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    An authoritarian world government is not going to save us

    A growing question for environmentalists is the extent to which the existential threat we face means that countries and populations should be forced to reduce consumption, and hence whether an authoritarian politics is the best way to face the future. Read more

    Conversation with Jem Bendell, part 2: how should we respond to the collapse of capitalism?

    Jem Bendell of JemBendell.com | 02-Jul-2023 | 0

    This is the second part of a conversation between Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Jem Bendell, professor of sustainability leadership at the University of Cumbria, and author of the now famous 2018 Deep Adaptation paper that claimed that we’re on an inevitable path to civilisational collapse. Read more

    Conversation with Jem Bendell, part 1: is industrial capitalism coming to an end?

    Jem Bendell of JemBendell.com | 25-Jun-2023 | 6

    This is the first part of a conversation between Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Jem Bendell, professor of sustainability leadership at the University of Cumbria, and author of the now famous 2018 Deep Adaptation paper that claimed that we’re on an inevitable path to civilisational collapse. Read more

    If our civilisation were collapsing, would we even know? Review of Jem Bendell’s ‘Breaking Together’

    Dr Patrick Smith of Papillon | 04-Jun-2023 | 10

    In Breaking Together Bendell argues that the collapse of industrial consumer societies is not just “inevitable” but is in fact already underway. Read more

    20 year research project reveals devastating loss of British and Irish flora

    What has causes a devestating decline in British and Irish flora? Read more

    Stroud Commons part 1: We’re putting our house into the ‘commons’. Follow our progress and replicate it in your community

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 08-Jan-2023 | 5

    In 2023 I’d like to see a move towards a new system, rather than futile attempts to ‘fix’ capitalism. I don’t think it’s necessary to to try to persuade the majority of people of this. There are enough of us already to kick-start the necessary change. I’d just like to bring to your attention the new ideas that are emerging for building this new system – the commons economy. Read more

    Surviving the Future 2023: deep dive for anyone concerned about what’s coming

    In these tumultuous times, it’s good to pull back and think together — to share conversation — curated by experts and in the company of some of the most compelling people who have been thinking about these issues for a long time. Read more

    Organic smallholdings, not ‘farm-free’ food factories

    Chris Smaje of Vallis Veg | 13-Nov-2022 | 3

    Another critical review of George Monbiot’s latest book, Regenesis, by Chris Smaje, author of Small Farm Future. This follows on from last week’s review by Simon Fairlie. Read more

    How much trouble are humans really in, and what can we do about it?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 25-Sep-2022 | 28

    I’m inviting you to come on a journey with me. In an attempt to answer the question above, I’m going to research and write a series of blog articles (including interviews with key people), from which I’ll produce a book, and re-structure the Lowimpact website, including our message. Read more

    Communicating about degrowth, with Mark Burton of Steady-state Manchester

    Constant GDP growth causes ecological damage – there’s the constant expansion in the use of energy and materials, and the by-products of their use. Read more

    Is it time to rethink the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 29-May-2022 | 3

    Time to rethink the UN’s ‘Sustainable Development Goals’: the concepts of ‘development’ and ‘progress’ based on eternal GDP growth are flawed. Read more

    Why are there thousands of empty flights polluting our skies?

    18,000 empty planes will fly across Europe in early 2022. These flights will release 422,280 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Neither the EU nor Lufthansa seems likely to back down. Read more

    Voting with my fork: plant foods I’m not buying any more

    Sally Morgan of Empire Farm | 16-Feb-2022 | 6

    Sometimes, I wish I didn’t know the backstory to some foods, so I could happily buy them at the local shops and not think twice. But I do and here is my list of foods I won’t be buying again plus others that will require careful buying choices. Read more

    Stop greenwashing of aviation: 5. E-fuels

    Steve of Stay Grounded | 30-Nov-2021 | 1

    Over five weeks we’ve published a range of Stay Grounded factsheets about various kinds of techno-greenwashing provided by the aviation industry. Here we look at the potential for synthetic electro-fuels, or e-fuels. Read more

    Stop greenwashing of aviation: 4. biofuels

    Steve of Stay Grounded | 22-Nov-2021 | 2

    Over five weeks we’re publishing a range of Stay Grounded factsheets about various kinds of techno-greenwashing provided by the aviation industry. This one is about the promise of biofuels. Read more

    IPCC climate report: perpetual GDP growth is unsustainable

    The Systems Change Alliance share our view at Lowimpact.org that the climate change problem can’t be solved within the current economic system, which requires and generates perpetual growth and wealth concentration. Here, Roar Bjonnes explains that it’s capitalism’s growth imperative that renders it forever unsustainable. With COP26 over, a leaked report from the IPCC (The… Continue reading IPCC climate report: perpetual GDP growth is unsustainable Read more

    Stop greenwashing of aviation: 3. hydrogen flight

    Steve of Stay Grounded | 16-Nov-2021 | 0

    Over five weeks we’re publishing a range of Stay Grounded factsheets about various kinds of techno-greenwashing provided by the aviation industry. Here we look at the promise of hydrogen-powered flight. Read more

    Stop greenwashing of aviation: 2. electric flight

    Steve of Stay Grounded | 11-Nov-2021 | 0

    Over five weeks we’re publishing a range of Stay Grounded factsheets about various kinds of techno-greenwashing provided by the aviation industry. Here we look at the promise of electric-powered flight. Read more

    Stop greenwashing of aviation: 1. efficiency improvements

    Steve of Stay Grounded | 04-Nov-2021 | 9

    Over the next five weeks we’ll be publishing a range of Stay Grounded factsheets about various kinds of techno-greenwashing provided by the aviation industry. We’d like to help expose the greenwashing of the aviation industry. First up – efficiency improvements: the lie that aviation can become carbon-neutral via ever-greater aircraft efficiency, reducing the need for… Continue reading Stop greenwashing of aviation: 1. efficiency improvements Read more

    The problem with COP26

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 31-Oct-2021 | 10

    The IPCC recently conducted a study into the combined effects of all the agreed targets of the countries taking part in the ongoing COP talks. Tucked away in the report is this: “The available NDCs of all 191 Parties taken together imply a sizable increase in global GHG emissions in 2030 compared to 2010, of… Continue reading The problem with COP26 Read more

    There’s a crash coming – a slap from Mother Nature. This isn’t pessimistic; it’s realistic.

    The human impact on nature and on each other is accelerating and needs systemic change to reverse.

    We’re not advocating poverty, or a hair-shirt existence. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone.

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