Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity

by Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, Owen Gaffney, Jayati Ghosh

The economic operating system keeps crashing. It's time to upgrade to a new one.

Five decades ago, The Limits to Growth shocked the world by showing that population and industrial growth were pushing humanity towards a cliff. Today the world recognizes that we are now at the cliff edge: Earth has crossed multiple planetary boundaries while widespread inequality is causing deep instabilities in societies. There seems to be no way out.

Earth For All is both an antidote to despair and a road map to a better future. Using powerful state-of-the-art computer modeling to explore policies likely to deliver the most good for the majority of people, a leading group of scientists and economists from around the world present five extraordinary turnarounds to achieve prosperity for all within planetary limits in a single generation. Coverage includes:


Results of new global modeling that indicates falling well-being and rising social tensions heighten risk of regional societal collapses Two alternative scenarios - Too-Little-Too-Late vs The Giant Leap - and what they mean for our collective future Five system-shifting steps that can upend poverty and inequality, lift up marginalized people, and transform our food and energy systems by 2050 A clear pathway to reboot our global economic system so it works for all people and the planet. Written in an open, accessible, and inspirational style using clear language and high impact visuals, Earth For All is a profound vision for uncertain times and a map to a better future.

This survival guide for humanity is required reading for everyone concerned about living well on a fragile planet.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Environment, Sustainability, Politics, Climate Change, Science

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Peter Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

a way out of the multiple current global crisis. interesting scientifically valid approach to various szeanrios of how the world can be by 2100 and how it can develop until then. there is hope that humanity can get it right at least this time. let's hope we all do and start with ourselves

[Stefan Emunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

50 Jahre ist es her, als der Club of Rome „Die Grenzen des Wachstums“ veröffentlichte. Damals war dieser erste Bericht ein Meilenstein des tatsächlich fortschrittlichen Denkens und eine schonungslose Abrechnung mit einer Ökonomie des verschwenderischen Kapitalismus.
Der neue Bericht dieser Gruppe von Experten ist noch mehr als das. „Earth for all“ trägt zurecht den Untertitel „Ein Survivalguide für unseren Planeten“ und ist wie eine Art Blaupause für alle notwendigen Veränderungen, um die Menschheit zu retten. Es wird also nicht die Apokalypse beschworen, sondern ein Weg hinaus aufgezeigt. Hierbei konzentriert sich das Buch auf die fünf wichtigsten Kehrtwenden, die wir bewerkstelligen müssen, um uns eine Zukunft im System Erde zu sichern: Beendigung der Armut, Beseitigung von Ungleichheit, Ermächtigung der Frauen, Schutz von Menschen und Ökosystemen durch ein gesundes Nahrungsmittelsystem und der Einsatz sauberer Energie.
Leider wird dieses wichtige Buch dasselbe Schicksal ereilen wie seinem Vorgänger vor 50 Jahren. Es wird von den relevanten Personen entweder nicht verstanden oder gar nicht erst gelesen. Veränderungen setzen Erkenntnis voraus und Entscheidungsträger sind allzu oft erkenntnisresistent. Dieses Buch sollte Pflichtlektüre für alle Ökonomen und Politiker sein.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the radio the other day, I heard a spot on big cat conservation throughout the world. I'm paraphrasing the results, but basically places where inequality is high and economic opportunity is scant, are also the worst places for big cats right now. In other words, where people are forced to think in the short-term, natural resources are plundered.

It is so important, especially for those of us in the Global North, who have the lion's share (ah a big cat theme is emerging here!) of the responsibility for the climate and biodiversity crises, that we connect the dots between human well being and a livable environmental future. Earth for All is another excellent investigation of that connection. One of the most salient parts of this book, for me, is the connection between inequality within a country, political stability, and what that means for the opportunity of representative government to tackle problems. In short - rising inequality within a nation leads to political instability, and political instability means less chance for long-term solutions.

So if you are worried about climate change and species loss, a gravely important concern should also be democracy. As in, real democracy, not a representation of corporate interests divvied up by region. Noted! Gah. In a way, the list of things to do just gets longer...on the other hand, as we connect more dots among the problems, which all stem from extractive economies/colonization, the list grows denser and shorter. Time to get cracking.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4+

PROS: a holistic and realistic framework to rethink our society and achieve universal well-being by 2100, very accessible to read, future scenarios based on a systemic model freely available online

CONS: lack of in-depth quantitative and qualitative discussions of the model (see Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update for a much better example) and details about actionable policies, more a refinement over previous works from the Club of Rome, like Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update and 2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years, than an original work.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannend

[Leif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Techno-utopianism. Recipes for triumph, but the ingredients aren't all there...

