Is Green Energy the Pathway to Sustainability? – An Explanation From the Perspective of Degrowth Theory

Authors

  • Yiming Yuan 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Li Li 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
  • Rui Zhang 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4341

Keywords:

Degrowth, green energy, sustainability, capitalism

Abstract

The discourse surrounding energy transition is intensifying due to insufficient global energy resources. Nonetheless, given that the capitalist economy prioritizes expansion and growth, it remains uncertain whether green energy solutions can genuinely pave the way towards sustainability and address the challenges of climate change, energy shortages, and food security concerns. Degrowth calls for a radical reorganization of politics and economics to reduce resource, energy consumption. This paper discusses the crisis of capitalism from multiple dimensions. It uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as an approach to explain degrowth and green energy. It also explores green energy in terms of three aspects of sustainable development: the profit-making industry, the high-efficiency paradox, and the re-challenge to the environment. Finally, it discusses the possible pathways for society to solve the global environmental crisis in the context of degrowth. These movements encourage critical thinking about the transition to green energy and offer a feasible pathway to sustainability without relying on growth ideology. This highlights the viability of the degrowth framework as a means to address a range of problems.

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Author Biographies

Yiming Yuan, 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Yiming Yuan received the BMgt and BA from Beijing University of Technology, China, in 2019. In 2024, she obtained an MSc in Management Science & Engineering from Beijing Information Science & Technology University, China, and an MA in Sociology of Sustainability & Global Challenges from University College Cork, Ireland. Her research focuses on sustainable energy and environmental policy making, including the transition to renewable energy and analysis of city energy consumption.

Li Li, 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Li Li is full professor in Management Science & Engineering and Big Data Decision-Making since 2022 in Beijing Information Science & Technology University. She received the BMgt, MSc, and PhD degrees in Management Science & Engineering from North China Electric Power University, China, in 2005, 2008 and 2011, respectively. Currently, her research focuses on energy economics and policy making, energy policy modeling, and energy consumption. She also has been awarded of grants from research institutes, companies and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

Rui Zhang, 1) School of Economics and Management, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, 100192, People’s Republic of China 2) Laboratory of Big Data Decision Making for Green Development, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 3) Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Intelligent Decision Making and Big Data Application, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Rui Zhang received a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Ludong University, China, in 2021. She has been studying as a master’s student at Beijing Information Science & Technology University, since 2022. Her main research interests are renewable energy microgrid and microgrid resilience.

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Published

2024-10-30

How to Cite

Yuan, Y. ., Li, L. ., & Zhang, R. . (2024). Is Green Energy the Pathway to Sustainability? – An Explanation From the Perspective of Degrowth Theory. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 43(04), 761–790. https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-5236.4341

Issue

2024: Vol 43 Iss 4

Section

New Technologies and Strategies for Sustainable Development