Limits to Growth, environmental science and the nature of modern prophecy

The voice of the prophet has both disquieted the complacent and comfortable and provided direction for those willing to listen. I argue it is the environmental science community, and especially those engaged in ecological economics, sustainability analysis and climate change research, that are acting as modern-day prophets in direct continuation of the biblical prophetic voice, and using as an exemplar the 1972 text, Limits to Growth. Providing analysis of their contemporary situation and then projecting from those situations into the future, prophets describe the outcome of the trends they see and offer warnings about collective dangers being faced. The life of a prophet, both then and now, is not simple, and those offering penetrating analysis of their society face a variety of hardships and threats.

► Biblical prophets were concerned with accurately describing their present times. ► Prophets offered choices that their society could take, and their implications. ► Sustainability scholars are acting in a way similar to that of Biblical prophets. ► The Limits to Growth is an example of modern prophecy, with messages of warning and hope.