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WebQuest Topic: Sustainability & ESG

What is Degrowth, and why do we need it?

wq1-5-1

  • Knowledge

    • Define Degrowth and explain the fundamental concepts informing it
    • Illustrate the main critiques to economic growth 
    • Explain what is the dominant paradigm of “green growth” and why it is highly unlikely 
    • Identify and explain possible alternatives for socio-ecologically just futures Think critically about the growth-driven economic system and articulate science-informed critiques

  • Skills

    • Analyze complex socio-ecological challenges from a critical perspective 
    • Engage with real-world alternatives and their potential to bring about socio-ecological transformations
    • Independently gather and research academic information

  • Responsibility & Autonomy

    • Work in teams on new topics, divide tasks equally, collaborate with peers
    • Effectively present and communicate newly acquired Degrowth concepts to peers and lay persons
    • Develop a personal interest to further explore the topic

We live in exceptionally challenging times. We are in the midst of unprecedented climate and ecological collapse, exacerbating social inequalities, unstable geopolitical climate and economic decline, and it is clearer than ever that we cannot continue with business as usual. Growth- and profit-oriented economies are at the root of many of our most pressing challenges, and one of the most promising approaches to address systemic causes and envision radically different alternatives is Degrowth. Degrowth is a vibrant academic field and an emerging social movement that challenges the blind pursuit of economic growth at all costs, and advocates for a drastic and democratic material downscaling of the social metabolism (production and consumption of energy and resources). But what is wrong with economic growth, and how is growth central to the capitalist organization of the economy? What goals other than growth should we pursue instead, to ensure a good life for all while preserving the livability of our finite planet? Degrowth answers these questions by building on several schools of thought, ranging from ecological economics, political ecology, post-development, eco-Marxism, feminist economics, and much more. In this WebQuest, you will be introduced to the basics of degrowth ideas and visions, with a multimedia and participatory crash course that will equip you with the curiosity and resources to explore further this promising idea for livable and desirable futures for all.

In this WebQuest, you will learn the basics of degrowth through engaging, first, with a video essay that will introduce you to fundamental concepts: what’s wrong with economic growth, and why is it the wrong measure for well-being and prosperity? Why is green growth not the right solution? What does degrowth propose instead? Why should we downscale the material throughput of our economies? How can we get there? You will watch the video in parts, and engage in answering guiding discussion questions and asking your critical questions, in a collaborative learning space with your peers.

In the second part of this WebQuest, you will split into groups and have the opportunity to focus on one degrowth topic to delve deeper into. Each group will research a different topic, that then will be presented to the rest of the group. Your group will choose a topic among: 1. Debunking Green Growth, 2. Degrowth Non-Reformist Reforms, 3. Degrowth and the Global South, and 4. Degrowth and Feminisms. Your final task is thus to prepare an engaging, rich and entertaining presentation to teach your peers the degrowth-relevant theoretical stream that you and your team have delved into.

Thanks to this peer-to-peer learning experiment, you’ll be able to learn a lot in a very short time, using the hive mind of your group and sharing your work with others.

1. Watch the introductory video on Degrowth

Time to get comfortable and watch something together! But don’t get too comfortable: this video is packed with important information. Grab some paper and a pen, and be ready to take notes. If something is unclear, or you have any questions, note it down for later.

[Video Link HERE – Tip: activate subtitles to follow more closely!]

 

Part 1: What’s wrong with economic growth?

  • Watch the video from the beginning to minute 8:00 (Intro + Never-ending Growth). Press pause.
  • Pair up with the classmate sitting next to you, and discuss:
    1. What is the link between economic growth and climate change & environmental collapse?
    2. Who are the losers and the winners of economic growth?
    3. Do you have questions (both clarification and critical)?

To discover more about what’s wrong with economic growth, you can explore these resources below in your own time:

 

Part 2: Is green growth possible?

  • Watch the video from minute 8.00 to minute 11:20 (The Trap of Green Growth) and pause it again.
  • Pair up with another classmate (different from before), and discuss:
    1. What is ‘decoupling’, and why is it not achievable?
    2. What is the Javon’s paradox, and why is it important?
    3. Do you have questions (both clarification and critical)?

To discover more about why green growth is not working, you can explore these resources below in your own time:

 

Part 3: The why and what of degrowth

  • Watch the video from minute 11:20 to minute 15:35 (Why Degrowth?) and then press pause.
  • Pair up with another classmate (different from before), and discuss:
    1. What is degrowth? Recall the main definitions and elements.
    2. What should degrow/be dismantled? What, instead, should flourish?
    3. Do you have questions (both clarification and critical)?

