Work Less, Save Planet

Thanks to New Escapologist contributor Michael Crossland (of the excellent Journal Club column) for pointing out that Escapological values made the front page of this morning’s Guardian:

At its core is the concept of sufficiency – the idea that people can enjoy a prosperous, healthy life without constantly striving to consume or accumulate more material possessions that degrade the natural world on which all life depends.

To achieve this, the authors envisage […] more than halving average working time from 2,100 hours a year to 1,000 hours, roughly equivalent to a two-and-a-half-day working week

We’ve been saying that for *looks at watch* how many years now?

It’s part of a three-step “vision for planetary survival” set out in a report by the World Inequality Lab. It “aims to be the most comprehensive attempt yet to navigate the polycrisis that is pushing the world toward climate breakdown, political extremism and ever greater economic and social tension.”

The news item is accompanied by some analysis and an op-ed by the academics behind the report.

The latter begins:

Imagine a future in which everyone enjoys high levels of wellbeing; where 90% of the world’s population doubles their income but works half the hours we work today.

Works for me.

*

New Escapologist (in print and digital formats) is about to drop. And the anniversary edition of Escape Everything! already has.