Climate Quote by Kim Stanley Robinson
“There's Jevon's paradox that the better we get at efficiently using energy the more energy we use; so that and that machine technology improvements per se do not necessarily reduce our impacts because we immediately double down on how much we use.”
About This Quote
Source Book: New York 2004, Kim Stanley Robinson, 2017
Improved efficiency often leads to increased consumption, offsetting environmental benefits.
In simple terms: Efficiency can cause more use.
Consider demand limits when improving efficiency.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- energy policy
- product design
- urban planning
- consumer habits
- industrial scaling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design policies that prevent rebound?
- What incentives reduce overconsumption?
Ignoring demand growth can nullify efficiency gains.