In Folding the World, Professor Anders Levermann confronts the defining issue of our time: how humanity can thrive on a planet with finite resources. Drawing on his background in theoretical physics and his work at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Levermann proposes a groundbreaking economic framework for sustainable development, founded on the mathematical concept of 'folding'.
As the age of expansion draws to a close, our need for rapid societal development is colliding with the physical limitations of Earth. Accepting the harsh reality of this situation, we face a dilemma. The desperate call for renunciation and recession, while understandable, is counterproductive; it does not solve our dilemma. The mathematical principle of folding offers an alternative: the possibility of infinite motion within a finite world — not growth into more, but growth into different. This principle is not confined to the realm of theory — it translates into actionable strategies, from carbon trading to corporate taxation, representing a tangible solution that could help chart the course for our shared future.
Readership: This book is aimed at anyone interested in solving the problem of how we can develop sustainably on a finite planet. Using the experience from the climate discourse, the book describes a general way of utilizing limits to motivate progress and move forward.
