What if the very efficiency improvements we champion in sustainability actually increase resource consumption? The Jevons Paradox suggests this troubling possibility. However, we dive deep into the historical evidence and find yet another paradox, that this increase in resource consumption seems to go hand in hand with genuine social progress.
In this episode our conversation spirals through economics, addiction, power dynamics, and the fundamental question: if resource consumption improves human lives, how do we balance that with protecting the environment?
Through our exploration we find that there may be limits to the Jevons paradox that would allow us to transcend it, enabling social and environmental progress to go hand in hand, but first we must overcome the power of vested interests that benefit from ever growing consumption.
Share your thoughts
We love hearing your thoughts so please do leave a comment on Substack or tag us on Linked in (Tom Greenwood & Asim Hussain).
Here’s some things to think about:
Where do you see increased consumption actually helping improve human welfare?
Have you noticed the difference between genuine needs and manufactured wants in your own consumption patterns?
Can you see hidden addictions in society, or your own life, driving unnecessary consumption?
Thanks for listening!
