The landlocked West African nation of Burkina Faso has rapidly become one of the world’s worst humanitarian situations in the past two years as food insecurity, displacement and internal conflict have created a dangerous storm of issues for locals, in particular, Burkina Faso’s poor.
The country’s issues became worse after January 2022, when army officers staged a coup against the former Prime Minister, who was replaced by the army’s captain, leading to blockades on main roads leading into the country, stopping foreign aid and minimizing the country’s trading.
The effects of these factors are slowly being reversed by organizations such as the World Bank, who have been working tirelessly to create jobs for the nation’s residents and provide immediate food support, as well as long-term solutions.
Current state
In 2018, there were less than 50,000 internally displaced people in the country, and at the end of 2022, that number rose to 1.9 million, showing the devastating impact of the country’s conflict.
As military groups have blockaded cities, planted explosives on roads and taken down critical infrastructure such as bridges and water points, people have been stuck in the landlocked nation for over a year, with minimal food and supplies. With the country locked up by army blockades, farmers have not been able to move freely, leaving fields abandoned and food production to plummet.
But farmers are not the only ones left without jobs, as delivery drivers bringing goods into the country have also halted, meaning no goods are on store shelves except cleaning products.
These factors have collectively led to the number of people facing acute food insecurity multiplying nine-fold, as there is now an estimated 2.6 million food-insecure people.
A report by the Norwegian Refugee Council has also predicted that the number of people facing acute, catastrophic levels of food insecurity will keep rising as it expects a 42% increase in food insecure people by August.
Due to the army blockades, the last considerable shipment of food came in September, when 100 tonnes of cereal reached the town of Djibo, feeding an estimated 6,700 families. Only a small portion of those who need immediate assistance.
The Norwegian report showed that the situation reached such dire levels in 2022, that almost 85% of families’ meals consisted of wild leaves.
Immediate humanitarian aid continues to drop in the country’s air bridge, but as that is the only method of support reaching the country, the assistance provided is not enough for all of Burkina Faso’s poor.
Initiating help
All of the above events struck the West African nation terribly. The global assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council showed that by the end of 2022, there were 1.9 million people in need of aid, a 40% increase from the start of the year. Despite the increase in need, the funding requested by humanitarian organizations was only 42% filled by global NGOs, leaving many to survive without immediate aid.
But immediate aid isn’t the only way to help the poverty-stricken nation.
Organizations such as the World Bank have been carrying out job-creating initiatives such as their Forest Investment Program, which collected a total investment of $27 million, from the World Bank, the Climate Investment Funds and the European Union.
The initiative has led to over 400,000 hectares of currently unused farmland falling under sustainable management. The planting of trees and preparation of the land will benefit more than 500,000 people, creating 5,000 jobs in 32 communes targeted for the project.
In line with these investments, nearly 6,000 households have received improved stoves in an attempt to cut down on the use of wood for energy and cooking purposes, as well as make it cheaper to use stoves for Burkina Faso’s poor.
Similarly, the World Bank has also begun executing its Regional Integration initiative, building new roads and improving damaged main roads for truck drivers within the country, as well as to the nearest ports in Togo and Ghana.
As the country is landlocked alongside 32% of all African countries, access to these ports is of vital importance for the country to continue their exports and imports not only across Africa, but internationally too. One truck driver affected by these improvements told the World Bank that it used to take more than a week to travel 950 kilometers, but it now only takes two days.
Previous initiatives by the World Bank, which began in 1980, cost the organization $325 million at the time but are now worth more than $14 billion, accounting for 13% of the entire continent’s portfolio.
These long-term types of initiatives show great promise in helping countries like Burkina Faso in the long run, alongside all African countries.
– Sam Kalantzis
Photo: Flickr
How The Taal Volcano Eruption Affected Poverty In The Philippines
Per the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), poverty in the Batangas region affects 10.2% of the population, which translates to 1.68 million Filipinos who cannot meet “basic food and non-food” needs. Poverty incidence among families stood at 7.2% of the population or 296 thousand families.
