A report released by the environmental think tank, New Economics Foundation (Nef) has said that "economic growth cannot continue. It is not possible if nations are to tackle climate change".
The report looked at the main models for climate change and then made an assesment on whether economic growth could continue if we are to limit warming to within two degrees of pre industrial levels.
The author commented on the growing support for community based energy projects, such as decentralised energy systems, but said "without backing from governments this was not possible". This idea of decentralising the energy system is something Jeremy Rifkin believed co-operatives could be central to, when he spoke at the 2009 ICA General Assembly.
The report suggests that if the science is to be believed, then economic growth can not continue and the longer we wait the worse this situation will become.