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 Guide (PDF)

    • A “Degrowth 101” / An introduction to degrowth

    • Authored by Jason Hickel, a professor at Autonomous University of Barcelona and prominent degrowth researcher

    Degrowth in the US News Guide (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 Guide (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

Present and organize

Introduce degrowth to an audience!

  • A brief presentation to aid a degrowth discussion.

    PDF

    PowerPoint

  • 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

  • Degrowth School:

    • Coming soon!

    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.

What does this toolkit look like in action?

Degrowth Cafe at the Degrowth Institute

Degrowth Coffee Hour at Purdue University

Degrowth Coffee Hour at Purdue University

“Has the Economy Outgrown the Planet?” panel at Purdue University

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