The thermodynamics of degrowth
I know.
Dear Readers,
I know, you are few and this is going to be serious (bla bla).
But at least I'll make it short (bla).
Physics law # 1*: We cannot have unlimited exponential growth in a system with limited ressources.
Although the economists who lead the world tend to ignore this, I guess it's pretty clear for the rest of us.
(keep reading, as the new interesting bit comes now...)
Physics law #2**: you need to spend energy to put in place a system that produces usable energy.
For instance if you want to exploit the energy of the sun, you may wanna build a solar panel. And for that you need energy (manufacturing energy + energy embedded in the raw materials). This is summarized in a parameter called EROI (energy returned per energy invested). ...And the maths of our EROIs doesn't add up with the mental pictures in our minds of a future where there's a solar panel in every corner...
We are moving from an era of easy oil (EROI>40) to an era of technologies with small EROI (amongst which renewable sources). A solar panel produces over its lifetime only 3 times more energy than that was needed to build it (EROI=3).
Our growth potential is therefore limited***. Green growth is a fucking illusion that keeps our brightest minds from doing the real actions that count. It's time to stop this "wishful thinking" and embrace reality. Degrowth is upon us, whether we want it or not. We either embrace it now and cushion the fall or we'll smash our faces.
It's that simple. And today I didn't even talk about climate change. That's another pair of sleeves****.
* this is nothing else than the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy)
** second principle of thermodynalics (increasing entropy) It's XIX century physics but to my knowledge still holds its grounds.
*** the issue is more complicated than this, obviously, as I am thinking only in terms of energy; but there are also other limits to ressources extraction that will kick in sooner, some rare elements needed for our technologies are simply gonna be"out of stock" in a matter of a few years.
**** Yes: ressource depletion is when the light turns off. Climate change is when the water level raises to the ceiling.
