And growth is continuing its way regardless of either camp. So we need an alternative approach. This paper shows such an approach theoretically, then examines how technologies have been changing in practice, and finally computes crude estimates of real-world technology benchmarks. With no environmental problems, growth could continue indefinitely. With environmental impacts, if we don't know the form of the impacts, economic output might fall below any desired level.
Environmental technology can ensure a desired minimum growth path.
Robust minimal technology paths are also defined, so that amounts of technology greater than or equal to the paths yield desired growth. This accounts for feedback of environmental quality on growth. Environmental technology progress is estimated by alternative measures in 1970-2000. To illustrate how technology benchmarks can be estimated using global change models developed by teams of scientists, the World3 model is used to estimate specific minimum environmental technology improvements. Working paper, 2000.