GEF strives to mainstream discussions on European policies and politics both within and beyond the Green political family. It works to create a common Green vision for Europe and to communicate it to the wider public.
The Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought extraordinary suffering but also triggered unprecedented waves of solidarity in European societies. The selfless work of volunteers combined with political decisions that contravened the profit-maximising principles of the market have saved lives and helped avert many disaster scenarios. Still, the GDP numbers failed to reflect any of this.
Hace no mucho, fila tras fila, las estanterías de los supermercados del Reino Unido –normalmente repletas de alimentos frescos– quedaron vacías. Fue un recordatorio de las “cosas” de nuestra economía no caen del cielo. Exigen mano de obra (explotada), energía y recursos físicos, además de contaminar el planeta. Un cambio de paragima no significa un empeoramiento de nuestro nivel de vida, si exploramos cómo es realmente una vida sana y de calidad.
A post-growth EU would gain in resilience. It is better to manage the end of growth through democratic deliberation than to have it imposed on us by ecological breakdown or resource conflicts. Will a post-growth EU be able to defend itself, its allies, democracy, human rights and a rules-based international order against attacks by the likes of Russia or China?
Ambitious policies are only possible in healthy democracies that respect the rule of law and give public debate and civil society the necessary space. But in some countries, the erosion of the rule of law prevents cities from acting as frontrunners in the transition to a more sustainable society. The European Union and its European Green Deal should not therefore be seen merely as negotiation between nation-states but parts of a multilevel system that depends on a vibrant local level.
Vedran Horvat, managing director of Institute for Political Ecology and GEF´s Board Member, analyses the future of tourism in the Mediterranean in the podcast The Price of Paradise.
As it stands, the unceasing pursuit of GDP growth very literally kills humanity and the planet. There can be no respect of the scientifically agreed-upon planetary boundaries in the pursuit of such growth. Likewise, GDP growth alone has not proven a great yardstick to measure–let alone to improve–happiness, wellbeing or security.
Our work at the Green European Foundation is to provide a space for political education, debate and forward-looking ideas to the European citizens and for Europe as a whole. We wholeheartedly supported the organization of the Beyond Growth Conference this year as a foundation as it is one of the most significant ways to make a forward-looking debate enter the European institutions; and for citizens and actors engaged on these topics to get an insight into the institutional perspective. At the heart of our conception of democracy, the back-and-forth conversation between the time of politics and the changes in our societies is of utmost importance. As the Green European Foundation we supported this conference and will support others around the question of surpassing the old model of GDP-growth-only, and we will do so via our partners all around Europe and through the lenses of different thematic priorities we pursue.
Beyond growth is a matter of thinking and designing the future of the very fabric of our European societies. Some illegal, unethical or other destructive economic activities may bring GDP growth, but they also bring pollution, social unrest, and even conflict… and with them additional costs for taxpayers and our welfare states. At GEF, we think Post-Growth is an essential topic that cuts across priorities, all the way from the vivid and complex security and geopolitical discussion in Europe to the need to rethink our industrial and social model. The Beyond Growth Conference clearly put the topic on the political map. GEF will continue to support the debate for Europe and for its citizens.
Laurent Standaert, political director
(1,2,3) Beyond Growth 2023 Conference – Pathways towards Sustainable Prosperity in the EU – Plenary 4 – Understanding the biophysical limits to growth to build an economy that respects planetary boundaries. (3) Focus panel 9 – Building an energy sector compatible with ecological limits
About
From 15-17 May, over 4000 people participated in the sessions held in the context of the “Beyond Growth 2023” Conference, surpassing all expectations. The multistakeholder event took place in the European Parliament and was organised by Members of the European Parliament from different political groups, together with more than 60 partner organisations-including The Green European Foundation. This cross-party initiative followed the success of the Post-Growth 2018 conference, and offered an opportunity for discussion across institutional boundaries and with European citizens.
The three-day conference brought together top-level EU decision-makers and experts from different backgrounds to provide feasible options for a society based on resilience, meaning, fairness and sustainability. The event focused on the interlinkages between environmental, social and economic issues. With this conference, the organisers aimed to challenge conventional policy-making in the EU and redefine social objectives, moving away from the paradigm of economic growth as the sole basis of progress.
Our role
The Green European Foundation supports innovative approaches to economic sustainability in Europe and, together with its European and national partners, aspires to contribute to the transition towards societies that enable a good life for all within planetary boundaries.
Economic transformation has been a core area of work for GEF since its beginning. Today the foundation is active in fostering the reflection on the creation of a society and the functioning of an economy beyond GDP growth. GEF also aims to be at the forefront of the critique of economic growth and the existing economic model by supporting the coming to light of alternative models and ideas. In this context, the foundation actively supported the organisation of the Beyond Growth Conference from the very beginning.
Towards a Post-Growth Europe
In the run-up to the Beyond Growth Conference, GEF wanted to bring an intersectional approach to the concept of Degrowth and asked some of its partner organizations to give an insight on and how it relates to their respective fields of work. Here’s the result!
Degrowth Open Letter
There is no empirical basis indicating that it is possible to globally and sufficiently decouple economic growth from environmental pressures.
The Green European foundation co-signed alongside over 400 experts and organisations an open letter for a post-growth wellbeing economy. GEF was represented by co-president and coordinator of partner foundation Oikos Think Tank (Belgium) Dirk Holemans, board member and Head of the Institute for Political Ecology (Croatia) Vedran Horvat, and GEF’s political director Laurent Standaert.
By Natalie Bennett (Green party member of the House of Lords and former leader of the Green party of England and Wales) and Dirk Holemans (GEF’s co-president and coordinator of partner foundation Oikos Think Tank).
Un cambio de paradigma "no significa un empeoramiento de nuestro nivel de vida, si exploramos cómo es realmente una vida sana y de calidad. El sistema actual nos priva de sabor, alegría y tiempo".
As part of our Capacity Building programme, we aim to promote education and training and provide networking opportunities amongst Green actors across Europe.
Like every year, GEF is hosting a series of Summer Schools in partnership with different organisations to raise awareness among citizens about Green solutions to the challenges Europe faces and allow green-minded individuals to come together, take stock and shape the future of the movement.
More details to follow, watch this space!
Future of Eastern Europe Conference (Riga)
When: 6-7 June
Organised with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe.
Organised with the Institute for Political Ecology
This events are organised by the Green European Foundation, with the support of the aforementioned organisations and the support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.
Future of Eastern Europe Conference (Riga)
We are the Future, but we are here NOW (Riga)
Ecotransformation Summer School (Litomyšl)
This Oppressive System and Our Mental Health – summer school sessions (France)
