<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/amsterdam-doughnut-model-mend-post-coronavirus-economy>
"Raworth’s 2017 bestselling book, Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to
Think Like a 21st-Century Economist, has graced the bedside table of
people ranging from the former Brexit secretary David Davis to the
Guardian columnist George Monbiot, who described it as a “breakthrough
alternative to growth economics”.
The inner ring of her donut sets out the minimum we need to lead a good
life, derived from the UN’s sustainable development goals and agreed by
world leaders of every political stripe. It ranges from food and clean
water to a certain level of housing, sanitation, energy, education,
healthcare, gender equality, income and political voice. Anyone not
attaining such minimum standards is living in the doughnut’s hole.
The outer ring of the doughnut, where the sprinkles go, represents the
ecological ceiling drawn up by earth-system scientists. It highlights
the boundaries across which human kind should not go to avoid damaging
the climate, soils, oceans, the ozone layer, freshwater and abundant
biodiversity.
Between the two rings is the good stuff: the dough, where everyone’s
needs and that of the planet are being met.
On Wednesday, the model will be formally embraced by the municipality of
Amsterdam as the starting point for public policy decisions, the first
city in the world to make such a commitment.
“I think it can help us overcome the effects of the crisis”, said
Amsterdam’s deputy mayor, Marieke van Doorninck, who joined Raworth in
an interview with the Guardian via Skype before the launch. “It might
look strange that we are talking about the period after that but as a
government we have to … It is to help us to not fall back on easy
mechanisms.”
“When suddenly we have to care about climate, health, and jobs and
housing and care and communities, is there a framework around that can
help us with all of that?” Raworth says. “Yes there is, and it is ready
to go.”
The central premise is simple: the goal of economic activity should be
about meeting the core needs of all but within the means of the planet.
The “doughnut” is a device to show what this means in practice."
Via
libramoon@pluspora.com.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