Agriculture and Tourism
In 2020, the Department of Agriculture revealed the damages to the agricultural sector reached approximately $54 million, affecting 15,790 hectares of farmland. The loss of money was attributed to the destruction of crops, farm infrastructure and displacement of livestock. Unfortunately, setbacks in the agricultural sector put vulnerable rural communities and workers in the Batanga province at risk.
The Taal Volcano is a popular tourist destination and the eruption in 2020 led to the closure of the area to tourists, resulting in a decline in tourism and tourism-related businesses. Tourism sites within a 14-kilometer zone suffered an estimated damage of $1.5 million and an estimated loss of $2.1 million. The Taal volcano eruption affected poverty and tourism in the area for many years to come.
Vulnerable Communities
Exposure to volcano smog (sulfur dioxide gas emissions) can cause symptoms such as irritated/swollen eyes and irritations to the throat. Those with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly, pregnant women and children were most susceptible to its effects. It affected 736,000 people in the Calabarzon region, Central Luzon region and the National Capital regions, and this led to an “evacuation of more than 135,000 residents due to infrastructure and disruption of essential resources and services such as water, food supplies and education.” The displacement and consumption of dangerous gasses have impacted families’ livelihoods and income as well as increasing respiratory problems and malnutrition among the most affected.
Foreign Aid
The Japanese Government donated 425 metric tonnes of rice to the National Food Authority (NFA) to assist those who the natural disaster affected. This is following Japan’s donation of 560 metric tons of rice in 2019 after the Philippines experienced Typhoon Jenny.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $100,000 in humanitarian support, providing soap, toothbrushes, sleeping mats and blankets for 7,600 displaced residents that were staying at evacuation centers in the Batangas province.
Following the 2020 volcanic eruption, the EU announced a donation of €750,000 to provide humanitarian aid to the Batangas province. With over 931,400 residents in the area the EU’s donation funded the Spanish Red Cross which delivered immediate support through emergency shelters, essential items, hygiene kits and access to clean water. This was alongside psychosocial support services and child protection activities.
Looking Ahead
In the face of the devastating Taal Volcano eruption, international aid and support from countries like Japan, the United States and the European Union have played a crucial role in providing relief to affected communities in the Batangas province. Donations of rice, humanitarian supplies and financial assistance have helped address immediate needs and support the recovery process. These acts of solidarity demonstrate the power of global collaboration in alleviating poverty and rebuilding lives in the aftermath of natural disasters.
– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr
The Fred Hollows Foundation Boosts Eye Health in the Philippines
Vision and eye health care have been a major concern in the Philippines due to the high prevalence of eye diseases and disorders. Some common causes of blindness are cataracts, error of refraction and glaucoma. The country’s lack of access to basic eye care services is a significant challenge. Many Filipinos lack awareness of the importance of regular eye examinations that can help detect and treat eye diseases early on.
The Fred Hollows Foundation
In 2014, the Fred Hollows Foundation started working in the Philippines with the vision of developing a sustainable community eye health program. This program aimed to provide accessible, affordable and high-quality eye care services to Filipinos. The foundation supports the Department of Health (DOH) in building community eye health programs in 25 countries throughout Africa, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the Pacific. Its priority is to strengthen the health system in the Philippines and work with communities in order to improve their eye health. The organization is achieving this goal through life-changing surgeries and treatments, training doctors and health workers and educating children in schools about visual impairment.
The Achievements of the Foundation
So far, the Fred Hollows Foundation has strengthened the health system of the Philippines by implementing eye health programs in local areas with the support of private health specialists, provincial governments and the DOH. In partnership with the Department of Education, it implemented many vision programs in schools, and this has resulted in vision screening and the supply of glasses to more than 400,000 children. In addition, the Fred Hollows Foundation performed 1,036 eye operations and treatments in 2019, including 325 cataract operations and 711 sight-improving measures. More than 4,000 people were trained in eye health, including teachers, community members, surgeons, clinic support staff and community health workers.
