The European Economy

The impact of the European economy is now nearly three times larger than what is required for a sustainable world. Today Europe uses 20 per cent of what the world’s ecosystems provide and yet is home to only 7 per cent of the world population.

If present patterns of production and consumption continue unchecked, the human economy will be double the available biocapacity by 2050, and we will need the equivalent of two planet earths to support us.

The choices we make today will shape our opportunities far into the future. The cities, power stations and homes we build in the next few years could lock human society into wasteful use of energy and other resources beyond our lifetimes, or they could begin to propel us and future generations towards a new and more balanced way of living.
Europe, as the world’s largest economy must embark upon an immediate and major transformation to avert dangerous climate change and prevent ecosystem collapse.

A shift to a more sustainable future will require a significant mobilisation and behavioural change of actors and institutions from every aspect of society.