What if the problem isn’t climate change - but the way our economy is designed?

Sage Lanier, climate economist and founder of Sustainable and Just Future, challenges the idea of infinite economic growth and explores how we can design a smarter, circular economy that works within planetary limits.

Lanier explains how today’s growth-driven model fuels repeated crises - from climate disasters to resource shortages - while offering little long-term security. Instead, she points to proactive planning, biomaterials, circular supply chains, and resource-efficient infrastructure as pathways to a more resilient and equitable future.

But this transition isn’t only technical. Lanier argues that building a truly just economy also means rethinking what we value - prioritizing community, culture, and quality of life over endless consumption. Her vision of the “next economy” shows how growth can be reimagined, resources can be intelligently cycled, and societies can thrive without exceeding ecological boundaries.