The foundation reached the nation’s poor and marginalized people through fair and inclusive initiatives, such as working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and participating in their Family Development Sessions. The foundation has also worked with the National Commission for Indigenous People in order to reach Indigenous schools and communities, including poor Filipino families.
Looking Ahead
In the Philippines, blindness and visual impairment are growing public health concerns. While there has been some progress with regard to improving vision and eye care in the Philippines, the Fred Hollows Foundation continues working to ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality eye care services and to build a powerful eye health network with many partners and organizations.
– Lilit Natalia Manoukian
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Jamaica
Fortunately, many organizations in Jamaica are actively engaged in the recovery process with poverty reduction initiatives. Highlighted below are five charities operating in Jamaica, all of which help to support the most vulnerable communities across the island.
5 Charities Operating in Jamaica
These five charities operating in Jamaica play an essential role in addressing the country’s pressing issues from poverty and health care shortages to food and water insecurity. Along with many other organizations, charities in Jamaica are filling crucial gaps and offering hope to those in need. Through their dedicated work, such groups are not just providing immediate relief but are also working towards long-term, sustainable solutions that aim to reduce poverty and foster a more resilient nation.
– James Bao
Photo: Pixabay
This Is Unfolded: Reducing Poverty in Southeast Asia
Lost Stock – How Did It Work?
The Lost Stock scheme was a partnership between Cally Russell’s shopping app Mallzee and the SAJIDA Foundation, based in Bangladesh. The SAJIDA Foundation, set up in 1993, has supported more than 6 million individuals in becoming entrepreneurs and lifting themselves out of poverty. Lost Stock purchased abandoned clothing orders and gave customers the opportunity to buy a ‘mystery box’ of clothing. Each box cost about $49, and customers offered details regarding their size, gender and personal style to the organization. Lost Stock then selected three items worth over $85 altogether and sent them to the customer a few weeks later.
For every purchased box, Lost Stock and the SAJIDA Foundation were able to financially support one garment worker and their family for seven days. In 2020, the Lost Stock initiative financially aided 113,000 people for more than a month, ensuring that garment workers did not starve or succumb to poverty. Moreover, the initiative reduced textile waste by not allowing the canceled garment orders to deteriorate in a landfill.
Evolution to This Is Unfolded
After the success of the Lost Stock scheme, the organization transformed into This Is Unfolded, a sustainable clothing brand intent on reducing poverty in Southeast Asia. It adopts a slow approach to clothes manufacturing in a bid to reduce waste production and in turn, ensure that less harm comes to the planet. After receiving an order, team members develop small collections of 20 items or less to ensure that supply does not outweigh demand. Customers receive items straight from the production factories. This method of manufacturing allows the team to save money on delivery and production costs. Consequently, it is able to price items at around 80% of the price of clothing from major high-end retailers.
Perhaps more significantly, the brand uses these savings to pay garment workers a fair wage, employing 379 workers in Indian factories that use ethical manufacturing practices and instill a safe, positive working environment. The brand also pays bonuses to its full staff after the completion of each clothing collection, fully compensating workers to help them avoid falling into poverty.
Efforts to Aid in Child Literacy
In India, 26% of the population is illiterate. Since 1995, the educational charity Pratham has worked to increase literacy rates in India. In education centers, children who have never been to school or who experienced educational disruptions receive basic literacy and writing lessons. For every sold garment, This Is Unfolded funds a child to receive literacy lessons in a Pratham education center for at least one month. So far, it has supported 3,500 children in learning to read and write.
Concluding Thoughts
This Is Unfolded has made admirable progress in lowering textile waste and reducing poverty in Southeast Asia. From its origins as Lost Stock, it made certain that thousands of garment workers did not experience extreme poverty. It now makes strides to ensure that child literacy rates reach 100% in India. The organization’s work is beneficial to both the global population and the planet. It also serves as an inspiration to other clothing retailers who can also join the efforts to make positive marks on the planet.
