‘By 2050, sufficiency has the potential to reduce emissions, compared to current policy scenarios, by more than 50% in almost all sectors’ according Dr Yamina Saheb, a Lead Author of the 2022 IPCC (United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report and co-organizer of The Sufficiency Summit.
What is sufficiency?
As defined in the 6th Assessment Report of the IPCC:
“sufficiency is a set of measures and daily practices that avoid demand for energy, materials, land, and water while ensuring human well-being for all within planetary boundaries”
While sufficiency strategies could include reducing plastic usage or using less energy, it's above all about reinventing our societies for the better.
It’s about building economies that prioritize well-being over mindless growth, systems that protect the vulnerable, and considering the planet and resources as a whole.
Government policies play a critical role in achieving sufficiency as they can set a framework to favour certain behaviours and curb the demand for resources.
France is the first EU country that has considered energy sufficiency measures in its decarbonisation strategy under the 2015 Energy Transition for Green Growth Act. Main policies aimed at reducing energy consumption, building’s energy renovation, reducing waste going to landfills, promoting sustainable transportation and alleviating energy poverty.
You can contact your political representatives to push for the consideration of sufficiency measures in your municipality, state or even country.