Applying Doughnut Economics Principles Workshop

The Doughnut consists of two concentric rings: a social foundation, to ensure that no one is left falling short on life’s essentials, and an ecological ceiling, to ensure that humanity does not collectively overshoot the planetary boundaries that protect Earth’s life-supporting systems. Between these two sets of boundaries lies a doughnut-shaped space that is both ecologically safe and socially just: a space in which humanity can thrive.

The Doughnut offers a vision of what it means for humanity to thrive in the 21st century – and Doughnut Economics explores the mindset and ways of thinking needed to get us there. First published in 2012 in an Oxfam report by Kate Raworth, the concept of the Doughnut rapidly gained traction internationally, from the Pope and the UN General Assembly to Extinction Rebellion. Kate’s 2017 book, Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist, further explored the economic thinking needed to bring humanity into the Doughnut, drawing together insights from diverse economic perspectives in a way that everyone can understand.

Doughnut Economics proposes an economic mindset that’s fit for the complex social and ecological challenges of our times. It invites us to change the definition of what progress looks like – from endless GDP growth to ‘meeting the needs of all people within the means of the living planet’. Starting with Amsterdam in 2020, thousands of individuals and community groups, and over 40 local governments across the world have started experimenting with what it means to be turning these concepts into practice. Leonora will share the core concepts of the Doughnut and case studies of how cities are using these to transform the ways in which they work – from strategy, to policy, to community engagement, to decision-making.

Leonora is the Cities & Regions Lead at the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL), co-founded by Doughnut Economics author Kate Raworth. DEAL is an organisation supporting changemakers around the world working to put the concepts of Doughnut Economics into practice, and Leonora supports the work of local and regional governments and those working in the built environment. Leonora is an urban planner, researcher and participation practitioner, holding a PhD in Urbanism. She has over a decade of experience facilitating engagement with communities, cities and regions globally through her work as an urban planning consultant for UN-Habitat, a community engagement consultant for planning and regeneration projects in the UK, and an activist in her home country Macedonia.

This talk and workshop will offer a chance for practitioners and students to consider how such principles could work in practice in Northern Ireland. Lunch will be provided in advance of the session.

For more information, email Neil Galway – n.galway@qub.ac.uk

Location: QUB David Keir Building Room 0G.533 David Keir Building (Malone Road side) Belfast BT7 1NN

Admission is free.