– Mohsina Alam
Photo: Flickr
AI In International Development: The Benefits and Drawbacks
The Benefits of Using AI for International Development
The key ways AI can aid international development objectives include the following:
Achieving Development Objectives with AI
The aforementioned applications are not hypothetical as governments have already begun using AI tools to achieve development objectives. Some of such achievements are as follows:
The Drawbacks
While AI has the potential to improve many aspects of society, there are also issues that raise concerns. Some of such issues include:
What is Next?
AI has the power to foster progress by enabling the achievement of long-sought development goals, but it can just as easily be a catalyst for creating further inequality and conflict and strengthening authoritarian governments. This suggests that increased international cooperation and regulation are necessary to curb or control the negative externalities of AI development.
– Andrew Giganti
Photo: Unsplash
The World Bank Initiatives Saving Burkina Faso’s Poor
The country’s issues became worse after January 2022, when army officers staged a coup against the former Prime Minister, who was replaced by the army’s captain, leading to blockades on main roads leading into the country, stopping foreign aid and minimizing the country’s trading.
The effects of these factors are slowly being reversed by organizations such as the World Bank, who have been working tirelessly to create jobs for the nation’s residents and provide immediate food support, as well as long-term solutions.
Current state
In 2018, there were less than 50,000 internally displaced people in the country, and at the end of 2022, that number rose to 1.9 million, showing the devastating impact of the country’s conflict.
As military groups have blockaded cities, planted explosives on roads and taken down critical infrastructure such as bridges and water points, people have been stuck in the landlocked nation for over a year, with minimal food and supplies. With the country locked up by army blockades, farmers have not been able to move freely, leaving fields abandoned and food production to plummet.
But farmers are not the only ones left without jobs, as delivery drivers bringing goods into the country have also halted, meaning no goods are on store shelves except cleaning products.
These factors have collectively led to the number of people facing acute food insecurity multiplying nine-fold, as there is now an estimated 2.6 million food-insecure people.
A report by the Norwegian Refugee Council has also predicted that the number of people facing acute, catastrophic levels of food insecurity will keep rising as it expects a 42% increase in food insecure people by August.
Due to the army blockades, the last considerable shipment of food came in September, when 100 tonnes of cereal reached the town of Djibo, feeding an estimated 6,700 families. Only a small portion of those who need immediate assistance.
The Norwegian report showed that the situation reached such dire levels in 2022, that almost 85% of families’ meals consisted of wild leaves.
Immediate humanitarian aid continues to drop in the country’s air bridge, but as that is the only method of support reaching the country, the assistance provided is not enough for all of Burkina Faso’s poor.
Initiating help
All of the above events struck the West African nation terribly. The global assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council showed that by the end of 2022, there were 1.9 million people in need of aid, a 40% increase from the start of the year. Despite the increase in need, the funding requested by humanitarian organizations was only 42% filled by global NGOs, leaving many to survive without immediate aid.
But immediate aid isn’t the only way to help the poverty-stricken nation.
Organizations such as the World Bank have been carrying out job-creating initiatives such as their Forest Investment Program, which collected a total investment of $27 million, from the World Bank, the Climate Investment Funds and the European Union.
The initiative has led to over 400,000 hectares of currently unused farmland falling under sustainable management. The planting of trees and preparation of the land will benefit more than 500,000 people, creating 5,000 jobs in 32 communes targeted for the project.
In line with these investments, nearly 6,000 households have received improved stoves in an attempt to cut down on the use of wood for energy and cooking purposes, as well as make it cheaper to use stoves for Burkina Faso’s poor.
Similarly, the World Bank has also begun executing its Regional Integration initiative, building new roads and improving damaged main roads for truck drivers within the country, as well as to the nearest ports in Togo and Ghana.
As the country is landlocked alongside 32% of all African countries, access to these ports is of vital importance for the country to continue their exports and imports not only across Africa, but internationally too. One truck driver affected by these improvements told the World Bank that it used to take more than a week to travel 950 kilometers, but it now only takes two days.
Previous initiatives by the World Bank, which began in 1980, cost the organization $325 million at the time but are now worth more than $14 billion, accounting for 13% of the entire continent’s portfolio.
