THE way we lead our lives is unsustainable – and the pursuit of growth is driving our destruction.

That, at least, is the view of a small but growing group of economists. Facing a planet-wide climate and ecological crisis, they now question the logic behind economic growth.

If growth aids development, why are the richest countries not necessarily scoring the best on indicators such as life expectancy and education? More importantly, if growth powered by fossil fuels is the main source of carbon emissions, how can economies transform for sustainability?