Reducing Exposure

The mainstream environmental movement is mostly about proposing profitable alternatives to environmentally-damaging products. There is some talk of "reducing" - toxic chemicals, carbon emissions, water use, etc. - but most of it takes an efficiency approach that is undone by rebound effects.

Degrowth is not opposed to alternatives and efficiency as solutions. It is an additional condition on them. Degrowth says: without a limit on the size of the economy, the mainstream environmental solutions - alternative chemicals, responsible products, renewable energy, efficient appliances - will never be effective.

Economic size is not the only problem. It's a part of the problem that gets the least attention.

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