These long-term types of initiatives show great promise in helping countries like Burkina Faso in the long run, alongside all African countries.
– Sam Kalantzis
Photo: Flickr
Confronting Period Poverty in Morocco
The Ripple Effect of Period Poverty in Morocco
In Morocco, more than 6 million people do not have access to basic goods making it exceedingly difficult for young women from low-income families to afford menstrual supplies. This lack of access to pads, coupled with deeply-rooted social stigmas and a general lack of puberty education, causes girls to miss several days of school every month.
Gaps in school attendance cause girls to fall behind, experience a lack of intellectual confidence and sometimes even drop out. The ripple effects of an incomplete education are vast, including vulnerability to child marriage and child labor and reduced chances of future social mobility.
Cultural Stigma Perpetuates Period Poverty
Many communities, including Morocco, suffer intense cultural stigmas surrounding menstruation. A pervasive misconception is that women should not bathe while they menstruate, which not only can cause health issues but can exacerbate shame —dissuading girls from going out in public while on their periods.
A lack of transparent education regarding menstruation allows for these fallacies to survive from generation to generation. As of 2021, Morocco had a population of about 3 million adolescents and young girls and “half of them were shocked to get their first period,” according to Morocco World News.
A Moroccan woman shared her experience about her first period with UNFPA, stating, “I told my mother. She gave me an old piece of cloth and refused to buy me sanitary napkins and forbade me from eating dinner that night.” The woman continued to reflect on menstruating under the pressures of social stigmas, admitting, “I felt I was an outcast. My period every month became an unbearable hell.”
New Era Epitomizes Civil Efforts to Fight Period Poverty
New Era, a Moroccan social movement, is confronting rural period poverty head-on by distributing menstrual underwear and pain medication to women in Casablanca’s Sidi Moumen community. In partnership with the Oum Kaltoum Foundation, the organization provides supplies to women who cannot afford or do not have access to hygiene products. As of November 2021, New Era had distributed over 300 pairs of menstrual underwear to women in Ouinskra, a village located 50 miles outside of Marrakesh.
New Era not only disseminates period supplies but runs community discussions to help quell misconceptions and stigmas that amplify the harm of period poverty in Morocco. “At first, women were intimidated, but within minutes, people became more animated, raising multiple questions, which really helped us in the process of raising awareness,” New Era co-founder Nada Chaddadi told Morocco World News.
Period Poverty Reduction Through Project Soar
Maryam Montague first founded Project Soar in 2013, another campaign fighting period poverty in Morocco. Similar to New Era, the organization has a goal to distribute feminine hygiene products and hold workshops to deconstruct social stigmas. The organization has 28 operating chapters across the country.
Project Soar provides young Moroccan women with reusable menstrual kits that last three years with the hopes that school-aged girls will feel confident and comfortable attending class while menstruating. It has also collaborated with Morocco’s Human Rights Council (CNDH) and UNFPA to run menstrual education workshops throughout Morocco, according to Morroco World News. Project Soar’s empowerment workshops have reached 3,543 teen girls throughout Morrocco.
A young woman who participated in the Project Soar education initiative explained she had trouble playing sports since she did not know if she would have leaks when doing certain moves. “However, now I can say that the Be Girl period kit that Project Soar provided me in Module 3: Body helped me to somehow face this fear and live a normal life,” she concludes.
Looking Forward
As organizations like New Era and Project Soar launch campaigns confronting period poverty in Morocco, the nation’s mentality surrounding menstruation is rapidly shifting. On May 28, 2021, Morocco celebrated its first-ever World Menstrual Hygiene Day, supporting the international tagline, “Build a world where no one is held back because they menstruate.”
Period poverty in Morocco has been increasingly receiving recognition and treatment as a source of social struggle and gender disparity that deserves earnest attention.
– Elena Unger
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Papua New Guinea
Political instability, dependency on unreliable subsistence agriculture, a lack of investment in new infrastructure and an increasing frequency of natural disasters exacerbate the issue of poverty. However, on the bright side, the following five charities operating in Papua New Guinea are working to address the issue of poverty.
