In 1968, the Italian businessman Aurelio Peccei, the head of Scientific Affairs of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), Alexander King, and a group of scientists founded, a laboratory of ideas that brings together experts from all over the world . The frame of reference was a global and long -term perspective, and analyze the whole and the intertwining of global economic, environmental, political or social problems.
At the same time, a team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technological Agricultural, the exhaustion of non -renewable resources, industrial production and pollution.
Thus, in 1972 the Club of Rome published, led by scientist Dennis Meadows. The book sold millions of copies. His message, based on advanced forms of knowledge, was that, if they continued without modifications the growth trends of the world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and exploitation of resources, “the limits of growth” would be manifested through a Sudden decline of the population and industrial capacity. But, he stated that it was possible to alter that course looking for a global balance between economic and ecological stability. The result would be a society not obsessed with growth, but materially sufficient, socially equitably and ecologically enduring.
Five extraordinary changes
Despite countless debates generated by the report, and the 1973 oil crisis, from the following decade the so -called Neoliberal Capitalist Model began. This meant more privatization, lower role of the State, regulations of regulations and investments in public services, and labor precariousness. In 1992, the Club of Rome published the update, in the country-water.
The end of the USSR and globalization further promoted these policies. The result has been that between the first and second decade of the 21st century; And the widespread social discontent with democracy, especially due to inequality, favors feminism, development and humanitarian development cooperation, sexual diversity and family models and international law.
The Rome Club has just published the new report (Icaria, Barcelona, 2024) applying the most advanced techniques of fused future models with expert analysis of global sustainability, development, economy, climate, and energy. “The potential of long -term humanity,” says the report, “depends on civilization making five extraordinary changes in the next decades on poverty, inequality, empowerment of women, food, and energy.”
The starting point of the report is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but with questions such as are they attainable? What is needed to achieve them? What are the paths for a long -term sustainable prosperity? The authors (from the Norwegian Business School, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the Stockholm Resilience Center) and a wide team of advisors and experts do not predict the future, but propose that a series of urgent transformations are required. For this they use scenarios that the Rome club defines as “stories about the future” that can help make better decisions today.
Each scenario is analyzed and processed with the systems dynamics computer model , that studies the dynamics of human well -being in the limits of the planet in this century. Earth4All Takes into consideration the factors mentioned and others as gross national population between 1980 and 2100. World development is calculated based on 10 regions of the world. But Earth4All It does not predict events, but presents trends and results that are based on the data provided. The authors of the report explain that they were moderate in the information provided, but, even so, the results are alarming, for example, in the collapse of food production.
Based on the theory of complexity applied to economic, political, environmental and social issues, the authors relate the dynamics that occur between the five factors, and with Earth4All They implement “more or less gradual“ pyramids ”using“ levers ”for basic transformations and others bold. The model is showing whether the changes and dynamics between the factors are enough to change the dominant paradigm and create a “welfare economy” or if it becomes “too little and too late.”
The welfare economy is based on another complementary project called WeAll. This indicates the fundamental needs: dignity, a restored nature, sense of belonging within the framework of the common good, equity in the distribution of goods and wealth and participation of citizenship.
A planet for all It ends with a call to action. Given the poverty and polarization of modern politics, the 10 final pages are a clear and deep synthesis of what citizens can do, and the concrete measures that politicians must demand so that this is a planet, just and sustainable for all .
