Degrowth Discussion and Organizing Toolkit

How do I start talking about degrowth with my…

colleagues, friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbors, town?

This discussion toolkit is designed to help get you started facilitating and organizing conversations about degrowth.

We've compiled discussion guides and lessons learned from community and campus groups across the U.S. and beyond.

Guides

Read and discuss

A library of literature directly and indirectly related to degrowth. These writings have proven to be great discussion aids.

  • Less is More (PDF)

    • A “Degrowth 101” / An introduction to degrowth

    • Covers economic histories and the ecological overshoot.

    • Asks “How much is enough?” and “Will technology save us?”

    Degrowth in the US News (PDF)

    • A series of recent publications from major news organizations

    • Ranging perspectives on degrowth from supportive to critical

    • Engage with writing from multidisciplinary perspectives

  • The Future is Degrowth (PDF)

    • Extensive definitions of degrowth concepts and the movements that bloom in the degrowth framework

    • Propositions for degrowth in our future

    • Authored by Aaron Vansintjan, Andrea Vetter, and Matthias Schmelzer; degrowth and climate researchers

    Where Do We Go from Here?

    • Dr. King’s last publication

    • Provides both experience and precise calls for change

    • Addresses despair in the face of seemingly invincible obstacles

    • Guide coming soon!

Present and organize

Introduce degrowth to an audience!

  • “What is degrowth?” Starter Slides

    • List of degrowth definitions

    • Aid to get you started building introductory slides for your event

  • Panel Discussion Guide (PDF)

    • Gather a single panel with a facilitator to answer “Has the economy outgrown the planet?”

    • Outline for single event with discussion topics and structure

  • Symposium Guide (PDF)

    • Organize a multi-panel day-long event followed by audience discussion

    • Includes ideas for topics and structure

Resources

External programs and events

Recommended sources of information and action-building around degrowth.

  • DegrowUS

    • A loose collective of activists, academics and advocates for degrowth from across the United States. Check out their resources page!

    International Degrowth Network

    • Global community of individuals, organizations, and degrowth allies committed to creating an equitable and sustainable world for all generations. See their members page.

    degrowth.info

    • A prominent online space providing resources on degrowth. Check out their get involved map.

    Research and Degrowth

    • a think-and-act-tank dedicated to the radical transformation of our economies and societies through research, advocacy, education, training and events around degrowth

  • DGI’S DeSchool

    • A 4-day gathering in Chicago, IL to convene activists, academics and degrowth advocates from around the U.S. and beyond.

    UAB: Online Masters

    • The first international master's fully dedicated on research and policy for degrowth. The faculty consists of researchers devoting their work on degrowth-related areas and they will share and discuss their latest research with students.

    re(biz): Project Tipping Point

    • Calls and events that are a pioneering self-paced journey, community and education-in-action movement.

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