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The Doughnut
The doughnut of social and planetary boundaries
Doughnut Economics
Humanity’s 21st century challenge is to ensure that every person has the resources they need to meet their human rights, while collectively we live within the ecological means of this one planet. The ‘doughnut’ of planetary and social boundaries is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge.
The environmental ceiling consists of nine planetary boundaries, as set out by Rockstrom et al, beyond which lie unacceptable environmental degradation and potential tipping points in Earth systems. The social foundation consists of the eleven top social priorities identified by the world’s governments in the run-up to Rio+20 – and below this foundation of resource use lies unacceptable human deprivation such as hunger, ill-health and income poverty. Between social and planetary boundaries lies an environmentally safe and socially just space in which humanity can thrive.
The concept is described in detail in my 2012 Oxfam Discussion Paper, A Safe and Just Space for Humanity: can we live within the doughnut.
The best overview of the idea and its implications is a 17 minute video of a presentation I made at the Royal Society for the Arts. But if you are really short of time here’s a 4 minute Oxfam video introducing it.
The doughnut concept and image has had traction in very diverse places – from the UN General Assembly and the Global Green Growth Forum, to Occupy London. Why such interest? I think it is because the doughnut is based on the powerful framework of planetary boundaries but adds to it the demands of social justice – and so brings social and environmental concerns together in one single image and approach. It also sets a vision for an equitable and sustainable future, but is silent on the possible pathways for getting there, and so the doughnut acts as a convening space for debating alternative pathways forward.
Commentaries on the doughnut
George Monbiot in The Guardian argues that the doughnut highlights the importance of addressing environmental sustainability and social justice together.
Grist writer David Roberts sees the doughnut as a new way to think about economic growth (and wants the T shirt).
Tony Juniper argues that the doughnut helps to forge a way beyond contemporary capitalism.
Will Steffen and Mark Stafford Smith, two leading Earth scientists, reflect on how the doughnut can help to generate a set of Sustainable Development Goals.
Eduardo Gudynas, a Latin American environmentalist, asks whether the doughnut is too Western.
Wolff Olins, the brand consultants, challenge companies to ask themselves, “Is our brand a doughnut?”
Presentations and articles.
I have the written about and presented the doughnut and its implications to a wide range of audiences, in the context of many different debates. Some of these include:
Nature Climate Change interview on the implications of the doughnut
Centre for Humans and Nature article on what Doughnut Economics implies for economic growth
State of the World 2013 chapter on planetary and social boundaries as a 21st century compass
Guardian blog presenting the doughnut in the context of the UN’s Rio+20 conference
Guardian podcast on planetary and social boundaries with Johan Rockstrom, Kate Raworth and Gail Whiteman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Evolving doughnut ideas
My research is focused on exploring what planetary and social boundaries imply for rethinking the concept of economic development. Is it growth or post-growth? How should we measure economic progress? How should we rewrite the economics textbooks so they are fit for tackling 21st century challenges? Join the discussion by subscribing to my blog at www.doughnuteconomics.org.
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