[Junie Rönnqvist]

En viktig bok att läsa och ta till sig, väldigt överväldigande dock.

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5, upvote for impact; Recipes for future road, must-read for all. Can fully sign the Call to Action.

Very good overview and perspectives. Complete look at the state and necessary strategies

Partially repetitive, which is slightly annoying at times. Good if single chapters are read, probably.

[Santiago Fraire Willemoës · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book, it highlights all the fronts we need to take action to revert climate change as a collective. Hopeful and sad at the same time

[Sindre Fidje Nilssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velskrevet med fine tanker. Savner kansje litt nyansering i forhold til hvor lett dette egentlig er å gjennomføre og hvordan det skal gjøres i praksis.

[Jonah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutes Buch, interessante Ansätze und Einblicke in alternative Lösungen der großen globalen Probleme

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

great analysis and well structured book on the current climate crisis and how we can tackle it through changing the facets and policies that affect it. at times it felt a bit too optimistic despite the data and modeling as evidence, but in climate writing, there does need to be rays of hope to actually push any change forward. more of a big picture take on how we need to change policies than a detailed explanation on each individual factor.

[Marcel Schwarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of what humanity needs to do to tackle the climate crisis. Universal basic income and sustainable food consumption are big parts of this strategy.

[Andrew Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential read.

[Thomas STEINHUBER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be mandatory reading in schools and universities.

[spaceship.one · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review written by SpaceshipOne book club member Awoe Mauna-Woanya)

In an era of climate-doom-scrolling and climate conferences funded by fossil fuel lobbyists, “Earth for All” (E4A) by Sandrine Dixson-Declève et al. arrives as a beacon offering a clear, policy-oriented path forward. Much like many recent climate books, it argues that the climate crisis isn’t an inevitable consequence of human nature but rather a symptom of our highly inequitable, extractive economic systems. However, what separates E4A is that its proposed solutions have all been modeled in a systems dynamic model (called Earth4All).

A systems-based approach to climate solutions:

This modeling approach makes E4A one of the best systems-solutions-oriented books on our climate crisis. Its strength lies in exploring several scenarios for our path forward, considering well-being and social tension indices. This book specifically lays out two contrasting scenarios: “Too Little, Too Late” (TLTL), a bleak continuation of our current trajectory (aka business-as-usual), and “Giant Leap,” a bold transformation towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

The authors, a collective of scientists and economists, propose rebuilding our current economic systems by approaching five interconnected “turnarounds” that can deliver prosperity by 2050. These turnarounds tackle the root causes of the climate crisis by:

- Ending poverty,
- Addressing gross inequality,
- Empowering women,
- Making our food system healthy for people and ecosystems, and
- Transitioning to clean energy.

Suggestions for Improvement:

I loved E4A and really have to nitpick to find faults with it. E4A clearly presents its solutions using accessible language, direct subheaders, and engaging visual aids. These aids (mainly graphs and charts) allow you to visualize the pathway for achieving each solution. However, the book could have more narratives and be more interactive. Firstly, integrating more personal narratives could contextualize the impact of these turnarounds.

One of my favorite parts of the book was following the lives of four women in different parts of the world through the two scenarios presented. We see how climate change and economic injustice intertwine and how the “Giant Leap” solutions can empower individuals and communities to make a difference. Both scenarios genuinely felt realistic; the “Too Little, Too Late” left me in despair, and the “Giant Leap” motivated me to keep fighting for a better world. These narratives, had they been continued through each chapter, could’ve made it easier for me to connect with why it is important we implement these solutions.

Secondly, incorporating an easily accessible online dashboard, much like OurWorldInData, could provide a more interactive experience while exploring the various scenarios in more depth. The graphs and charts, helpful as they are, are static and in shades of gray. I often found myself examining them closely to distinguish the shades of gray or wanting to see how multiple charts are impacted by each other.

