The world shares. Economic growth proceeds faster than the liquidation of poverty

Economic development meant that GDP in the world increased more than twice in 2000-2022, but billions of people still live in poverty, without access to basic goods, such as food, apartment, health care-informs the weekly “Nature”. At the same time, the destruction of the natural environment is deepening.

The authors of the work emphasize that the progress in the fight against poverty would have to accelerate five times to achieve global goals by 2030 in satisfying the basic needs of all people. In turn, in order not to exceed the borders' planet safe for ecosystems, excessive pressure on the environment would have to be stopped, and the rate of repair caused in it should be about twice as faster than the current pace of its destruction.

In the introduction to the article, scientists reminded that the concept of progress dominating in the 20th century focused on raising the standard of living by striving for economic growth, measured by the growth of GDP of states. The concept of progress emerging in the 21st century is more holistic and focuses on socio-ecological balance, and thus takes into account a larger number of indicators such as prosperity, sustainable development and health of the planet. Its central assumption is the obligation to meet the basic needs of all people while ensuring the stability of ecosystems that life depends on Earth.

In 2012, a model of such a concept was presented in the form of a donut with a hole (Donut), hence its English name Doughnut. It allows in a concise visual form to present progress in the pursuit of the needs of all people within limited land resources.

Graphically, this model presents the space between two rings: the inner ring represents the social foundation below which there is critical deprivation of resources; In turn, the outer ring represents the ecological ceiling, outside of which the critical degradation of the planet appears. Between these two rings there is an area that defines the minimum conditions necessary to protect the stability of our planet (ecological security) in the 21st century, while providing all people to meet basic needs (social justice).

In the following years, this concept was updated. At work in Nature, British scientists – Andrew Fanning from the University of Leeds and Kate Raworth from the University of Oxford – presented the latest update of this model. At the same time, 35 indicators used to assess trends in the field of social deprivation and exceeding ecological norms in 2000-2022.

A couple of researchers came to the conclusion that economic growth significantly exceeds progress in the fight against poverty. Between 2000 and 2022, the global GDP increased more than twice, but the reduction of poverty was low. At the current pace, the world is far from the elimination of critical shortages of food, healthcare, education and apartments until 2030.

At the same time, the burden of ecosystems of key earth to maintaining life on our planet is deepening. By 2022, humanity has already exceeded at least six out of nine so -called planetary boundaries. According to scientists, the trend associated with exceeding ecological standards would have to be inhibited immediately, and the rate of damage repair should be about twice as faster than the current pace of destruction of the planet to ensure environmental stability by 2050.

Researchers drew attention to huge unevenness in the world – the richest 20 percent. countries inhabited by 15 percent The population of the world is responsible for over 40 percent. load on the planet's natural environment during the year. In turn, in the poorest 40 percent countries inhabited by 42 percent world population, over 60 percent accumulate global poverty.

According to scientists, there is currently an urgent need to reformulate the indicators of success – we must stop relying on the continuous growth of GDP and switch to such an economy that prioritizes human needs and the integrity of our planet. The idea is to create a “safe and just” future in which social needs will be met as part of ecological earth limitations.

According to Kate Raworth, the donut model “reveals brutal reality”: obsession with the endless growth of GDP – especially in the richest countries – quickly distracts the world from achieving progress. – It's time to focus on creating economies by definition and distribution, because this will be the hallmark of the progress of the 21st century – she concluded.

Researchers also created an interactive website that presents an updated model. It is to support decision -makers and practitioners in the pursuit of social and ecological goals. The party will be updated annually so that the progress in their implementation can be constantly monitored. (PAP)

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