But at least part of what is driving the current political turmoil is a failure to accept, and adapt, to ecological limits and to address rising global inequality. Our economic system is entirely dependent on growth, or rising levels of income per capita: it is the singular obsession of neoliberal capitalism and all financial institutions. However, if we can’t agree on how to set limits on material resource use, we are bound to overshoot limits. This is the only way to end the vicious cycle where energy consumption drives growth and growth drives energy consumption. Finding the right balance between voluntary co-operation and hard limits on energy and resource use is a minefield that most politicians will run a mile from.

Source: The Irish Times January 29, 2026 13:33 UTC