C2 Writing Test — Degrowth vs Green Growth in Climate Economics
Free C2 Writing practice on climate economics: degrowth vs green growth—debate prompts, balanced outlines, and key terms to sharpen argumentation.
Complete the paragraph with one word per blank.
Word bank (choose 8)
sufficiency - throughput - externalities - degrowth - paradigm - decarbonization - rebound - carbon
Degrowth vs Green Growth: Can Economies Prosper Within Planetary Boundaries?
Although “green growth” promises prosperity without breaching ecological ceilings, its feasibility hinges on rapid, absolute decoupling of GDP from material and energy use. Critics argue that efficiency alone cannot counter systemic effects, whereby cheaper clean technologies stimulate additional consumption. Moreover, global material continues to rise, suggesting that gains are partial or merely displaced across borders. Proponents reply that innovation, carbon pricing, and circularity can internalize environmental and bend the curve fast enough. Yet degrowth advocates counter that endless expansion is a flawed , and that societies should prioritize - meeting needs with less - alongside hard caps on resource use. In practice, a credible strategy likely blends stringent standards for industrial , progressive redistribution to secure social buy-in, and investment in public goods to avoid inequitable outcomes. Framed this way, the question is less about ideology than sequencing: can we deliver deep decarbonization before budgets are exhausted, or must high-income countries embrace planned to stay within planetary boundaries?
Complete the paragraph by filling 8 blanks with suitable terms from the Word bank. Write one word/phrase per blank.
Word bank (choose 8)
decoupling • distributional impacts • circular economy • planetary boundaries • rebound effects • externalities • MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) • sufficiency
Degrowth vs Green Growth Debate: Reconciling Prosperity with Limits
Proponents of green growth argue that economies can achieve absolute of GDP from emissions through innovation and a that keeps materials in use longer. Degrowth advocates counter that efficiency gains are often eroded by , and that policy must respect rather than chasing output targets. A pragmatic synthesis would internalise through carbon pricing and phase-out schedules while shifting welfare metrics beyond GDP. In high-income countries, demand-side (e.g., smaller dwellings, fewer flights) paired with public investment can cut energy use without harming dignity. Any pathway must address so low-income households are protected during transitions, and include credible to verify that emissions fall in absolute terms.