#Soberise: For low-carbon sustainable development

Transforming our economies and our societies

“Sobriety is an absolute need for a sustainable world”: the observation made by the authors of the study highlights the urgent need for us to change our production and consumption patterns. In this publication, the group develops the notion of sobriety. Positive and geared towards action, they use it to create the neologism “Soberise”, or how to transform economies and societies with realistic, balanced and frugal methods.

“Soberise” does not mean being opposed to competitiveness or to the market. The model advocated for is more responsible and more inclusive. It gives more the incentive to take into account the respect for human beings and the balance in the allocation of resources. For the authors, “[this path] does not aim for degrowth, but another form of growth, that of collective well-being, built on a circularity of resources, as a continuation of the natural balances of the planet.”

Seeking tangible pathways

The circular economy, participatory and frugal innovation, the digital revolution... The authors of the publication have drawn inspiration from the practices observed in various countries around the world: Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, India and Chile. Searching for tangible solutions, the perspectives proposed by the group are both creative and able to integrate different models of society and different levels of development. “We are seeking to identify realistic pathways, both inspired by forms of the economy in which sobriety is native and likely to assist the transition of the conventional economy”.

On 18 October, meet Abhinav Agarwal, Gilles Boeuf and the members of the FNEP 2017 mission at the Rendez-vous de l'Expertise meetings!

Find out more on www.soberiser.net

The National Enterprise and Performance Foundation (FNEP) was set up in 1969 and recognised as being of public utility by decree in 1973. It is a think tank focusing on the interface of public policies and the private sector. Every year, it organises study and research missions, gathering executives from diverse backgrounds.