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The great stagnation and environmental sustainability: a multidimensional perspective
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:51
Version 1 2023-06-09, 23:50
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:51 authored by Bernardo Cantone, Alexander AntonarakisAlexander Antonarakis, Andreas AntoniadesAndreas AntoniadesSince the 2008/09 Great Financial Crisis, we have witnessed a prolonged period of persistent global economic slowdown termed the “Great Stagnation”. This study examines how this “new normal” is associated with critical environmental dynamics (i.e., biodiversity, water, forest, agriculture, emissions) in areas and groups with different socio-environmental characteristics (i.e., income groups, continents, forest cover, biome, environmental performance index). Mixed results are shown. For instance, we find a deterioration in terrestrial and marine biodiversity, especially in middle- and high-income countries in Africa and Europe. This includes a reduction in the global fish stock, driven by countries in Africa. In contrast, the Great Stagnation is associated with reductions in PM2.5 (lower- and upper mid-income countries), CH4 emissions (upper mid-income countries and Europe), forest loss (upper mid-income countries and Asia), and increases in species habitat index (across most groupings). Our evidence indicates that periods of economic slowdown, such as the great stagnation, on their own cannot ensure a transition to a sustainable socio-environmental system and may be associated with significant negative environmental effects. Managing our transition to sustainability will require concerted policy efforts across multiple environmental domains, not only on carbon emissions, and during periods of both strong and weak economic growth rates.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Sustainable DevelopmentISSN
0968-0802Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
29Page range
485-503Edition
Special Issue: The Poverty-Inequality-Environment Frontier in the Age of The CrisesDepartment affiliated with
- Geography Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sussex Sustainability Research Programme Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-05-13First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-05-13First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-05-13Usage metrics
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