From the beginning of the ´90-ies and first attempts to conceptualize green economy as a new socio-economic concept which tackles environmental and economic problems of unprecedented scale, green economy was not brought to a table of political and academic debates until recent global crisis occurred. Expansion of credits and its consequence in sharp rise in debt-to-GDP ratios, job losses and business failures, food crises and its consequence in rising fuel and food prices and increasing evidence in environmental degradation and climate change helped the green economy concept to find its new position on global political agenda. Based on the United Nations Environment Programme definition green economy should result in “improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” (UNEP, 2011, p 16). This goal is acceptable to all social actors involved in trying to resolve above mentioned issues but interpretation of the causes which led to those problems and perspectives on paths towards the end result differ. Degrowth thinkers and activists advocate a green, caring and communal economy with the goal of securing a good life, while criticizing the ideas and practices of high-tech projects of ecological modernization and green growth which are often present in various definitions and perspectives on green economy. In this session we would like to explore in theoretical and empirical manner to what extent is as a concept of green economy in line with degrowth ideas and practices.

This media entry was a contribution to the special session „GREEN ECONOMY AS DEGROWTH´S FRIEND OR ADVERSARY“ at the 5th International Degrowth Conference in Budapest in 2016.