A Portal on Sustainability

Economic aspects of sustainability

04.05.2005 · Research Group on the Global Future

To build a sustainable future, we have to change the mechanisms of our economies. It would be impossible, of course, to simply step on the brakes of our current economy. Markets would tumble, and economic depression (or worse) would ensue. What we need to do is make the transition, over a suitable period of time, from an economy fixated to growth to what Paul Hawken, entrepreneur and economist, calls a "developing" economy: "A growing economy is getting bigger; a developing economy is getting better."

The issues:

• Eco-Efficiency
• Trade, Market Liberalization and the Environment
• Production and Consumption Patterns

It lies within the nature of a concept as complex as sustainability that a wide range of economic interests interact with environmental conservation. If you miss particular topics in this section that affect ecological aspects of production, e.g. renewable energies or tourism, please take a look at the ecological aspects part of this portal.

Find more information in our statistics section on Economy and GDP.