http://www.weforum.org/openforum/ 26.01.2008 Open Forum - Do We Need Economic Growth for Greater Sustainability Do We Need Economic Growth for Greater Sustainability? There are opposing views on whether economic growth can lead to increased levels of ecological and social sustainability. Its promoters argue that economic growth is needed to apply new technologies and sophisticated products which, in turn, lead to a more economic use of natural resources, more environmental protection and social progress. Yet, opponents claim that economic growth is based on global production and consumption patterns that are destroying our natural livelihoods and increasing social inequalities. 1) Do we need economic growth to solve existing social and ecological problems? Or, does economic growth create more costs than what it actually yields? 2) Can we expect a new economic boom triggered by innovations in environmentally-friendly technologies? 3) Which strategies of sustainability are the high-growth countries of Brazil, Russia, India or China following? How do these countries handle the conflict between economic growth and sustainability? Sharan Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australia Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation and Federal Councillor of Home Affairs Ricardo Hausmann, Director, Center for International Development, and Professor of the Practice of Economic Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA John Itty, Former Professor, School of People's Economics, India Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Nigeria Moderator Dirk Schütz, Editor-in-Chief, Bilanz, Switzerland