Energy Descent as a Post-Carbon Transition Scenario: How ‘Knowledge Humility’ Reshapes Energy Futures for Post-Normal Times

By Joshua Floyd, Samuel Alexander, Manfred Lenzen, Patrick Moriarty, Graham Palmer, Sangeetha Chandra-Shekeran, Barney Foran, Lorenz Keyßer, Elsevier

Many studies have concluded that the current global economy can transition from fossil fuels to be powered entirely by renewable energy. While supporting such transition, we critique analysis purporting to conclusively demonstrate feasibility.

Soaring Beyond the Green New Deal

By Don Fitz, Resilence.org

One of the strongest parts of The GND and Beyond is its systematic exposés of myths regarding energy, many of which are directly from the fossil fuel industry, and others which come from those who are so enthusiastic about AltE that they overlook its downsides. 

From Energy Transition to Energy Reduction

By Chris Smaje, Small Farm Future

My request to those working in the renewable energy industry is to ask themselves before undertaking any new project: “Will this help people to live a lower energy lifestyle than they previously did?” – which, regrettably, is not something we can say of the low carbon energy installed globally to date. If they can’t answer yes to the question, I’d request they dump the project and seek another one. It’s urgent.

OK Doomer

By Guy Dauncey, The Tyee

Rees and Nikiforuk call this “realism,” but that’s a very loaded word. It says, “These are the facts: you can’t argue with them.” “Be realistic” invariably means “Stop being ambitious.” This kind of realism, applied to the climate and ecological emergencies, sends the message that we’re screwed. Spiritually and emotionally it’s not in my makeup to accept defeat, so I have a problem with this, especially before we’ve even begun the rapid transition needed to tackle the climate emergency.

The Future is Rural: The Unexpected Consequence of Energy Descent

By Jason Bradford, Resilience.org

Something new will arise, and in the evolution of what comes next, many may find what is often lacking in life today—the excitement of a profound challenge, meaning beyond the self, a deep sense of purpose, and commitment to place.

The Energy Descent Future

By Samuel Alexander, Joshua Floyd, The Ecologist

This leads us to the view – open to change through ongoing learning of which actual experience related to the realisation of post-carbon societies will be central – that humanity’s best course of action is to act in the present as if renewable futures will entail energy descent. 

Carbon Civilisation and the Energy Descent Future

By Samuel Alexander, Joshua Floyd, Resilience.org

Our goal presently is to broaden the discourse on energy futures. If we cannot always provide comprehensive answers in the space available, we hope at least to provoke thought about new questions, with the aim of unsettling some assumptions about energy futures presently held with undue confidence.

Slack Employment

By Shaun Chamberlin, David Fleming, STIR to Action

It is a truth universally acknowledged that competitiveness is a good thing.

A Prosperous Descent: Telling New Stories as the Old Book Closes

By Samuel Alexander, The Griffith Review

OVER THE LAST two centuries in the West, we have been telling ourselves that economic growth is the most direct path to prosperity, that the good life implies material affluence, and that technology and ‘free markets’ will be able to solve most of our social and environmental problems.

Review: Afterburn by Richard Heinberg

By Frank Kaminski, Mud City Press

Heinberg, who has few peers in the art of distilling complex messages down to simple, easily understandable take-aways, gives this summation of our fossil fuel predicament: “it’s all about energy; renewables are the future; growth is over.”

Richard Heinberg talks about Afterburn

By Hal Ginsberg, Richard Heinberg, Radio Monterey

Richard Heinberg on his new book Afterburn: Society Beyond Fossil Fuels.

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Richard Heinberg on Our Renewable Future

By David Swanson, Richard Heinberg, Talk Nation Radio

Richard Heinberg discusses our renewable future and how to get there.