Decoupling—does it really exist?

Look at the numbers over the past five decades. Carbon emissions, GDP, energy consumption, and population growth have stayed locked together, moving in tandem without meaningful separation. The relationship hasn't shifted; it's holding as steady as ever.

Despit all the talk about breaking this connection, the evidence simply isn't there. Economic output still rides on energy input. More people consume more resources. The coupling persists.

This matters because it challenges the narrative around clean growth. Until we see concrete data proving otherwise, the fundamental link between prosperity and resource consumption remains intact—a reality we need to reckon with when discussing sustainability and economic futures.