Can Stavanger become Norway’s first donut city?
DEBATE: Extreme weather as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, loss of biodiversity and social inequality also characterize Stavanger. The challenges require a holistic approach where we secure both the environment and the social needs, while at the same time having a local and global approach.
Debate post
We stand with our legs in a split between different crises. As world leaders in Glasgow, we all need to come closer to solutions to avoid a climate catastrophe. To do just that, there is a tool – a donut. The donut has spread to a number of cities around the world. Can Stavanger become Norway’s first donut city?
What is a donut?
This donut is not edible, it is a theoretical framework for restructuring the economic system we have today – a system that has created social and ecological crises. Imagine a hot and round donut. The outer circle symbolizes the earth’s endurance limits, ie what human activity can do before we reach the tipping point. The inner circle symbolizes social sustainability, ensuring that human rights and fundamental social needs are safeguarded. We must ensure that we stay within these two circles, so that all people have their needs met and have good lives, without destroying the environment.
The theory comes from the book “Donut Economics”. of the British economy Kate Raworth. Amsterdam launched in April 2020 that they, as the first city in the world, would use the method as a compass to steer the development of society in the right direction. The idea and methods have spread like wild fresh donuts from the kettle, to cities, countries, companies and activists around the world. The awareness that we need a radical shift in how we think about ecology, economics and society is dominant.
The pandemic has forced us to restructure society. Although we in Norway in many ways deliver a fairly normal everyday life, the situation is completely different in the rest of the world, where, for example, only 5% of Africa’s population is fully vaccinated. We must also all live with the certainty that pandemics can become a new normal as a result of the climate and nature crisis.
Not sustainable
Therefore, we can not go back to the old normal. That was the problem. On the other hand, we must create a new normal welfare for all and a livable environment is the most important thing. In the record year 2019, we used 100 billion tonnes of materials globally, while each person in Norway used 40 tonnes of materials each. We have lived in a narrative that economic growth has been the framework for all handling. Nevertheless, we know that our material consumption is very unevenly distributed. All over the world we see that inequality in income and wealth is increasing.
The adjustment after the pandemic now gives us the opportunity to reconsider how we actually want society and the future to be. We have been adaptable and politicians have shown the ability to handle. The environmental and inequality crisis now requires us to show the same drive. With the right tools and combined strength, we can do this tool. The donut helps us to have more thoughts in our heads when we think new about society, and the economy, ours.
On Saturday, a donut seminar was arranged in Stavanger during the Kåkånomics festival. After introductions from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, among others, a broad group discussed their hopes and concerns for the development in Stavanger, and not least what opportunities there are with using the models here as well. Everything from politicians, entrepreneurs, students and Tore Tang contributed with their perspectives.
Grassroots important
A key element is to get the grassroots involved, which is why a Facebook group called Stavanger Donut Network has been started. This is open to anyone who wants to get more information, discuss with each other and join the process to make Stavanger Norway’s first donut. In Oslo, the debate has been going on for a while, but even though, among other things, the finance agency has expressed interest in using models, the process has stopped.
Now Stavanger must take the lead. The politicians in Stavanger have already shown leadership and taken the initiative in participatory processes that put Stavanger in a global social and environmental context. When we understand that the economy is a means for human welfare and a livable environment, and not a goal for the sake of growth, we can create a new direction.