Technological Innovations and Degrowth Opportunities From Urban Egypt: Initiating the Discourse

Sherwat E Ibrahim,Joseph Sarkis

doi:10.3389/frsc.2020.492866

Sherwat E Ibrahim, Joseph Sarkis

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2020.492866

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Abstract

• Degrowth can support urban sustainability, especially in Global South or developing nations. • Degrowth and technological innovation have had controversial relationships. Some believe they cannot function together, others believe they are supportive. • This debate is evaluated and we posit that they are compatible if managed carefully with effective policies in place. • We provide three technological cases from Egypt, these cases are mapped to degrowth elements. • This is just an initial step in introducing the discourse, degrowth with environmental and social sustainability needs to be included on the map of policy makers. • Policy implications include investment, awareness raising, education, and diffusion of technologies that can support degrowth.

Highlights

Ecological modernization theory speculates that technology and modernity can support the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation (Spaargaren and Mol, 1992)
We examine cases from the Global South1 using examples from the urban regions within and around Cairo, Egypt
Technological innovation should take into consideration the culture and needs of local communities

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Ecological modernization theory speculates that technology and modernity can support the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation (Spaargaren and Mol, 1992). Urban scholars and practitioners need to find ways where technological transitions into socioenvironmental justice are not dictated by the pursuit of economic growth, and where top-down enforced urban governance models are replaced with forms of localized, grassroots, and politically dissenting participants (Bunnell, 2015) These localized-grassroots efforts are where small-scale technological initiatives can be used to support the degrowth philosophy. Grassroot technologies can target urban problems, such as housing access making homes available to a wider audience (Shelton et al, 2015) These technologies have identified simple, small-scale, and frugal ICT solutions that promote citizen-centric, coproduction, and participatory approaches (Pollio, 2016).

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION EXEMPLARS FOR URBAN GLOBAL SOUTH DEGROWTH

ANALYSIS OF EXEMPLARS

POLICY OPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Findings

CONCLUSIONS