Green Economy Reader
Lectures in Ecological Economics and Sustainability

Editors: Stanislav Shmelev



Aims to fill the gap in understanding ecological economics as one of the important foundations for green economy trend in the new economic thinking

Stimulates further interdisciplinary dialogue, conducted in the spirit of ecological economics, and will support democratic values and methodological and cultural pluralism

A thought provoking collection of top level contributions

Helps to facilitate the transition towards sustainability and educational reform

Will equip MSc and PhD students in economics with the state of the art in sustainability thinking

State of the art in sustainability thinking, inspired by interdisciplinary ideas of ecological economics. This book is focusing on sustainability pathways, new economic theory, democracy and institutions, multidimensional assessment of sustainability, macroeconomic modelling and policies, climate change and renewable energy, resource flows and circular economy, regenerative cities, environmental conflicts and values. It will be helpful for MSc and PhD students in Economics, Management, Environmental Change, Ecological Economics, Development Economics, Sustainability and practitioners in business, international and nongovernmental organizations. Rich, diverse and thought provoking collection of top level contributions, it will help to facilitate the transition towards sustainability and educational reform.

A fabulous composition of papers by the authors who really count! Ernst von Weizsäcker, The Club of Rome

The authors present a refreshing perspective on the possibilities of human progress in harmony with nature, without the need for economic growth to secure long term human welfare and wise use of nature's services. Extremely relevant. Peter May, Past President, International Society for Ecological Economics and Professor, UFRRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The book goes well beyond the Green Economy, offering arguments and blueprints for a complete makeover of the current economic system. With multi- and interdisciplinary contributions ranging from moderately to fundamentally critical of current economics, it raises fundamental questions of value and power, draws on a wide range of theories, opens the eyes for the historical processes that brought about the current crises and demonstrates the value of ecological, but also classical economic thinking to their solution. If better politics require better theories, this is a must read for academics and decision makers in the time of climate crisis. Joachim Spangenberg, Sustainable Europe Research Institute, SERI Germany e.V.

Table of contents (16 chapters)

Front Matter
Pages i-xviii

Ecological Economics: Alternative Perspectives
Front Matter
Pages 1-1
The Life Required. Political Economy in the Long Emergency
Pages 3-23
How Economics Can Become Compatible with Democracy
Pages 25-38
Gaps in Mainstream Economics: Energy, Growth, and Sustainability
Pages 39-53
A Further Critique of Growth Economics
Pages 55-66
Multidimensional Assessment of Sustainability: Harmony vs. the Turning Point
Pages 67-98
System of Accounts for Global Entropy-Production (SAGE-P): The Accounting in the Topological Domain Space (TDS) of the Econosphere, Sociosphere, and the Ecosphere
Pages 99-137

Ecological Economics of Physical Balance: Resources, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy
Front Matter
Pages 139-139
The Green Economy in Europe: In Search for a Successful Transition
Pages 141-160
Measuring Natural Resource Use from the Micro to the Macro Level
Pages 161-182
Regenerative Cities
Pages 183-204
Multidimensional Sustainability Assessment for Megacities
Pages 205-236
The Economics of Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change
Pages 237-263
A Precauctionary Strategy to Avoid Dangerous Climate Change is Affordable: 12 Reasons
Pages 265-289
Renewable Energy in the UK: A Slow Transition
Pages 291-308

Ecological Economics of Social Change
Front Matter
Pages 309-309
Social Metabolism and Ecological Distribution Conflicts in India and Latin America
Pages 311-332
Human Values and Sustainable Development
Pages 333-365
Building a Sustainable and Desirable Economy-in-Society-in-Nature
Pages 367-454
Back Matter
Pages 455-463