With the world’s population heading towards 11 billion by the end of the century and with demands on the planet far exceeding what is sustainable, degrowth may just be the answer to the overlapping crises.

The movement urges developed regions of the world to initiate a process of “planned economic contraction” to achieve a just and sustainable world, aiming to embrace sufficiency for all, rather than excess for few, meaning living a life beyond consumerism.

The ideology of degrowth can be difficult to achieve in a society of people shaped by materialistic conceptions of the good life and macroeconomics of growth. Dr. Samuel Alexander, Research Fellow with the Melbourne Sustainability Society Institute, believes the role of art will gain greater importance in enacting change by engaging the hearts and minds of citizens in ways science cannot.