5 Charities Operating in Papua New Guinea
Looking Forward
In the face of pervasive poverty in Papua New Guinea, several charities are actively working to alleviate the challenges faced by the population. Organizations like CARE, WaterAid, Save the Children, Wantok Support Charity and UNICEF are making significant contributions in areas such as gender equality, water and sanitation, child protection, education and health care. Through dedicated efforts, these charities are helping to improve the lives of vulnerable children and communities, providing hope for a brighter future in Papua New Guinea.
– Isla Wright
Photo: Flickr
The State of Water in the Nile River
The Economic Significance of the Nile River
The Nile River is a vital source of economic activity in many African countries, particularly those in the Nile Basin region. The river supports various economic sectors, including agriculture, fishing, transportation and tourism. Agriculture remains a crucial sector for many African countries, particularly Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia and water in the Nile River serves as a dependable source for irrigation. Farmers are able to cultivate crops year-round and, as a result, agriculture employs a significant percentage of the population.
In Egypt, the agriculture sector provides 28% of jobs and in Sudan, it employs 43% of the population. As of 2020, 75% of employed Ethiopians worked in the agriculture sector. Even though the Nile contains harmful pathogens and pollutants, it provides water and a means of livelihood for more than 200 million people. Inhabitants of the Nile region use the water for drinking, washing and cooking. People also engage in farming in the Nile Basin, growing crops like wheat, corn, banana and sweet potato.
Fishing in the Nile River provides employment for thousands of people. In addition, the industry contributes to the local economy through fish exportation. The river is also a major transportation route in many parts of Africa, and it also supports tourism in some African countries, including Egypt and Uganda.
The Nile River and its Impact on Poverty
Access to clean water in the Nile River remains a significant challenge, with agricultural activities involving pesticides and fertilizers contributing to the pollution problem. These chemicals can enter the river through runoff and irrigation, which can harm aquatic life and affect water quality. Alongside farming activities, the raw sewage and other waste products from industries and manufacturers go directly into the river. The harmful bacteria, viruses and other contaminants in the water can cause cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, poliovirus and other waterborne disease. In turn, this can result in the endangerment of agricultural productivity and contribute to poverty.
Moreover, in recent years, water scarcity has become an increasing concern in the region. In 2020, Ethan D. Coffee and Justin S. Mankin reported that more than 30% of the people in the region could face water scarcity by 2040. This translates into more than 80 million people who may not be able to access water. This could also limit agricultural and fishing industries while decreasing labor employment.
Minimizing the Nile’s Impact on Poverty
The year 2021 marked a significant milestone in Egypt as the Bahr al-Baqar wastewater treatment plant commenced operations in the northern city of Sinai. Renowned as one of the most expansive wastewater treatment facilities globally, this plant possesses an impressive capacity to treat 5 million cubic meters of wastewater daily—equivalent to the water consumed in 140 million showers.
Aiming to tackle the multifaceted challenges affecting the Nile Basin, Egypt-based social enterprise Bassita launched the VeryNile project in 2018. This initiative focuses on enhancing water management practices. Its primary objective is to reduce poverty and foster economic growth within the Nile River Basin. The VeryNile project progresses in four key directions: cleaning, recycling, prevention and social impact.
Looking Ahead
While the issue of clean water in the Nile River remains unresolved, the ongoing initiatives could help avert more crises. Ultimately, initiatives like the VeryNile project that prioritizes promoting sustainable development practices and empowering local communities to participate in water management processes can potentially bring the tides of progress and lasting change.
– Anna Konovalenko
Photo: Flickr
“Degrowth” Model and Improving Living Standards
What is Degrowth?
Degrowth challenges the idea of economic growth as the key to human progress. It argues that the pursuit of unlimited growth is not only ecologically unsustainable but also socially unjust. According to degrowth theorists, the current economic system leads to the depletion of natural resources, environmental destruction and widening social inequalities. “The faster we produce and consume goods, the more we damage the environment,” stated Barcelona-based economist Giorgos Kallis. “If humanity is not to destroy the planet’s life support systems, the global economy should slow down.”
