Kate Raworth advocates that the shift from degenerative and centralised economies toward regenerative and distributed ones has never been more critical.
Overpopulation is not the central cause of damage to our planet, the problem lies in the way we account for value. Degenerative economic growth coupled with exponential change places an enormous burden on natural and life support systems. Kate Raworth urges for us to shift away from 20th-century economic theory—which values profit and growth at all cost—to 21st-century economic theory.
"...humanity's 21st-century challenge is clear: to meet the needs of all people within the means of this extraordinary, unique, living planet so that we and the rest of nature can thrive." - Kate Raworth, TED 2018
Key takeaways
We are financially, socially and politically addicted to "growth"
Today's financial system is designed to pursue the highest rate of monetary return—pressure to deliver growing sales, growing market shares and growing profits.
Since its conception in the 1940s, GDP very quickly became the overriding goal of policymaking, however, there is now a disconnect between GDP and whether things are actually getting better. We need to start measuring and valuing growth according to its impact on climate change and on human health.
We as a society are convinced that we can transform ourselves every-time we buy something. Growth of social media following, growth of our personal belongings, of our properties etc...
Current economies are incredibly degenerative—based on a take, make, use, lose model—and centralised—concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few. This is rapidly de-stabilising the delicately balanced planet on which all of our lives depend.
A doughnut model invites a new shape of progress—one which no longer resembles an ever-rising line of growth. Our new challenge is to thrive in a dynamic balance between the needs of humanity and its ecological ceiling.
This concept of dynamic equilibrium is reflected throughout many cultures:
Maori Takarangi
Signifies humanity's celestial origin born at the beginning of the Universe.
A symbol of light and dark, physical and spiritual, growth and decay—the dynamic circles of life.
Taoist Yin Yang
All things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites.
The universe is composed of competing and complementary forces of dark and light, sun and moon, male and female.
Buddhist endless knot
Represent infinity since they never break; infinite earth or nature is another common theme. Other general meanings are luck, belief and longevity.
Conclusions:
A new growth strategy is needed, one which is aimed at developing technologies needed to solve our most pressing problems.
Biomimicry is the process of emulating biological systems that are inherently regenerative and distributed. Looking to nature as a measure, model and mentor will be an essential skill set to drive transformative innovation within 21st-Century regenerative and distributed economies.
"I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology. A new era is beginning." - Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple