Position：home

Donut Economics: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development

Introduction

Donald Doughnut Economics, a theory created by economist Kate Raworth, presents a transformative framework for achieving sustainable development. The model uses a visual metaphor of a donut, with the inner ring representing a social foundation and the outer ring representing environmental boundaries. The space within the donut represents a safe and just operating space for humanity.

Principles of Donut Economics

The Donut Economics model is based on the following principles:

Social Foundation: Ensure that everyone has access to basic human needs such as food, water, sanitation, healthcare, education, and shelter.
Environmental Boundaries: Respect planetary boundaries, such as those related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and nitrogen pollution.
Safe and Just Operating Space: Promote a balance between social and environmental well-being, ensuring that human needs are met without exceeding environmental limits.

Key Indicators

Raworth proposes 12 key indicators to measure progress towards a donut-shaped economy:

Social Foundation Indicators	Environmental Boundaries Indicators
Nutrition	Climate Change
Health	Biodiversity Loss
Education	Water Use
Gender Equality	Air Pollution
Income and Work	Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution
Peace and Justice	Ocean Acidification

Benefits of Donut Economics

Comprehensive Approach: Provides a holistic framework that addresses both social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.
Measurable Outcomes: Uses specific indicators to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Inclusive Design: Recognizes the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues and the need for all stakeholders to be involved in decision-making.
Resilient Economies: Promotes sustainable economic growth without compromising social or environmental well-being.
Future-Oriented: Provides a long-term perspective and helps guide decision-making towards a sustainable future.

Examples and Case Studies

The City of Amsterdam

Amsterdam has adopted Donut Economics as a guiding framework for its urban development. The city has made significant progress in improving social well-being, reducing environmental impact, and creating a more sustainable and equitable society.

The Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan has used Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a measure of sustainable development since 1972. GNH is based on principles similar to Donut Economics and has helped Bhutan achieve high levels of well-being while preserving its natural environment.

The Doughnut Coalition

The Doughnut Coalition is a global network of organizations and individuals committed to promoting Donut Economics. The coalition provides resources, support, and education to help businesses, governments, and communities adopt the model.

Step-by-Step Approach to Implementation

Assess Current Status: Measure progress against the 12 Donut Economics indicators to identify areas for improvement.
Set Goals and Targets: Establish specific goals for each indicator, aligned with the principles of Donut Economics.
Develop Strategies: Devise comprehensive strategies that address both social and environmental issues in an integrated manner.
Implement Actions: Implement policies, programs, and projects that contribute to meeting the goals.
Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Regularly track progress against indicators and make adjustments as needed.

Call to Action

Donut Economics offers a powerful framework for achieving sustainable development. It is essential that governments, businesses, and individuals embrace the principles of the model and work together to create a donut-shaped world where everyone can thrive within safe and just environmental boundaries.

Stories and Lessons

Story 1: The Donut City

In the city of Donutville, a group of citizens came together to create a donut-shaped economy. They invested in renewable energy, improved public transportation, and implemented policies to reduce poverty. As a result, Donutville became a thriving city with high levels of well-being and a low environmental footprint.

Lesson: By adopting Donut Economics, communities can create sustainable and equitable societies.

Story 2: The Doughnut Business

Doughnut Industries, a manufacturing company, realized that its operations were contributing to environmental degradation. By adopting Donut Economics, the company invested in sustainable practices, reduced emissions, and created jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Lesson: Businesses have a responsibility to contribute to sustainable development and can benefit from adopting Donut Economics principles.

Story 3: The Donut Nation

The nation of Donutistan adopted Donut Economics as a national strategy. The government implemented policies to guarantee basic needs, protect the environment, and promote economic equality. As a result, Donutistan became a global leader in sustainable development.

Lesson: Governments play a crucial role in creating a donut-shaped world by aligning policies with Donut Economics principles.

Tables

Table 1: Donut Economics Indicators

Indicator	Measurement	Target
Nutrition	Sufficient food intake for all	Zero hunger
Health	Life expectancy, infant mortality	Healthy lives for all
Education	Literacy rate, years of schooling	Quality education for all
Gender Equality	Gender pay gap, representation in leadership	Equal opportunities for women and men
Income and Work	Income distribution, unemployment	Decent work for all
Peace and Justice	Violent crime rate, incarceration rate	Peaceful and just societies
Climate Change	Greenhouse gas emissions	Limit global warming to 1.5°C
Biodiversity Loss	Species extinction rate, habitat loss	Protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Water Use	Water withdrawal rate, water pollution	Sustainable water use
Air Pollution	Air quality, respiratory illness	Clean air for all
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution	Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use, water pollution	Sustainable use of fertilizers
Ocean Acidification	Ocean pH levels, coral bleaching	Protect marine ecosystems

Table 2: Benefits of Donut Economics

Benefit	Description
Comprehensive Approach	Addresses both social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.
Measurable Outcomes	Uses specific indicators to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Inclusive Design	Recognizes the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues and the need for all stakeholders to be involved in decision-making.
Resilient Economies	Promotes sustainable economic growth without compromising social or environmental well-being.
Future-Oriented	Provides a long-term perspective and helps guide decision-making towards a sustainable future.

Table 3: Case Studies of Donut Economics

Case Study	Location	Description
Amsterdam	Netherlands	The city has adopted Donut Economics as a guiding framework for its urban development, making significant progress in improving social well-being and reducing environmental impact.
Bhutan	South Asia	Bhutan has used Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a measure of sustainable development since 1972, which is based on principles similar to Donut Economics and has helped the country achieve high levels of well-being while preserving its natural environment.
Doughnut Coalition	Global	A global network of organizations and individuals committed to promoting Donut Economics, providing resources, support, and education to help businesses, governments, and communities adopt the model.