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down:downshifting [2026/03/11 10:36] – Dave Darbydown:downshifting [2026/04/15 16:43] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Downshifting+This topic is part of [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]] and [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Downshifting ======
  
  
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-## What is downshifting?+===== What is downshifting? =====
  
 Downshifting is possibly the most important but least understood concept related to sustainability. It's about earning less and consuming less, and as such is only applicable to people with a reasonable disposable income - which means mainly (but not exclusively) people in developed, wealthy countries like the UK. Downshifting is possibly the most important but least understood concept related to sustainability. It's about earning less and consuming less, and as such is only applicable to people with a reasonable disposable income - which means mainly (but not exclusively) people in developed, wealthy countries like the UK.
  
-Human activity is causing [ecological damage](/ntre/nature), and it's increasing. Two things increase human impact - population growth and economic growth. Global population is beginning to stabilise, but economic growth is still what all governments are chasing. But it's not possible to live in harmony with nature (which we need to do if we want to survive) AND have perpetual economic growth. Sustainable growth is an oxymoron. Downshifting is [steady-state economics](/stea/steady-state_economics) in microcosm. We can't slow down or reverse economic growth if the majority of people just want more, more, more.+Human activity is causing [ecological damage](/ntre/nature), and it's increasing. Two things increase human impact - population growth and economic growth. Global population is beginning to stabilise, but economic growth is still what all governments are chasing. But it's not possible to live in harmony with nature (which we need to do if we want to survive) AND have perpetual economic growth. Sustainable growth is an oxymoron. Downshifting is [post-growth economics](pgec:post-growth) in microcosm. We can't slow down or reverse economic growth if the majority of people just want more, more, more.
  
 <WRAP center centeralign> <WRAP center centeralign>
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-## What are the benefits of downshifting?+===== What are the benefits of downshifting? =====
  
 - Ecology: less 'stuff' consumed or required. - Ecology: less 'stuff' consumed or required.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 **Work less, earn less, spend less** **Work less, earn less, spend less**
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 - People who take more than their fair share of resources are called successful; we need to change that – and call them selfish. - People who take more than their fair share of resources are called successful; we need to change that – and call them selfish.
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/learning). 
 + 
 +It is also in the section [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]] (Forum: [Wellbeing, home & relationships](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing)). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Great Big Scary World](https://www.greatbigscaryworld.com/) - quitting your job to live your life, coping with financial worries, travelling without money - [Great Big Scary World](https://www.greatbigscaryworld.com/) - quitting your job to live your life, coping with financial worries, travelling without money
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
-- [Low-impact shopping](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/lish/shopping) +- [Low-impact shopping](lish:shopping) 
-- [Free & open source software](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/foss/open_source) +- [Free & open source software](foss:open_source) 
-- [Self-employment](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/self/self-employment) +- [Self-employment](self:self-employment) 
-- [Steady-state economics](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/stea/steady-state_economics) +- [Post-growth economics](pgec:post-growth) 
-- [Small is beautiful](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/smal/small) +- [Small is beautiful](smal:small) 
-- [Personal development](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/pers/personal_development) +- [Personal development](pers:personal_development) 
-- [Low-impact living](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/lilv/living) +- [Low-impact living](lilv:living) 
-- [Eco & carbon footprints](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/ecoc/eco_carbon_footprints) +- [Eco & carbon footprints](ecoc:eco_carbon_footprints) 
-- [Hitchhiking](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/hitc/hitchhiking) +- [Hitchhiking](hitc:hitchhiking) 
-- [WWOOFing](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/wwoo/wwoofing)+- [WWOOFing](wwoo:wwoofing)
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • down/downshifting.1773225398.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/11 10:36
  • by Dave Darby