To discover more about degrowth theories, you can explore these resources below in your own time:

 

Part 4: What degrowth looks like

  • Watch the video from minute 15:35 to the end (Critiques of Degrowth, What Does Degrowth Actually Look Like?)
  • Pair up with another classmate (different from before), and discuss:
    1. What are the main strategies for degrowth? Recall different currents and some examples.
    2. Why is lifestyle change not enough? What else should be done?
    3. Do you have questions (both clarification and critical)?

To discover more about degrowth visions and strategies, you can explore these resources below in your own time:

 

Final discussion round

Take a few minutes for yourself now. Think and write down:

  1. What are your main take-home messages?
  2. What inspired you, what blew your mind, and what was completely new to you?

 

Gather back into a plenary and share these thoughts!

 

2. Let’s go in-depth:

Part 1: Team up, do some research, and prepare a 15-minute presentation

Team up in groups to explore more in-depth sources, theories and strategies for degrowth transformations!

  1. Split into groups of 3-4 people
  2. Choose one of the following topics to explore in your group:
    • Debunking Green Growth
    • Degrowth Non-reformist reforms
    • Degrowth and the Global South
    • Degrowth and Feminisms
    • Degrowth Nowtopias
  3. Research your chosen topic (check the starting resources per topic in the Resources section below)
  4. Organize the main information into attractive and concise slides (try to stay under 15 slides. You’ll have 15 minutes in total to present). Remember: you are the teacher now! Make sure to use simple language and explain the concepts clearly. The goal is not cramming as much information as possible, but conveying a main, memorable message.
  5. Be mindful of workload division: make sure everyone is contributing!

 

Part 2: Showtime! Present your results to your classmates

  • Set up the stage and share your presentation with the rest of the class.
  • Each group presents for 15 minutes
  • After the presentation, take 15 more minutes to answer questions and have a short discussion.

When every group has presented, get back into a plenary and wrap up with sharing final reflections, questions and take-home messages.

 

EXTRA TASK:

Did you know that there is a community garden, led by students, on campus? It is called L’Hortet QUI SOM? – L'Hortet de la UAB and you can drop by to check it out.

Do you think this is a degrowth nowtopia, or can it be one? You can think of asking a few questions to the gardeners If there are any around. What do they grow, and for whom? What were they inspired by? What drives them?

For part 1 (Video and discussion):

Video: Why We Need Degrowth, by Our Changing Climate: 

 

For part 2: (Team research and presentations):

These are starting resources to research your chosen topic. You can explore the web to find more information, such as academic articles, books, magazine articles, videos, blogs.

 

Resources per topic:

  1. Debunking Green Growth

 

  1. Degrowth Non-reformist reforms

              

  1. Degrowth and the Global South

 

  1. Degrowth and Feminisms

 

  1. Degrowth Nowtopias

The socio-ecological crisis we live in is unprecedented and ever-deepening, but Degrowth is an idea that gives us hope. In this WebQuest, you have successfully engaged with a video essay explaining the basics of Degrowth thought and visions, and discussed these with your peers. You learnt about the ecological destruction and social injustices linked with the pursuit of economic growth at all costs, learnt about the critiques to ”green" growth and why this is highly unlikely to halt climate breakdown soon enough, and explored degrowth alternatives and proposals for a socio-ecologically just future. Through researching and presenting a specific current or topic in degrowth in your team, you were able to deepen your understanding and consolidate your knowledge through teaching it to others, while learning from the efforts of the other teams. From now on, the world of Degrowth is open to you: look up some of the books and platforms provided here, get in touch with your local degrowth association or network, and talk about it with your friends! If you want to get your hands dirty straight away, get involved in your local community garden, join a social movement in your region, and/or think about advancing degrowth research yourself by furthering your studies in this area!

The Catalan Integral Cooperative

The Catalan Integral Cooperative (Cooperativa Integral Catalana, CIC)’s main objective of the CIC is nothing less than to build an alternative economy in Catalonia capable of satisfying the needs of the local community more effectively than the existing system, thereby creating the conditions for the transition to a post-capitalist mode of organization of social and economic life. is a financial co-operative, a food pantry, a legal-aid desk, an open-source tool workshop, a local currency (the “eco”) and a bed-and-breakfast for tourists in a medieval watchtower, all rolled into one. In less than a decade, the CIC has developed infrastructures as diverse as barter markets, a network of common stores, a ‘Cooperative Social Fund’ for financing community projects and a ‘basic income programme’ for remunerating its members for their work.  Its goal is to create an ecosystem of alternative “post-capitalist” economic projects in Catalonia, to replace the dominant system. This is an example of a “Nowtopian” degrowth-akin alternative that, working in the interstices of the system, realizes some future socio-ecological possibilities in the here and now. To learn more, visit their website (in Catalan) or read the P2P Foundation’s full report and summary of the cooperative’s structure and activities (in English).

Links:

Website Link: https://cooperativa.cat/
P2P Report

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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