Abstract

The founders of the modern energy paradigm operated under the assumption of nature as practically infinite (e.g., the ‘new’ world). Beginning with Thomas Malthus, critics have argued that this is a recipe for collapse: economic growth will hit the wall of planetary limits. This, however, is mistaken. Intellectual labor drives the modern high-energy world and this resource is infinite. This chapter explains how “Decoupling” a growing economy from environmental harms is the key to sustaining the successes of the modern energy orthodoxy. Through measures such as energy efficiency and decarbonization, we can meet climate policy goals without sacrificing economic growth and development.