Implementing Change/ A Call to Action:

E4A’s proposed solutions are ambitions yet grounded in common sense. Advocating for wealth redistribution (the wealthiest 10% shouldn’t take more than 40% of national incomes) and citizen-fund-based economies may be radical relative to our current system, but E4A argues convincingly that our current systems have failed the majority of people already. I can imagine the myopic opposition to these ideas, but it’s our job to educate and show how they’ll be beneficial.

When I ask, “What now?” I can’t help but think it’d be awesome to have some kind of “Ministry for the Future” with real power to implement the roadmap in E4A. While E4A proves to be a valuable education resource, it felt like a blueprint delivered to the wrong door, meaning that this book really should be read by today’s leaders in search of systemic solutions. While I hope to one day be able to implement these solutions directly, I can still learn what a better system looks like and urge our leaders to implement them.

Ultimately, “Earth for All” is a powerful call to action: an injection of optimism, wrapped in a healthy dose of realism, steeped in data-driven modeling. It is a book that instills hope and reminds us that we have the tools and knowledge to create a better future; it’s up to us to demand it. Every page of my copy has some kind of scribble or annotation because it is an excellent guide for framing these big-picture solutions. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the solutions to our climate and economic crises and who is committed to taking action to achieve them.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some things, I don’t even need to believe they are true to want them to be true. I read a meme recently that while on the Joe Rogan podcast complaining about the nonsense that is climate change, Mel Gibson’s house in LA burnt to the ground. It sounds too good to be true – but I’m going to continue to believe it anyway.

This book presents two scenarios for how we might finally start to do something about climate change and global inequality. The first is too little too late and the other is a great leap forward. The second requires us to acknowledge the task ahead of us and fight it as if our lives depended on it – so, the least likely outcome. The problem is that the most powerful have the most to lose from us finally doing something about the network of problems facing us – all of which have been designed to benefit them.

Nevertheless, the world presented here is one we should all wish to come about. Greater equity, based on higher levels of education, a fairer share of the world’s resource, and growth that is within sustainable limits that does more to repair than destroy the planet. Whatever else is true, such a future is the only hope humanity has left, as we are being daily reminded.

What this book does particularly well is spelling out how all of the complex problems facing us today need to be tackled at once. Inequality drives climate change, sexism makes development harder, burning fossil fuels locks in inequality. This means any action you do to reduce any of these threats works to help reduce them all.

I’ve long suspected that we are rushing towards a world that will only be able to support perhaps half a billion people. And that the global elites are happy enough with such an outcome. As such, they will continue pumping Co2 into the atmosphere, continue gross inequality, and continue finding more and better ways to kill us with weapons. The war in Ukraine is an interesting example. Ukraine is a major source of food for the world. But it is unlucky enough to sit at an important geopolitical gateway. It is also as unlucky in its friends as it is in its enemies. The maxim, if you want to understand a conflict, follow the money, is useful here. The US is doing very well out of the conflict in Ukraine. Not only is it punishing Russia, but its arms manufacturers have never done so well. And it has brought the economy of the EU, and Germany in particular, to its knees, while forcing them to buy gas from US suppliers, rather than Russia. I’m not saying this was the cause of the war – but it is hardly likely to be factors that will see its quick end. That Ukrainians, rather than Americans, are dying in huge numbers is hardly likely to be something that will bother those profiting most from this war. The same goes for Gaza, where US munitions are enabling a genocide. Who cares as long as the money keeps flowing to arms manufacturers? In both cases, and despite the majority of the world wishing to see an end to both tragedies, nothing seems likely to change while those with the most money and who own the means of communication, are profiting so much from both wars – if what is happening in Gaza could reasonably be characterised as a war.

I’m not terribly optimistic that things will change anytime soon, or that we will even reach the minimum outcomes of the too little, too late scenario – but we mustn’t give up hope. It is all we have left us. May Mel Gibson enjoy his new house of ashes, certain in the knowledge that it burnt to the ground not due to climate change, but because DEI put too many incompetent people in places of authority. The single most amusing bullshit idea I’ve heard in a very long time.

[Shawn_H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half a century after the original “Limits to Growth” shook the world, a cadre of seasoned experts has released its 2023 successor—forty years of data and dozens of gray hairs distilled into a single, unflinching vision. Amid the cacophony of economic, social, and ecological discord, the report’s greatest gift is its compass: the true measure of prosperity lies not in annual GDP gyrations, but in the quality of activities that create and sustain our shared capital stock.

