Growth can be described as those aspects of the economy that consume more and more energy, use more and more material resources, space etc and create more and more waste. Development is those aspects that achieve more and more “production” of things of value to humanity whilst using the same or less energy, materials, space etc and creating less and less waste.

While we lived in an “empty” world of up to a couple of billion souls growth served us well but we are now charging towards the limits that, unless we want to avoid a horrendous Jared Diamond like crash, show us that it is imperative to stop the growth economy in its tracks and substitute the steady state economy. Developing that will give inceasing real human wealth without threatening out futures.