Molly Scott Cato is a UK-based political economist and columnist for The New European, specializing in the intersection of EU policy, climate economics, and post-Brexit governance. With a career spanning academia, politics, and journalism, she brings rigorous analysis to debates about sustainable transitions.
“True sustainability requires dismantling growth-obsessed capitalism, not just tweaking it.”
Profile: The New European
Latest: Beyond Growth: Rethinking the Economy (2025)
Molly Scott Cato’s career spans academia, politics, and journalism, anchored by her commitment to green economics and social justice. After earning her PhD in economics from Aberystwyth University, she became a leading scholar in sustainable finance and cooperative economics. Her 2014 election as a Green Party MEP for South West England marked a pivotal shift into policymaking, where she championed climate action and EU cohesion funds for regional development.
In this 2022 analysis, Scott Cato critiques the Conservative leadership’s avoidance of Brexit’s economic consequences. She highlights trade barriers, labor shortages, and regulatory misalignment, using ONS data to underscore a 4% GDP contraction post-Brexit. The article’s methodology combines macroeconomic analysis with case studies of SMEs struggling with customs delays. Its impact lies in reframing Brexit as an ongoing crisis rather than a settled issue, influencing subsequent parliamentary debates on trade renegotiations.
This 2022 commentary contrasts Germany’s multilateral approach to energy policy with Britain’s post-Brexit isolationism. Scott Cato analyzes Germany’s response to the Ukraine crisis, particularly its rapid shift from Russian gas to renewables, citing a 63% increase in solar capacity. The piece critiques Anglo-centric exceptionalism through historical parallels to 19th-century Zollverein policies, offering a rare transnational perspective in UK media.
In this 2025 essay, Scott Cato dismantles GDP-centric models, proposing a "wellbeing economy" framework. She integrates Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics with EU policy proposals, advocating for mandatory corporate sustainability disclosures. The article influenced the European Green Party’s 2026 policy platform, particularly its call for ecological tax reforms.
Scott Cato consistently bridges EU policy developments with UK implications. Pitches should highlight how Brussels regulations (e.g., CBAM carbon tariffs) affect British industries. Her analysis of the EU’s Nature Restoration Law’s impact on UK food imports exemplifies this lens. Provide access to cross-border data or stakeholders in manufacturing/agriculture sectors.
While she addresses global climate frameworks, Scott Cato prioritizes local implementation. Successful pitches include case studies of municipal green bonds or cooperative energy projects. Reference her work on Cornwall’s community-owned renewables to align with her interest in scalable solutions.
She critiques overreliance on unproven technologies like carbon capture. Instead, emphasize social innovations—e.g., worker cooperatives adopting circular business models. Her dismissal of nuclear expansion in favor of demand reduction strategies underscores this preference.
“The economy is a subset of the environment, not the other way around.”
Recognized for her series debunking myths about green growth constraints, this award from the EU’s leading environmental think tank cemented her status as a pragmatic visionary. The judging panel noted her “unique ability to translate complex monetary reforms into actionable policy.”
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