Human well-being in the Anthropocene: limits to growth

Abstract

Non-technical summary Transformation of the world towards sustainability in line with the 2030 Agenda requires progress on multiple dimensions of human well-being. We track development of relevant indicators for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1–7 against gross domestic product (GDP) per person in seven world regions and the world as a whole. Across the regions, we find uniform development patterns where SDGs 1–7 – and therefore main human needs – are achieved at around US$15,000 measured in 2011 US$ purchasing power parity (PPP). Technical summary How does GDP per person relate to the achievement of well-being as targeted by the 2030 Agenda? The 2030 Agenda includes global ambitions to meet human needs and aspirations. However, these need to be met within planetary boundaries. In nascent world-earth modelling, human well-being as well as global environmental impacts are linked through economic production, which is tracked by GDP. We examined historic developments on 5-year intervals, 1980–2015, between average income and the advancement on indicators of SDGs 1–7. This was done for both seven world regions and the world as a whole. We find uniform patterns of saturation for all regions above an income threshold somewhere around US$15,000 measured in 2011 US$ PPP. At this level, main human needs and capabilities are met. The level is also consistent with studies of life satisfaction and the Easterlin paradox. We observe stark differences with respect to scale: the patterns of the world as an aggregated whole develop differently from all its seven regions, with implications for world-earth model construction – and sustainability transformations. Social media summary Reaching human well-being #SDGs takes GDP levels of $15k. This may help shape transformation to a world that respects #PlanetaryBoundaries.

¿Un compromiso social para el Antropoceno? Reacciones de las élites al Acuerdo de Escazú y las posibilidades de un Estado verde transformador latinoamericano

“…Se trata de ideas que parecen hundir sus raíces en el informe del Club de Roma (Limits to Growth [Los límites del crecimiento], 1972), que advertía contra el continuo incremento en el uso de recursos naturales, planteando que acabaría llevando al agotamiento de los mismos y a un desplome de los estándares de vida. Sin embargo, no abogaba por frenar el crecimiento, sino más bien por orientarlo hacia actividades menos intensivas en su consumo de recursos, a la par que por limitar el crecimiento de la población para reducir la presión sobre los recursos naturales (Collste et al, 2021). La idea del desarrollo sostenible se basa de hecho en esto, al considerar que el desarrollo sigue siendo un objetivo, aunque urge a una mayor redistribución y a actividades económicas que no agoten los recursos naturales (WCED, 1987).…”

A Social compromise for the Anthropocene? Elite reactions to the Escazú Agreement and the prospects for a Latin American transformative green state

“…This idea may draw its roots to the Club of Rome report (Limits to Growth, 1972), that warned against the continued increase of natural resource use, arguing it would eventually lead to resource depletion and drop in living standards. However, it did not advocate for less growth, but rather for growth is directed towards less resource intensive activities and that population growth is limited to reduce pressure on natural resources (Collste et al, 2021). The idea of sustainable development builds further on this, considering "development" still to be a goal, but urging for both better distribution and development of economic activities that do not deplete natural resources (WCED, 1987).…”

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