A degrowth model centers on the idea that societies need to reduce the emphasis on GDP as the primary measure of improving human well-being and instead focus on sustainable, equitable and regenerative systems. While this may sound radical, evidence suggests that a degrowth model has widespread potential to improve lives around the globe.
Degrowth’s Potential for Poverty Reduction
For instance, economic growth alone has not reduced poverty and inequality. In fact, the gap between rich and poor has widened in recent decades. According to an Oxfam report, “The richest 1% grabbed nearly two-thirds of all new wealth (around $42 trillion) created since 2020, almost twice as much money as the bottom 99% of the world’s population.” In the U.S., the top 1% owns almost as much as the bottom 90% of the population combined. Such stark inequality has real-world consequences: many suffer from a lack of access to basic resources like food, water and health care. Also, there are such issues as political instability, conflict and climate-related disasters.
These issues suggest that the problem is more one of wealth distribution than of underproduction. According to 2019 Economics Noble Prize winners Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, higher growth (GDP) does not guarantee an improvement in livelihoods, especially if GDP is distributed unequally.
Degrowth offers a different vision of society. In this vision, resources are shared more equitably and the needs of all people and the planet are prioritized over the well-being of a few. In a degrowth economy, basic needs like housing, health care, education and food security would be prioritized over the accumulation of wealth and consumer goods. As London-based scholar Jason Hickel summarized, “Degrowth is a planned reduction of energy and resource use designed to bring the economy back into balance with the living world in a way that reduces inequality and improves human well-being.”
For example, in 2018, Barcelona implemented a “right to the city” program, which prioritizes affordable housing, public spaces and public services for all residents, regardless of income. The initiative demonstrates how, by reducing the concentration of wealth, degrowth can help create more just and inclusive societies.
Degrowth’s Environmental Vision
In 2021 alone, humans used an estimated “1.7 Earths worth of resources,” depleting natural resources faster than the planet could replenish them. Such overconsumption is leading to deforestation, water scarcity and climate change, all of which threaten the stability of ecosystems and the survival of many species, including humans.
Degrowth offers a different approach, emphasizing sustainability and regeneration. For example, Amsterdam has implemented a “doughnut economics” model that aims to create a circular economy that operates within the limits of the planet’s resources. This means reducing waste, using renewable energy sources and adopting regenerative agriculture practices.
Degrowth’s Potential for a Better Life
Ultimately, degrowth has the potential to create better lives for people around the globe. Despite the idea that consumption leads to happiness, studies have shown that prioritizing money, earning more and increasing consumption do not necessarily increase happiness. In fact, a recent study of University of British Columbia graduates found that students who prioritized money (nearly 40%) were less happy a year later than those who prioritized time.
Degrowth emphasizes community, cooperation and creativity. By reducing reliance on consumer goods and material possessions, its approach allows people to focus on building meaningful relationships and engaging in fulfilling activities. As University of Surrey professor Tim Jackson explained, “People can flourish without endlessly accumulating more stuff. Another world is possible.’’
Found to be a “resounding success,” recent four-day week trials in the U.K. and Europe support this idea. The reduced work week led to less burnout for workers, without negatively impacting productivity, and reduced fossil fuel consumption.
Looking Ahead
In reimagining society’s approach to progress, the concept of degrowth presents a compelling alternative to the pursuit of endless economic growth. By prioritizing human well-being, ecological sustainability and social equity, degrowth has the potential to address issues of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation. Initiatives like Barcelona’s “right to the city” program and Amsterdam’s “doughnut economics” model demonstrate how degrowth can lead to more just and inclusive societies while ensuring the preservation of our planet’s resources. Ultimately, embracing degrowth offers the promise of happier, more fulfilling lives built on community, cooperation and a sustainable future.
– Sarmad Wali Khan
Photo: Flickr