Yes, but not with a capitalist mode of production.
Possible on paper , but capitalism refuses to share wealth.
That means it’s completely impossible.
Still up in the air about what the correct direction is,
this video explores the options, and identifies some of their weaknesses and strengths,
so that's useful.
There's no one solution that will work for all. We each have to do what we can make work for us, and together all of our changes will have a big effect on slowing climate change.
I think we should aim for growth – as humans I think we need to strive for expansion. Growth/decline will naturally take its course but we shouldn’t aim for no growth.
Green party's propaganda to justify their failing adminstration.
As a citizen of Slovakia, I was used to communism coming from the east. Now it's 2024 and I'm surprised that communism is coming from the west – GREEN COMMUNISM.
Meanwhile EU governments try to destroy EU farmers. Makes perfect sense, if you're stupid
The problem is corporate greed…aka rich people greed.
Here is a thought. Dont grow the cake, but reduce the population. Is there a way in which we can measure (given the consumption rate for a good life) what would be a sustainable minimum population?
Sounds like communism
DW discovers socialism…
The world faces difficult decisions ahead. Is it prepared?
growth with capitalism are really missions to discover and invent things to improve lives to next best level , then that level should be made sustainable. In the mean time people try to invent things to imrpove that standard. It is abused to make too much money, hoad money by selling luxuries and redundant brands.
Blame America!!
Geothermal energy, large scale!
Life on earth has been possible with the help of two energy sources: the sun and the heat inside the earth. None of them are infinite, but both will last longer than any lifeform on earth will. So let´s solve the few technical details remaining in turning geothermal heat into electricity, thereby enabling unlimited clean energy for the rest of human existence all over the world.
(of course there´s major financial interests in the energy markets that dont want this – they´ll find something else to invest in.)
climate re💩ds, we'll see how you feel about your climate when food ENDS
Mmmm who ever said having less people would ever down our living standards, I think it could raise it, allow us to have more personal space, special experiences and a harmony with plant life, animals and our neighbours. I promote a reducing population to increase livelihoods!!
reducing waste is ok but overall this is the wrong approach, this is why communism failed, innovators don't have the motivation to innovate when their isn't an incentive, people will just move to usa where they can pursue their dreams
people see space as a waste but one day we will colonize in the space and have a vibrant community there, our nature is to seek more
Germany and economic growth is history.
Redestribute wealth? Tax the rich?
Communist propaganda
how many years of experience in businesses already? lets say just around 400 years? up to now, dont you people see that ———————————— doesnt mean DEATH like in the hopital? but up and down is just a trick to make money from traders? do nothing good but make many go Cuk Kuh.
Poor Jurgen, it's sad to see that he is being eaten by capitalism one bread at a time. What people don't see is the amount of labor and vitality in each piece of bread, they want to pay less and at the same time the consumers extract the life from this person and his staff.
"Prosperity without growth"? No, it would require to sacrifice all the poor and middle class. Who is the backbone of our system? Us of course, do you think that the wealthy capitalist will suffer by this? Not at all, they are protected at all times, they have designed the system that way! Until things change and there is a law to redristribute money we will keep on sacrificing thousands of lives for only a few people who don't even labor for it!!
Lol, why DW have you decided to do the excercise with a middle class family? Instead of doing it with a wealthy family that have their own private jet or helicopters? Why it is always the middle and lower class the ones that have to change their lifestyle when there is people that use a whole plane only for themselves or family members? Us sacrifying is only to preserve the comfort of millionaires'/billionaires' status quo.
Growth growth growth is mostly just needed by people who want to make money by owning stuff rather than making money by contributing to society.
This is what you suggest when you don’t understand game theory or any economics for that matter. If your plan is to save the world by getting all the countries to do something that is against their best interests then we’re all doomed
I think it's quite interesting to know there are many different views on green growth. It makes me rethink that green growth is not one voice, we need to balance the different sides. One is mitigating the economic growth rate, one is a win-win situation where green growth follows economic growth.
zero growth living is the ONLY way. we have already run out of planets to consume.