From Annual Output to Lasting Wealth

“Progress will henceforth be judged by the balanced growth of broadly defined wealth for all, rather than by the fleeting tick of yearly production and consumption.”

They call this “common wealth”, grouped into three pillars:
1. Productive Capital—the tangible assets we easily price in money: roads, machines, digital networks, power grids, ports, patents, public infrastructure—and above all, educated, capable workers.
2. Natural Capital—the earth’s life-support systems: forests, rivers, soils, stable climate, oceans, mineral deposits, the ozone layer, and all that makes our planet habitable.
3. Social Capital—our shared knowledge, traditions, legal frameworks, open-source data, languages, norms, and collective trust in one another and in institutions.

To flourish, we must expand all three in harmony—rather than funnel every ounce of resource into the pockets of capital owners.

The Five Portals of Change

The authors identify five broad policy pivots to reorient global governance toward this vision. Yet many of their prescriptions—more flexible use of IMF Special Drawing Rights, a new global currency fund, local green-industry incubators—feel half-imagined and woefully under-engineered. Likewise, calls for steeper wealth taxes and a rolling back of inequality betray an almost childlike faith in nation-state altruism. As long as self-interested elites reign, who’s to champion policies that would shrink their own fortunes?

A Practitioner’s Rejoinder

In my own reckoning, two “crutches” alone can bear the weight of genuine transformation:
1. Modern Monetary Theory—to mobilize every ounce of sovereign resources, tapping neglected sectors and forging new public wealth.
2. Massive Investment in Ecological Repair—forging a vast endowment to restore, replenish, and expand our natural capital.

Even so, the ultimate ceiling remains our planet’s finite resources. I find little solace in dreams of a “steady-state Earth economy”—we’ll either spur off-world expansion or wither under our own limits.

The One True Gem

Amid the turgid proposals and lofty rhetoric, the most profound insights lie in the president’s foreword—an unassuming yet piercing call to see wealth anew. Each time I revisit that preface, I emerge with fresh resolve: to measure success not by silver and gold, but by the enduring riches we leave for all.

[Hazel Thayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the creators of "we're all f*cked" comes: "see, we told you. here's how to fix it."

Sorta like the economic version of "Drawdown," the book lists out solutions to the climate crisis, and envisions a scenario in which everyone starts treating it seriously. It starts with a real good argument that inequality is a major driver of the climate crisis, and how the collapse of society that all the climate people are yapping about won't actually come about due to *climate change* itself, but the inequality and social tension that comes from it. Meanwhile, inequality is also causing the top 10 and 1% to consume massively more than the global middle and lower classes.

My main question is: who is this book for? Too technical for the normies, too surface-level for the climate nerds like me, this could maybe be a guide for policymakers, but nothing is specific enough to be directly actionable. I would have appreciated a bit more digging into the real meaty stuff, like the IMF debts keeping developing nations from investing heavily in green tech. Or talk more about how the top 10 and mostly 1% use their vast wealth not just to consume loads of garbage but also to influence policy and politics to allow them to continue to hoard wealth and pollute!

That said, there is something delicious about hearing experts on experts saying, no guys, it's really time to upend the system now. Not policy tweaks, not corporate responsibility -- a whole new human-centered economy.

Anyways, good news: we have all the solutions, we just need political will. Also bad news, we have all the solutions, we just need political will.

[John Oswald · Rating 3 out of 5]

It struck me reading these two back to back that Visser and Rockström have written the same book, just with completely different lenses. Rockström (I had the pleasure of hearing him speak to this latest body of research recently) is presenting the latest climate modelling showing not just how far we’ve overshot our earthly boundaries but what we urgently, as a species, need to double down on. And as with many climate scientists, when the evidence is so clear, you can feel him screaming into the incomprehension wondering why it all has to take so long…. Visser is a huge advocate of a brand of optimism that at first seems other worldly, but which quickly takes hold as you read of what people *are* actually doing all over the world. As he memorably says in a poem “Be an optimist; Not because the future is bright; But because bright people are working; To make the future better”
It’s also the first time I’ve read a book like this where the author digs deep at a spiritual / emotional level and reaches you with poetry. I had the privilege of having Visser as a tutor on a climate & business short course recently and this blend of clear headed, scientific analysis and dogged optimism about our ability to address the challenges Rockström lays down is infectious. So together, this is a pretty perfect way of framing our environment and social challenges. After all, Rockström and his team share something remarkable: the place to start is poverty and equality, not the literal environmental stuff we tend to run towards in richer societies… and Visser gives us the mental models and the frameworks to take this several notches into action.

