Why ‘decoupling’ energy emissions from economic growth underpins the green transition

Drax power station in North Yorkshire, England. btimagery/Shutterstock

When people talk about tackling climate change, the images are often solar panels, wind turbines and electric cars. But the bigger question is whether economies can grow without releasing more carbon. This hinges on “decoupling” – the idea that economic growth can be separated from greenhouse gas emissions.

At first glance, that sounds almost magical. How can a country expand without using more energy or producing more emissions?