Director of the research publication ‘Our World in Data’ Max Roser (2021) has explained in his article that with the advance of economic growth, a history of global poverty reduction has begun. In his opinion, the last two centuries have been the first in the history of mankind, when societies have achieved sustainable economic growth and the reduction of global poverty has been one of the most important achievements in history. Nevertheless, 62% of the world’s population lives on less than $10 a day and 86% on less than $30 a day. From the facts above, it can be concluded that continued economic growth is a way to reduce poverty.6 The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs explains that worldwide consumption and production (a driving force of the global economy) rest on the use of the natural environment and resources in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet. Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the systems on which our survival depends.7
Is it possible to enjoy both economic growth and environmental sustainability? One of the main objectives of the OECD Environmental Strategy for the First Decade of the 21st Century, adopted by OECD Environment Ministers in 2001, is decoupling environmental pressures from economic growth. Decoupling can be defined as reducing the amount of resources used to generate economic growth while decreasing environmental deterioration and ecological scarcity. In 2014, United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) carried out a study on technological possibilities and opportunities to accelerate decoupling and reap the environmental and economic benefits of increased resource productivity. The study concluded that it is not possible for a global economy based on the current unsustainable patterns of resource use to continue into the future. Results are already visible in three areas: increases in resource prices, increased price volatility, and disruption of environmental systems. The environmental impacts of resource use are leading to potentially irreversible changes to the world’s ecosystems that have direct effects on people and the economy (for example health damages, water shortages, loss of fish stocks, increased storm damage). But there are alternatives to these scary patterns. Many decoupling technologies and techniques that deliver resource productivity increases are already available.8
This report showed also that much of the policy design “know-how” needed to achieve decoupling is present in terms of legislation, incentive systems, and institutional reform. Many countries have tried these out with tangible results, encouraging others to study and where appropriate replicate and scale up such practices and successes.9
Under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), the sustainable development plan Agenda 2030 has developed. Agenda 2030 includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including 169 targets for the development of the global economy and society in balance with the environment. The ultimate goal of this development plan is to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure well-being for all. Achieving these goals includes, but is not limited to, decoupling, the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy, and much more that is not sensitive to measure by economic growth indicators.
The aim of this training material is to draw students’ attention to the fact that a classic market economy based on the idea of continuous economic growth, is unlikely to bring us closer to the goal of increasing the well-being of society. This material introduces the idea of economic growth and explains the factors that drive economic growth; it reviews the study report where scientists conclude that on a finite planet Earth unlimited economic growth is impossible; it consists overview of the concept of economic development and sustainable development; it also gives overview of Agenda 2030 and SDGs. In 2015, UN member states approved the SDGs, which means that actions to achieve these goals have already been taking place for the past 7 years. During this training, we are looking for evidence that our country is working to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
