This policy brief explains the importance of regenerative economic principles for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Furthermore, we offer a perspective on why mainstream economic systems are unsustainable by design; as they are a legacy of the earlier mechanistic paradigm of the Industrial Age dominated by Newtonian sciences and Darwinian economics. We will explore how a mechanistic approach for societal and human development leads to economic growth models that operate at the cost of vital planetary boundaries and social ceilings; as such, undermining the planetary health conditions on which all life on Earth depends.

Furthermore, we offer a complete overview of the circular economy principles and explain why circularity principles need to expand through regenerative principles in order to achieve the transition to post-carbon economies. We also emphasise the importance of the human factor in sustainability transitions which tends to be undervalued in many of the mainstream circular economy models.

Yet, more fundamentally, we address how the Circular Economy Action Plan needs to go further by addressing the underlying economic growth models and their systemic barriers. To support policymakers and sustainability leaders, this brief includes several Living Systems Protocols from the EARTHwise Constitution for a Planetary Civilization to explore how to transition to regenerative post-carbon economies where growth is decoupled from use of resources. In particular, how to shift economic design as extractive GDP growth machines within a free-market environment to economies as complex living systems embedded within vital planetary and social carrying capacities.

Finally, we conclude with reflections for a larger global vision based on collective so-called thrivability for people, planet and future generations. We invite decision-makers, influencers, thought leaders and think tanks to embrace a planetary health and thrivability perspective, which goes further than including natural capitals and ecosystem services as costs and assets in economic models.

Read the full Policy Brief (Chapter 5) here: Smitsman, A. & Martens, P. (2024). Regenerative Economics for Planetary Health and Thrivability: The European Green Deal. In: Special Collection Policy Briefs: Circular Economy. Studio Europa, Maastricht University.