Sobriété vs Poverty: Preparing for a New Cultural Paradigm
The Great Simplification #175 with Jean-Marc Jancovici
As economic, political, and environmental pressures continue to reshape our daily choices, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the era of hyper-consumption that defined the past century is no longer sustainable. Recognizing and adapting to this reality represents one of the most profound cultural shifts of our time – requiring collective reflection and cooperation. But just as importantly, how can we recalibrate our personal expectations today in ways that preserve our sense of agency and sufficiency?
In this episode, I’m joined by energy expert and educator Jean-Marc Jancovici, who shares insights from his ongoing work advising governments and the public on the limits of our economic systems amid growing energy and ecological constraints. Together, we discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape between the U.S. and Europe, the distinction between energy sobriété and poverty, and the role of the elite in leading societal change towards more practical consumption levels.
How can we change the way we’re communicating the science behind our predicament, especially as political and economic tensions continue to accelerate? Why is our collective vision of the future so important for preventing political turmoil? Finally, how can we combine technological efficiency with a change in cultural values to create a future that's not just survivable, but meaningfully better than the default?
In case you missed it…
In last week’s special Earth Week edition of Frankly, I delved into what it truly means for a technology or project to be “in service of Life,” using the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence as an example. Like any other tool that humanity has created, AI has the potential to either mitigate humanity’s impact on our planetary home or deepen the ecological crises we face. I speculated on the key metrics that might guide AI and other technologies toward goals that support the abundance and vibrancy of all complex life on Earth.
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Thanks Nate, I'm reposting "Sobriété vs Poverty" to my contacts. Humanity must stop the falling down the Seneca cliff, just now!