In the latest session of the Girbau LAB Innovators Club, we welcomed Dr. Antonio Turiel, senior researcher at the Department of Physical and Technological Oceanography of the Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), and a renowned author and science communicator.
Antonio generously shared his expertise, providing a rigorous analysis of our current situation, beginning with planetary boundaries and moving on to the energy crisis and the urgent need for systemic cultural change.
We have already exceeded 6 out of the 9 planetary boundaries. Biodiversity, climate, soil, and water are critically compromised. Despite the severity of our current situation, these boundaries can be reversed through a comprehensive systemic change.
Turiel advocates for a systemic approach: climate change cannot be tackled in isolation due to the complex interactions and interdependencies between all systems. The effects are already clear, including accelerated warming of the atmosphere and oceans, extreme weather events, droughts, and irregular rainfall patterns.
Resource Depletion Demands a New Model
A core aspect of Turiel’s message revolves around the global energy crisis. Oil, gas, coal, and uranium—which currently account for 90% of global energy—are being depleted rapidly. The quality of existing reserves is declining, rendering their extraction unprofitable, thus forecasting an accelerated drop in fossil fuel production. This decline directly impacts critical sectors like agriculture, mining, and transportation.
Global industries are feeling the strain, with tangible consequences becoming evident. Turiel points out, for instance, the shortage of diesel, already disrupting supply chains and raw material availability.
“Degrowth is not a sacrifice but a conscious and planned strategy to manage energy descent sustainably.” – Antonio Turiel
Degrowth is Not About Sacrifice
Turiel asserts that transitioning to a 100% renewable energy model is inevitable but warns that the total energy available will be substantially lower than today. This new reality will introduce significant challenges for industry, including material scarcity and the need to rethink everything from mobility to production and consumption patterns.
Here, Turiel introduces a crucial concept: degrowth. He emphasizes that the opposite of degrowth is impoverishment. Therefore, degrowth is not a sacrifice but a conscious and planned strategy to manage energy descent sustainably.
A New Cultural and Scientific Framework
Beyond discussing science and resources, Turiel advocates for a profound cultural shift, urging us to reconsider our ways of living, consuming, and defining well-being. In this context, degrowth is not an end but rather the beginning of a fairer, more efficient paradigm adapted to our planet’s limits.
Girbau LAB aligns with this vision. We engage in developing new models, projects, and alliances to build a future respectful of planetary boundaries and human well-being. Thank you.
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