The ISEE-Degrowth 2025 Conference, being held from June 24–27 at the University of Oslo, is a landmark event uniting the 18th International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) Conference and the 11th International Degrowth Conference. With the theme “Building Socially Just Postgrowth Futures – Linking Theory and Action,” this gathering brings together scholars, policymakers, activists, and NGOs to explore transformative pathways for sustainable, equitable societies.
During the event presentation of the Budapest Degrowth Donut is presented, which forms the basis for the Horizon project, DAISY transformation seed case study in urban development. The Budapest Degrowth Donut adapts Kate Raworth’s original doughnut model, tailoring its environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural dimensions to reflect local narratives and priorities. Developed through a participatory process involving civil society, experts, policymakers, and economic actors, the project evaluated Budapest’s current ecological and social realities and generated a package of policy proposals for sustainable and just urban governance. The presentation shares insights and dilemmas from this process, highlighting how stakeholder engagement shaped a shared vision for a “safe and just operating space” for Budapest, and explores both the possibilities and limitations of participatory policy-making within the degrowth framework.
In parallel, DAISY has just launched a new task to monitor the implementation of the Budapest Degrowth Donut and explore its upscaling potential. This marks an exciting new phase for tracking real-world impacts and scaling the model to other urban contexts. Stay tuned for updates as DAISY’s work unfolds and contributes valuable lessons for cities worldwide.
