• Sustaining our current consumption levels would require the resources of 2.3 planets by 2050.
  • Shifting to a circular economy, where we reduce, reuse and recycle, can decouple the world’s growth from consumption.
  • A push for circularity in construction and cities can create jobs and reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Our global economy is growing, reaching an unprecedented $94 trillion in 2021 – with rising population, urbanization and living standards. Our challenge now is to keep up this momentum in a way that works for people and the planet.

Looking at today’s consumption levels, sustaining our current growth trajectory would require the ecological resources of 2.3 planets by 2050. This number is significantly higher for mature markets. The US, for example, would need five planets to sustain present-day consumption levels; Germany would need three.