[Luis ~ vv1ntermute · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth for All zeigt nachvollziehbar und verständlich auf, vor welch gigantischen Herausforderungen die Weltbevölkerung steht, wenn ein Leben in Wohlstand auf diesem Planeten auch in Zukunft und für alle möglich sein soll. Ein "weiter wie bisher" ist keine Option und ohne dabei zu komplex zu werden vermittelt Earth for All die Tatsache, das der Ausbau der Erneuerbaren Energien und die Eindämmung des CO2-Ausstoß nicht nur auf lokaler Ebene gedacht werden kann, sondern der Staatenverbund der Erde als Gesamtes systemisch betrachtet werden muss. Wohlstand für alle kann nur in einer gerechten Welt existieren, eine Welt in der die Bedürfnisse der Menschen des globalen Südens genauso mitgedacht werden wie die der westlichen Industrieländer.
Zeitweise hat mich Earth for All auch pessimistisch gestimmt. Als wären die notwendigen massiven Umwälzungen der etablierten Wirtschaftsordnung, Finanzsysteme, patriarchalen Strukturen, Vermögensverteilung und des Energiesektors nicht schon Herausforderung genug, erscheint die Umsetzbarkeit all dessen in einer Realität, die von zunehmender Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Populismus und einem wiederaufstrebenden Faschismus geprägt ist in weite Ferne gerückt. Doch Earth For All zeigt uns nur die Möglichkeit eines Wandels. Dass noch nichts verloren ist. Dass dieser Wandel aber auch nur dann erzielbar ist, wenn in der Bevölkerung eine Wille herrscht diesen jetzt, konsequent und zielstrebig einzuläuten, diese Tatsache sollten wir uns alle vor Augen halten.

[anna near · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many mixed thoughts.

On one hand, it was incredibly well-researched. This book proposes a somewhat-attainable solution to the current climate crisis. It drowns out a lot of the background noise we hear a lot surrounding the issue and singles out the #1 problem: the Western powers! (duh)

No, but in actuality, the authors put together a through plan that included ending poverty, eliminating inequality, empowering women, protecting people and ecosystems through a healthy food system, and then, and only then, a worldwide commitment to clean energy;.

The book was incredibly easy to read and accessible to those who don't have a lot of prior knowledge into the subject. However, I think because of that, a lot of nuance and in depth explorations were missing. The authors could've committed to adding another chapter on how the solutions could be implemented.

Unlike most environment and econ books, this one had a tone of appreciation and hopefulness that was very refreshing. It was an empowering read. I actually felt a lot better knowing there is a possible way out of this crisis- before I realized that policy-makers were going to have to feel the same. Then, obviously I felt like shit again.

[Stephen Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much needed optimistic outlook on the current climate crisis and one replete with evidence and with practical policy suggestions. For this reason I laud this book and would highly encourage all people to read it. It is an area of passion for me, as a student of Environmental Policy, however it is very accessibly written, providing a good entry point to the topic for those inundated with chatter and worrying news stories but unclear on where we stand, projections for the future and potential solutions.

My main criticism arises from the things left unsaid and unexplored. There is not a substantial critique offered of the meat and dairy industries wholesale in spite of just how significant their contribution to GHG emmissions are and, although forgivable, I cannot overlook their failure to offer a stronger critique of capitalism. In the interest of being pragmatic, I understand these decisions, however I cannot overlook them all the same.

A great starting point, a worthy read and overall a good book, but definitely worth supplementing with further reading due to some of its misty eyed deficiencies.

[Mewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Brilliant. Very clear systems overview of the polycrisis and the required turnarounds.

I would like to especially recommend chapter 8, that offers a clear and concise explanation of how our economy needs to shift from “Winner Take All” Capitalism to Earth4All Economies. You can read it here: file:///C:/Users/Gebruiker/Downloads/...

