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.
GEF in the Media
In the context of the Beyond Growth conference, GEF published several op-eds across different European media outlets.
EU Observer
By Richard Wouters (Project Manager at GEF’s partner foundation Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks and leader of the Geopolitics of a Post-Growth Europe Project).
How would a #postgrowth EU defend itself, its allies, democracy, human rights and a rules-based international order against attacks by the likes of Russia or China?
In the run up to the #BeyondGrowth Conference, @RichardWouters writes how 👇🇪🇺https://t.co/LEUnGq8kyz
— Green European Foundation (@GEF_Europe) May 11, 2023
By Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (GEF board member & MEP Greens/EFA) and Evelyn Regner (MEP S&D).
[Opinion] Measures of economic success are both inherently sexist and unsustainable. By MEPs @Evelyn_Regner and @GDelbosCorfield with @GEF_Europe https://t.co/jel7SnclQG
— EUobserver (@euobs) May 17, 2023
ElDiario.es
- Pensar más allá del crecimiento económico (Thinking Beyond economic growth)
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".
👁️ this op-ed in @eldiarioes by @ecodenker & @nataliebenhttps://t.co/izmQ3CSxWZ
— Green European Foundation (@GEF_Europe) May 15, 2023
Related reading
Beyond Growth focus page (Green European Journal)
Beyond growth: Pathways towards sustainable prosperity in the EU (European Parliament-EPRS)