Ever further, ever higher, ever more? This question was the focus of the “Development Beyond Growth – Global and Local Perspectives on Just Transitions” conference on 6 and 7 November 2024, organised by NELA. Next Economy Lab and IDOS.
In person (from left to right):
Claudia Hiepe (BMZ), Irene Velez Torres (former Minister of Mines and Energy of Colombia), Donnie Maclurcan (Post Growth Institute), Online:
Olivier de Schutter (UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights), Lebohang Liepollo Pheko (‘Trade Collective’), ©Jennifer Wagner/NELA. Next Economy Lab
Over 100 participants from the Global South and North discussed how societies can shape sustainable futures beyond the growth paradigm. The fully hybrid conference included numerous panel discussions, presentations and workshops. In her keynote speech, Miriam Lang, professor in the Department of Environment and Sustainability at the University Andina Simón Bolívar in Ecuador, focused on green colonialism and global justice. In addition, a panel discussed the concepts of degrowth, green growth and a-growth and their potential for ecological resilience and social justice.
Illustrator Céline Keller presented her graphic novel “Who Is Afraid of Degrowth?”, which addresses common misconceptions surrounding degrowth approaches. In her talk, she also shared the creative process behind the book, which enables a broad audience to engage with the complex approaches of the postgrowth movement.
Various workshops dealt with topics such as the growth dependencies of existing economic systems, the model of the so-called donut economy, the role of inequality and redistribution and just transitions to a sustainable economy. The conference ended with a public event that – like the entire conference – brought together scientific research findings and practical experiences. Recordings of parts of the conference can be viewed on Youtube.
