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Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

sciencedirect.com

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Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#21

Post by [deleted] »

hevomada wrote: post #19
tester756 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, computer is indeed using a lot of resources more resources than what average non-dev ppl use.

Well-paid is the keyword. I think it's safe to say programmers earn more than average people. From my observations people usually spend proportionally to what they earn. EDIT: To make it more clear, I think resource use almost perfectly correlates with spending. One might argue, "But spending on services like plumbers, waiters or therapists doesn't directly consume resources." Yet, when you pay someone for their time…

[deleted]

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#22

Post by toomuchtodo »

jimbokun wrote: post #3

From what I've heard and read, Costa Rica has done excellent work in this direction. GDP is low compared to many developed countries. But they have an innovative health care system that provides good outcomes with limited resources, inexpensive but healthy diet featuring rice and beans and fresh fruits and vegetables, a devotion to environmental preservation, and energy production almost entirely from renewables with…

Hydropower is also a significant contributor to their low carbon energy generation profile.

https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/CR/72h/hourly

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#24

Post by cedws »

hevomada wrote: post #8

There's a striking irony in sharing a degrowth article with an audience of well-paid developers whose daily resource use might match months of consumption for someone below the poverty line. Not implying everyone fits this mold—there are exceptions. Still, it's valuable food for thought. Thanks for posting.

Yes, let’s just pillage and plunder the planet until the Amazon is gone and we’ve driven every species to extinction. Hurrah for capitalism and eternal growth.

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#25

Post by etrautmann »

hevomada wrote: post #19
tester756 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, computer is indeed using a lot of resources more resources than what average non-dev ppl use.

Well-paid is the keyword. I think it's safe to say programmers earn more than average people. From my observations people usually spend proportionally to what they earn. EDIT: To make it more clear, I think resource use almost perfectly correlates with spending. One might argue, "But spending on services like plumbers, waiters or therapists doesn't directly consume resources." Yet, when you pay someone for their time…

So what are you proposing? Degrowth across the board? Fewer therapists and teachers because fewer people all around?

Why not specifically reduce the most environmentally egregious things and not just target any economic activity?

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#27

Post by niemandhier »

maxglute wrote: post #26
486sx33 wrote: post #6

It’s not possible for everyone to have decent living standards. China and India need to decrease their birth rate so the rest of the world can thrive

And US and west needs to stop immigration.

The west is aging. Without migration supporting the elderly will be impossible at some point in the next 50 years.

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#28

Post by WheelsAtLarge »

Part of the problem is the misallocation of productivity. Let's face facts no one needs one more iPhone or whatever gadget but everyone needs good healthcare or whatever basic need. Our current economic system is geared towards providing what in essence are luxury goods, items that we don't need for a happy and healthy life. If our economic system would work towards making basics the priority we would be better off all over the world. That would mean that somehow producing food, or whatever basic need, for everyone would be way more economically attractive and entrepreneurs would create more companies in the food production realm rather than gadgets that ultimately end up in the trash polluting our environment.

Re: Decent living standards for 8.5B would require 30% of current resource use

#29

Post by dvdhnt »

luqtas wrote: post #11
dvdhnt wrote: post #9

Rich countries are not going to subject themselves to austerity so poor countries can catch up and surpass them. Life's not fair, the world will never be fair, and no amount of global-equity-fetishism will every make it fair.

being able to think about equality is already a step equity isn't about everyone having the same things, thinking the same things in an equal sized house; even less being helped to surpass someone...

equity is a post-modern buzzword that doesn't mean anything. it's only applicable in world of fairness which doesn't exist.
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