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The Myth of Scarcity and Its Threats to Human Society [pdf] (2023)

kemendo.com

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Re: The Myth of Scarcity and Its Threats to Human Society [pdf] (2023)

#4

Post by toomuchtodo »

hooo wrote: post #2

How did you come across this? Lately I’m really interested in how people find their inputs..

I looked at their HN profile because I was curious. I had printed the PDF to read, finally had time to read it this evening, and posted it after reading it because I found the content to be of high value and was surprised to find it had never been submitted previously.

Re: The Myth of Scarcity and Its Threats to Human Society [pdf] (2023)

#5

Post by patcon »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #4
hooo wrote: post #2

How did you come across this? Lately I’m really interested in how people find their inputs..

I looked at their HN profile because I was curious. I had printed the PDF to read, finally had time to read it this evening, and posted it after reading it because I found the content to be of high value and was surprised to find it had never been submitted previously.

I absolutely LOVE finding a brain doppelganger on HN, then if they're an article poster, seeing what they've been thinking about. It's like running into a version of myself that's been running my own mental processes across different content and desire paths :)

I'm sure there's a way to automate the discovery of ppl like haha ... Oh. hm

Re: The Myth of Scarcity and Its Threats to Human Society [pdf] (2023)

#6

Post by AndrewKemendo »

kerkeslager wrote: post #3

I cannot think of an audience that needs to hear this more than Hacker News.

I should note that this is undergoing massive, major revisions ahead of submissions to IJPS[1] and my new co-author is an anthropologist. Riane Eisler read it and asked that I submit, so I’m cutting most of my speculation and loose language out and just focusing on the core claim.

Happy to answer any questions and honestly surprised to see it on the front page but honored. Thank you.

[1] https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/ijps

Re: The Myth of Scarcity and Its Threats to Human Society [pdf] (2023)

#9

Post by defrost »

I prefer the Forward to the UNEP 2024 Global Resources Outlook (181 pages):

    Natural resources are the basis on which all economies and societies are built, making their sustainable management critical to ending poverty and reducing inequalities. They are also essential to drive the transition to net-zero.

    To stay below a 2°C temperature rise by 2050, we will need over three billion tonnes of energy transition minerals and metals for wind power, solar and more. Aiming for 1.5°C to maximize climate justice would mean even greater demand.

    Right now, however, resources are extracted, processed, consumed and thrown away in a way that drives the triple
planetary crisis – the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.

    We must start using natural resources sustainably and responsibly.

    The 2024 edition of the Global Resources Outlook, from the International Resource Panel, shows that it is both
possible and profitable to decouple economic growth from environmental impacts and resource use.

    In fact, sustainable resource use and consumption can reduce resource use and environmental impacts in wealthier
countries, while creating the space for resource use to grow where it is most needed.

    It is important to note that the circular models we must follow are not just about recycling; they are about keeping materials in use for as long as possible, and rethinking how we design and deliver goods as well as services, thereby creating new business models.

    If the policies and shifts outlined in this report are followed, the 2060 picture will be significantly rosier than under current models.

    We could have a global GDP three per cent larger than predicted and reduced economic equalities.

    Growth in material use could fall by 30 per cent.

    Greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by more than 80 per cent.

    Such results would be a huge win for people and planet.
https://www.unep.org/resources/Global-Resource-Outlook-2024

The lead-in is a pragmatic warning:

    The world is in the midst of a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste. The global economy is consuming ever more natural resources, while the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
but the full report does outline a path forward should sufficient numbers of people and companies take heed.
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