50 years have passed since the Club of Rome’s “Limits to Growth” Report offered gloomy forecasts: resource scarcity, a growing population and environmental destruction would necessitate an end of economic growth in the coming century. With its recently published report “Earth for All”, the Club of Rome offers a new, actionable vision: It presents five major transformation which are required to safeguard the planet for future generations to come. What the authors are calling for is a shift in thinking: away from a sole focus on economic growth, toward social indicators such as poverty, inequality, women’s empowerment and toward ecological indices such as clean energy production and a healthy food system. But how can this succeed when, even after fifty years, the economy continues to strive for only one thing: Growth?
Gordana Mijuk, Head of Foreign Affairs of the “NZZ am Sonntag” discusses these questions with the Co-President of the Club of Rome and author of “Earth for All”, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, and Claudia Süssmuth Dyckerhoff, member of the supervisory board of companies such as Roche, Clariant, Ramsay Health Care and Prudential.
The event contributes to a deepened collaboration between the Club of Rome and the St. Gallen Symposium on a joint initiative for “A New Generational Contract”. Convening partners from the public and private sectors, science and youth, the initiative seeks to promote intergenerational fairness and more long-term approaches to decision-making. The 52nd St. Gallen Symposium from 4-5 May will serve as the global sounding board of our emerging vision for what generations owe each other. Among other Club of Rome Members, co-president Mamphela Ramphele will contribute prominently through panels, which you’ll be able to follow online in May. To already remain up-to-date on the digital streams, you can register on the symposium’s website.
