The pre-ordained failure of government-mandated energy transitions has led some commentators to advocate de-growth and reduced consumption as an alternative. Yet, carbon fuels have improved human life in countless ways, from income per capita to life expectancy.
The massive industrialization and urbanization of the last two centuries made possible by fossil fuels not only resulted in the most significant growth in population numbers and income per capita in history, but also drastically improved the health and life expectancy of humanity.
The circular economy is a supposedly new way of doing things where nothing is wasted and an emphasis is placed on reusing, repairing, and recycling materials. This is hardly, however, a new concept to manufacturers that prioritize cost-savings wherever they can.
