The starting point of the multiple ecological crises can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, which brought about a fundamental transformation: a uniquely productive mode of production and massive increases in material wealth were made possible by an equally massive increase in the consumption of natural resources and emissions. These exponential growth dynamics are called ‘the great acceleration’. The following chart illustrates some important biophysical as well as socio-economic indicators, which begin to rise with the Industrial Revolution. From the middle of the 20th century onwards, the trend towards exponential growth becomes apparent. A life-friendly climate is thus threatened by the prevailing resource-intensive economic model. Its problems are not capitalism’s failing, but are in fact the unintended consequences of capitalism´s success. Starting from Europe, captitalism has brought prosperity, social achievements and cultural emancipation to ever larger parts of humanity for two centuries. However, the drastic human impact on our planet is also reflected in ecological crises such as climate change, species extinction, over-exploitation of natural resources and high pollutant levels, which together begin to threaten our very existence.
