Perspectives Is Different Really Enough? Thoughts on a New Role for Consumption Judith Gouverneur(Ed.) July 2013 n Economic growth remains the focus of both policies and societies worldwide. In the meantime, social inequality rises and the ecological destruction of our planet continues to accelerate. We urgently need ideas that transcend the borders of the uniform thinking in which we have established ourselves, often accepting too easily the alleged lack of alternatives as an excuse for inaction. n The challenges of our consumption - driven society are primarily systemic. Individu­alising responsibility for its transformation will not only not be enough, but also wear out solidarity and deepen social inequality. Instead, we need initiatives that encourage people to resolidarise and rediscover spaces of political action. Among other things, this will contain the need for a redefinition of many values that lie at the center of our living - together. n Discussing sustainability and consumption means discussing the question of how much we can still consume. As long as we keep thinking that we can progress to­wards more sustainable lifestyles by consuming not less, but only»better«, we will most likely fail to even ask the right questions.