Read about how doughnuts are relevant to planetary survival!
Doughnut economics.
I bet your mind immediately went to a tasty, sugary, Homer Simpson style delicious doughnut.
Well, sorry this blog is not about food so try to draw your minds off your inevitable next snack and focus!
Doughnut economics is a theory of economic development proposed by Kate Raworth, an Oxford economist. It emphasizes the need to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability and gives an economic model for a future of prosperity.
Ok fine, imagine a doughnut.
‘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.’(1)
In this blog post, we will discuss why doughnut economics is good for mitigating climate change and how it can help us create a sustainable future.
To tackle climate change, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically and transition to a low-carbon economy.
This is where doughnut (yum) economics comes in. It offers a new way of thinking about economic development that prioritizes social and environmental sustainability over economic growth.
In doughnut economics, the goal of the economy is to meet the needs of all people within the means of the planet. This means that economic development should be within the ecological boundaries of the earth and ensure social justice.
Doughnut economics offers several solutions that can help us achieve this goal. First, it emphasizes the need to shift to renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower, are clean, abundant, and widely available. They do not emit greenhouse gases, which makes them an ideal alternative to fossil fuels. Shifting to renewable energy sources can help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Second, doughnut economics emphasizes the need to promote circular economies. In a circular economy, resources are kept in use for as long as possible, and waste is minimized. This can be achieved through practices such as recycling, reusing, and repairing. Circular economies can help us reduce our carbon footprint by minimizing the amount of waste we produce and reducing the need for virgin resources.
Third, doughnut economics emphasizes the need to prioritize social justice. Social justice is essential for a sustainable future because it ensures that everyone has access to basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. Doughnut economics proposes that we meet the basic needs of all people while staying within the ecological boundaries of the earth.
In conclusion, doughnut economics is good for climate change because it emphasizes the need to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability. By shifting to renewable energy sources, promoting circular economies, and prioritizing social justice, we can create a sustainable future that meets the needs of all people within the means of the planet. As we face the challenges of climate change, we need new ways of thinking about economic development, and doughnut economics offers a promising framework for creating a sustainable future.
At Treepoints we chose our portfolio partners for tree planting, plastic recycling and carbon offsetting carefully to ensure that they reflect these needs for at least one of the needs outlined above.
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