Originally a wacko, hippy-esque ideology, ‘sustainability’ – aka ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘green’ – has now become globally accepted. But as what ? – an environmental urgency, a political issue, a technical problem, a historical destiny, a new world order? And what are the consequences of this acceptance? The sustainability consensus is dangerous since the concept has no political content and can be used for any cause. Carbon neutrality and zero emissions are like magic formulas, cover-ups for complicated ethical questions about the inequalities in our societies. ‘After Zero’ is not about design inspired by fears of environmental change, rather it proposes an understanding of our society beyond zero – and to do this Volume discusses two urgent perspectives: sustainability in a post-capitalist city and the potential of urban agriculture.
