Kicking our growth addiction is the way out of the climate crisis. This is how to do it

‘What’s needed is a strategy that encourages poorer countries to meet their anti-poverty goals in a way that is least harmful to the environment.’ A man tends to vegetables in front of a power station in Tongling, China. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

For the best part of three centuries, there has been a consensus about the goal of economic policy. Since the dawn of the industrial age in the 18th century, the aim has been to achieve as rapid growth as possible.

It’s not hard to see why there has been this focus. Growth has raised living standards, increased life expectancy, improved medical care and resulted in better educated, better fed populations.