AO1 Many greens have concerns about consumerism, which is constantly generating new material desires. AO2 Most greens agree that industrialism in its relentless pursuit of growth (Carson) will destroy the fragile ecosystem that maintains all life. [IJ] This unites all shallow and deep greens in their criticism of the idea that there are unlimited possibilities for growth and wealth. AO1 Many greens are concerned about industrialism with its emphasis on large-scale production, relentless growth and accumulation of capital. AO2 Many greens agree that consumerism generates excess demand in the economy, which drives the desire for material wealth and production. [IJ] Shallow and deep greens are united in opposition to placing short-term economic goals above ecological concerns and viewing nature as a resource just to be exploited (Carson). AO1 Greens support sustainability to protect the capacity of the ecological system to maintain its health over time. AO2 Many greens agree that human desires must be limited and the link between material consumption and happiness must be broken (Schumacher). [IJ] This unites all greens in placing sustainability as their core economic principle, which cannot be compromised.

AO1 Shallow greens endorse reduced economic growth and weak sustainability, and tackle the issue of the environment from within capitalism. AO2 Shallow greens believe limited economic growth will not threaten long-term sustainability while deep greens reject outright the growth-based economic model as destructive of natural capital and sustainability (Schumacher). [IJ] This leads to an irreconcilable division over whether any form of economic growth is sustainable, driving deep greens to question whether shallow greens are a strand of ecologism at all. AO1 Shallow greens believe that material prosperity can be achieved and balanced with environmental costs. AO2 Shallow greens advocate that weak sustainability allows for the depletion of natural resources as long as general production is maintained, with a belief in technological solutions, while deep greens believe in strong sustainability and that natural capital must be preserved and enhanced. [IJ] This highlights that while sustainability is the core principle of the greens, they fundamentally disagree as to what it means and how it is to be achieved. AO1 Deep greens support the limits to growth thesis, based on the finite capacity of the Earth. AO2 Shallow greens believe in sustainable economic growth through modified or green capitalism while deep greens believe there are finite limits to growth that mean a transformation of society and the economy is needed. [IJ] This leads to a fundamental difference in their view of the economic future, with deep greens promoting a post-industrial, zero-growth world which shallow greens see as politically impractical and unpalatable.