We are now heading down a centuries-long path toward increasing the productivity of our natural capital - the resource systems upon which we depend to live - instead of our human capital.
Paul HawkenRead
We have an economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy Earth in real time rather than renew, restore, and sustain it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the economic incentives that prioritize short-term destruction over long-term sustainability of the Earth.
Paul Hawken's quote reveals a stark truth about our current economic systems, where immediate profits are often favored over the health of our planet. It emphasizes the need for a shift in perspective towards valuing the renewal and sustainability of Earth, as opposed to pursuing destructive practices that may appear cost-effective in the moment but ultimately lead to greater environmental degradation.
Themes
EconomySustainabilityEnvironmentDestructionRenewal
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech at an environmental conference to emphasize the need for sustainable economic practices.
More from Paul Hawken
All quotes βInspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity's willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider.
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We can no longer prosper by increasing human productivity. The more we try to do, the more poverty we will create.
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At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product.
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How much harm does a company have to do before we question its right to exist?
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We have the capacity to create a remarkably different economy: one that can restore ecosystems and protect the environment while bringing forth innovation, prosperity, meaningful work, and true security.
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