The “GEMEINSAM NACHHALTIG” lecture series organised by the NRW Sustainability Alliance (NAW.NRW) invites you to a talk on the limits of sustainable economic growth on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The event is open to anyone interested and will take place from 5.15 pm to 6.30 pm at the Mönchengladbach campus of the Hochschule Niederrhein (Building Z, Room Z E36, Richard-Wagner-Straße 97) and online via Zoom. Participation is free of charge. Registration is required at: https://naw.nrw/anmeldung-ringvorlesung-sommer-2026/
Under the title ‘Green Growth: Why there is no alternative to controlled degrowth strategies for material consumption’, Dr Martin Wenke, professor of Economics and Ecology in the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at The Hochschule Niederrhein, will speak about the key challenges facing sustainable economic and social development.
The lecture takes as its starting point the IPAT formula developed by environmental economist Barry Commoner back in the 1970s. This formula describes the influence of population growth, per capita consumption and technological development on environmental and social pressures. Despite considerable progress in the field of environmentally friendly technologies, numerous scientifically defined planetary boundaries continue to be exceeded worldwide.
Prof. Dr Wenke explains why technological innovations alone are not sufficient to reduce environmental pressures adequately. The focus is on so-called ‘degrowth’ strategies, which aim to reduce per capita consumption of materials and resources. Furthermore, the lecture addresses so-called ‘rebound effects’, whereby efficiency gains are partially or completely offset by rising consumption.
The lecture series ‘GEMEINSAM NACHHALTIG’ (SUSTAINABLE TOGETHER) organised by the NRW Sustainability Alliance (NAW.NRW) regularly features academic lectures and discussions on current issues in sustainable development. The aim is to foster dialogue between the worlds of research, practice and the general public, and to provide impetus for a sustainable future.