Why? Because as stated in Chapter 9, I think 'We need a change in the narrative, we need to open a conversation in every home, every school, every university, every town and city on how to upgrade our economic system.' If you want to join that movement, you first need to understand the system.

And if you have too much time like I do, then you might as well read the rest.
In the preceding chapters, they describe five extraordinary turnarounds that are needed to create a resilient civilization.
1. Ending poverty
2. Addressing gross inequality
3. Empowering women
4. Making our food system healthy for people and ecosystems
5. Transitioning to clean energy

xoxoxo

[Helena Lantz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Idén är fin men detta kommer aldrig fungera. Boken är skriven från ett perspektiv av vetenskapsmän, vilket gör att det inte får ett helhetsperspektiv.
Sen att ”alla människor kan äta nyttigt” stämmer inte.

Fattigdom kommer alltid finnas, oavsett om man ger pengar till de fattiga. Människor kan inte hålla i pengar och man behöver ju överleva, t.ex. tak över huvudet, mat osv.
Jag hatar att säga detta men fattigdom BEHÖVS för att världen inte ska gå under av klimatförändring. Fattigdom är hemskt och att bo på gatan kan jag inte ens föreställa mig. Dock är det nödvändigt för både ekonomin och världens resurser. Helt ärligt hade det varit bättre om alla bodde i hyddor ute i skogen och handlade lokalt. Det är synd att samhället aldrig kommer se ut så igen…

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbedingt lesen! Allerdings ist es kein Survivalguide für unseren Planeten, sondern für uns Menschen auf dem Planeten, um die größte Herrausforderung der Menschheit zu bewältigen: das Stoppen der rapiden Erderwärmung.

Es geht um zwei konkrete Szenarien und 5 umfassende Kehrtwenden:
* Armutskehrtwende
* Ungleichheitskehrtwende
* Ermächtigungskehrtwende
* Ernährungskehrtwende
* Energiekehrtwende

Es sind Kehrtwenden von bestehenden Narrativen und Weltbildern, hin zu einer entstehenden neuen Form einer "Gemeinwohlwirtschaft" (Wellbeing Economic) bzw. eine transformatorischen, gemeingutorientierte Wohlergehensökonomie. Das klingt für viele heute sicherlich erstmal schwierig und für mich ebenfalls, aber es ist wirklich sehr gut erläutert und benötigt Mut und Umsetzung der genannten Kehrtwenden um u. a. das Wirtschaftssystem regenerativ zu gestalten und tatsächlich in den Dienst der Menschen zu stellen. Die Erde, die uns beherbergt, die uns ernährt und am Leben erhält, gilt es zu bewahren, zu schützen und lebenswert zu gestalten. Eine Erde für alle. --> https://earth4all.life/

[Danny Steur]

Fascinating material for discussion for the reading group I joined, which consists of humanities scholars much more well-versed in this material than the apparent target audience for this - though the challenge was to try and engage with discourse this broad and science this removed from our own. made for interesting discussions on the strategic politics of this thing (which tries its hardest to be general and inoffensive even to those in power), but overall reading this was quite a drag, and its systems modeling approach is such a mind-numbingly flat exercise.

[Prof Primate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book prescribes a baindaid to a festering wound. The writers likely were very affraid to speak truth to power to their paymasters so they wrote this "drink water plus sugar to cure cancer" prescription pamphlet. It is an open secret as to what the problem really is (neoliberal capitalism) and what should be done (democratic ecosocialism - these were de facto the Club of Rome's original prescriptions later turned into a novel, Ecotopia, in the 70s).

This book even follows the anodyne UN aesthetics...

People will look at this 50 years from now and laugh at how pathetic it is.

[Fatma Fevzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the ideology behind limits to growth and was happy to see an updated model exploring contrasting pathways of the future. However, what I missed was a deeper political analysis of the current state of global politics and ongoing wars which are the main challenge to overcome. I like, nevertheless that the authors acknowledge the biggest role of governments in the transition to a really prosperous society in a well-being economy.

[Samin Kashmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is still a debate across the globe whether impending climate crisis is a hoax or a stark reality. Despite what one believes, everyone should read this just to understand possible scenarios awaiting humanity and how each of us can contribute to making this world a liveable place for the current population and for the coming generations.

I personally could identify to-do tasks for myself and hope that I would be able to implement them.