As we have discussed in previous posts, the Jevons' Paradox poses a serious problem on achieving sustainability. From a global systemic perspective, advances in resources productivity and conservation relieves current socioeconomic boundaries, particularly in the production, distribution and consumption of resources. These new potentials are used somewhere if no limits are set.
Is it possible to tackle the Jevons' Paradox within our current capitalist system? is it enough to set limits to resources use? Is it even possible to set global limits to resources use, given our economic, social, policy and institutional reality? do we really need to rethink our societies if we want to achieve strong sustainability or some reforms are enough?
These are complex questions we do not have a response yet. However, we know that current trends are bringing us to an accelerate resources exhaustion and other environmental problems related, like climate change.
In the context of the Jevons project, we are exploring how we can deal with this problem following two different paths: 1) policy instruments within current capitalist systems; 2) implementation of most prominent systemic post-growth alternatives. First set of potential solutions take place assuming governments need to design global and complex multi-front resources policies, changing some views on environmental policies and problems, but no systemic changes are needed. The second perspective assumes there is no way to tackle this problem under current conditionings, while systemic alternatives would.
An analisys of these different aspects is being conducted in a new article which is about to be finished.
Cheers,
Jaume