ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the correlations between economic development, climate change and democracy. It concludes that the consequences of climate change, particularly climate extreme events, could lead to a global economic recession, threatening the stability of democracies. Current economic models, which assume continued growth, risk overstretching planetary boundaries. Therefore, there is a need to align economic models with Earth’s system. However, a dilemma arises as democracies have historically developed alongside economic growth, while economic recessions normally lead to democratic backsliding. Advocates of degrowth may thus struggle to present models that meet the essential needs to sustain current democratic systems. This chapter discusses alternative agrowth scenarios, emphasizing the need to downscale environmentally harmful economic activities while upscaling renewable energy and green technologies.
