Tom Whipple (1938-2024)
We are sad to share the news that Tom Whipple, the longtime editor of The Energy Bulletin (previously Peak Oil News), passed away in November 2024.
Post Carbon Institute
Earthelujah! An Anti-Consumerist Conversation with Reverend Billy
Reverend Billy, the leader of the Church of Stop Shopping, is hellbent on spreading the gospel of the anti-consumerist life and the non-materialistic approach to finding meaning and joy. Environmental journalist Rachel Donald interviews the good reverend.
Beyond Growth: A Journey through the Landscape of Sustainable Economics
Richard Heinberg traces the intellectual throughline of post-growth concepts and the history of degrowth and related economic movements. He takes a systemic approach that touches on Indigenous economics, ecology, physics, archaeology, energy, cultural history, philosophy, and climate science.
Buy, Consume, Obey! A Cartoon Gallery to Lampoon the Overgrown Consumerist Economy
Enjoy this gallery of cartoons, graciously shared by Polyp and Andy Singer–two artists who are unafraid to unleash their wicked wit, creative talent, and good humor on the topics of capitalism, consumerism, and infantile fantasies of infinite economic growth.
A Dozen Years of Economic Thumb Twiddling
Post Carbon Institute colleagues Richard Heinberg and Rob Dietz discuss the history of economic growth, the rise of ecological economics, the aftermath of the economic turmoil of 2008, and how to go from obsessing over growth to embracing a right-sized economy.
To Grow or Not to Grow: That Isn’t the Question
Richard Heinberg reviews the growth-versus-degrowth debate, explores the wide range of degrowth objectives and strategies, and lays out why advocating for voluntary degrowth makes sense now, even if nature-imposed contraction will come first.
By Design, not Disaster: Gaya Herrington on Business and the Limits to Growth
Environmental journalist/podcaster Rachel Donald interviews Gaya Herrington, an internationally recognized sustainability researcher and economist, about the limits to growth and the role of businesses in making a global transformation to a wellbeing economy.
Growth, Degrowth, and Green Growth: A Conversation with Peter Victor
Peter Victor is one of the world’s foremost post-growth theorists. In this Q&A article, Richard Heinberg gathers insights from Peter about what will be needed to downsize the economy toward a sustainable scale.
Moving Beyond Growth: Curated List of Resources
This collection provides ideas (in the form of books, journals, podcasts, and other sources), organizations, and even entertaining media that can help you understand the economics of sustainability, the degrowth movement, and the transition away from capitalism and consumerism.
Discussion: What Can You Do About the Economy? How to Be a Degrowth Practitioner and Activist
Program Director at Post Carbon Institute, Rob Dietz, hosts a participatory discussion session with Anitra Nelson, degrowth scholar and activist and author of many books about degrowth and the systemic changes needed to make the shift to a post-capitalist, post-consumerist economy.
Bringing the Economy Home: Degrowth and Local Investing for a Sustainable Future
Environmental journalist Rachel Donald hosts a conversation with Jason Hickel, internationally known degrowth researcher and advocate, and Nia Evans and Cierra Peters of the Boston Ujima Project, which focuses on creating a community-controlled economy.
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop
Political polarization, particularly in the United States, is being inflamed by structural forces, including the dominance of two parties and winner-take-all representation. Lee Drutman, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, speaks on reforms like proportional representation and multi-member districts, and why we should view democracy more like a living, evolving ecosystem than a problem to fix.