If the population contracts, it's inevitable that prosperity will follow. The Black Death of 1354 lead to the Renaissance.
Why are they mad at king?. Is this not a natural disaster they've not been experiencing before…
The question is: where degrowth has to start? The ultra-rich. If we would ban private jets, yatchs and limousines that would already have a very significant effect without literally changing the 99.9% of the people’s life
The world is growing.. only the advanced countries have stopped growing… stop considering urselves the world… developing countries have to reduce their poverty… they need growth for that…
Its not about the economic growth its about infinite economic growth idea which is stupid and dangerous
Non imported food, just german grown vegetables (instead of Spainsh or italy) that use 30 times more energy to produce in greenhouse heating… German solution for everything … Nationalism.
Wars cost money. Go and tell Olaf
DEGROWTH NOW.
1st world can think of all these. here we are already struggling for day to day survival in most cases
"Easier to share" says a guy who works for 1% that hoard 90% of resources. It's easy to share what we already have and have growth through taxing wealth. Mean household growth at the expense of super rich shrinking. They dont use it, so tgey lose it. Because how do you spend a billion dollars?
Video blocked in Germany 😂
Massless energy is replacing energy from mass. Profitability should greatly increase, opportunities to bring fallow areas to abundance will multiply, while energy supplies accelerate.
Focus on quality portfolios. In other words, quality of quantity. So, abundance in value could replace or support 'product.'
The irony of this dilemma is that it is framed as something all individuals should be striving for, and yet, global emissions are disproportionately correlated to income brackets. Just the top 10% of the global income ladder alone emit 50-60% of all CO2 emissions. Not a single argument has focused on the central task of climate being a class struggle rather than a consumption-based problem which middle-class consumers are responsible for. So long as growth continues and capital pours into increasingly consolidated corporations, capital accumulation and inequality will continue, resulting in disproportionate emissions by the wealthy. Wealth and luxury-goods taxes, antitrust, worker democracy, and making rentier capitalism obsolete (by taxing most forms of unearned income) are necessary. We are already seeing our future of so-called climate-friendly corporations dominate (big tech), and their new technologies are requiring data centers to consume an unparalleled amount of electricity which will power more automation and obsolescence of human labour. Is green growth really the answer?
This is such a great documentary. Well done! We do need to reflect on what matters. The global madness is being driven by "Consumerism" without "Integrity" – the US drove this madness and the entire planet has bought into the "Consumerism Mandates" – cutting down forests and demolishing ecosystems with a hunger for MORE & MORE – no real awareness of what actually matters. (Which doesn't mean 'adding value' isn't a bad thing.)
When we lived in Greece in the early 90s people were chilled out eating in restaurants – that produced reasonably priced meals. Families gravitated to the plateas because they could afford to. Children were valued and they were enjoying the evenings together with everyone. Real value emerges when communities are able to merge together and share in every aspect of life.
(And a vibrant calendar of cultural activities linked to food, music, dance and acting as a community is important.)
“AI” is such a big opportunity to improve our abilities to grow trust and speed up things like “Administration” and “Financial Transparency” – All taxation and state economics could be handled easily and transparently.
But sadly this doesn’t happen.
Instead we remain trapped in the fine webs of economic domination by “White collar Criminals” – who truly trick citizens as they play double games.
POWER.
We know that POWER chooses where “AI” emerges.
And ultimately chooses to make the people it’s victims. Sad.
We can always go back to being happy peasants instead of being miserable office workers etc.
dw i want tell you. million million people are using electric car in Bangladesh. bangladeshi local engineer are paddle-van converted to electric van. they converted padle rickshaw to electric rickshaw. also, electric three wheeler are available in bangladesh. problem is battery. Bangladesh can't produce viable battery. we are introduction on climate. we are using green energy. we want totally leave fossil energy. but, we need viable battery. as if we can get more energy. German battery factory build a battery factory in Bangladesh. if you help us. we will more introduction climate change. thank you.