In an age when economic growth is slowing in wealthy economies, New Zealand’s political and economic systems stay tethered to the promise of prosperity through growth—and falter when growth trickles out. Yet, when pursued blindly, growth can undermine the very prosperity we believe it should boost. It’s time for a national conversation about the rising … Continue reading When growth is an impediment to prosperity
The field of degrowth and post-growth finance is in its nascent stages, with ongoing research and emerging practices. To advance the dialogue, a session on ‘Investing in degrowth: resourcing postgrowth futures’ took place at the joint 10th Intl. Degrowth Conference and 15th Conference of the European Society of Ecological Economics in Pontevedra, Spain, on 19 … Continue reading 2024 Degrowth Conference: ‘Investing in Degrowth’ Session Summary
In my recent Master's thesis for a degree in Degrowth: Ecology, Economics and Policy at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, I explored how kaupapa Māori enterprises contribute to achieving Māori aspirations. In settler colonial countries, Indigenous nations have faced systemic destruction through dispossession and de-culturalisation, eliminating traditional modes of production and value creation. Modern Indigenous … Continue reading Kaupapa Māori Enterprises: Agents of Aspiration
The briefing paper 'Degrowth-aligned Finance: A preliminary exploration' is an aid to understanding the emerging elements of a degrowth-aligned financial system. Co-authored by Jennifer Wilkins and Anastasia Linn, its purpose is to initiate conversations and encourage building a shared research and practice agenda. It also provides supporting information to the Special Session "Investing in Degrowth" … Continue reading Degrowth-aligned Finance
The New Zealand Minister of Climate Change asked the Centre for Sustainable Finance Toitū Tahua to prepare a set of recommendations for a sustainable finance taxonomy. Draft recommendations were developed by an Independent Technical Advisory Group and released for feedback by 5 May 2024. Heliocene founder, Jennifer Wilkins, submitted feedback on 1 May 2024, copied … Continue reading Feedback on the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
The New Zealand government wants to put in place a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects, proposing the Fast-track Approvals Bill, which would give three ministers wide new powers over major projects and the environment. Heliocene founder, Jennifer Wilkins, submitted to the select committee on 16 April 2024, copied below. My name is … Continue reading Submission on the Fast-track Approvals Bill
This chapter, written for the book Radical Business Perspectives for Sustainability Transitions, explores the contested notion of corporate degrowth, suggesting degrowth intrapreneurship as a way forward. First, the chapter questions the efficacy of corporate sustainability, assessing whether intensifying ESG practices would be a sufficient corporate response to the global poly-crisis, and proffers degrowth as a … Continue reading Corporate-degrowth Intrapreneurship
To mark Global Degrowth Day on 3 June 2023, I asked well-known New Zealanders who hadn’t necessarily engaged with degrowth before if they would contribute a short essay on their interpretation of it and its value (or not) to our country and others. In the resulting collection, leaders from a range of fields pioneer this … Continue reading Breaking the Ice on Degrowth in Aotearoa
The Mana Kai Framework is a set of values, goals and objectives to improve the food provisioning system in Aotearoa New Zealand, developed through a round of nationwide consultations, with the ultimate purpose of informing a National Food Strategy. This fits within the scope of degrowth, which is concerned with the sufficiency and universality of … Continue reading The Mana Kai Framework: A Degrowth Lens
A thesis by Connolly Wilkins for a Master of Architecture at the University of Sydney explores a possible socio-ecological approach to the climate crisis through the elements of degrowth design parameters. It proposes a housing scheme on the site of the abandoned White Bay Power Station in Roselle, Sydney, Australia. Abstract: The Architecture of Degrowth … Continue reading The Architecture of Degrowth
The report 'The Degrowth Opportunity' introduces business practitioners to degrowth thinking and provides foresight into a world that could, in the near future, be in a state of flux, with growth and degrowth forces swirling simultaneously. Written by Jennifer Wilkins, with a contribution from Dr Stefan Gray, a specialist in climate adaptation scenario analysis. It … Continue reading The Degrowth Opportunity
White paper 'Investing in Degrowth' draws attention to emerging ideas about the degrowth economy, setting out the rationale for investing in degrowth-compatible enterprises and laying down the groundwork for deciding the core characteristics of degrowth investing. Co-authors Jennifer Wilkins, founder of Heliocene, and Bill Murphy, Executive Director of Purpose Capital, call for New Zealand's sustainable … Continue reading Investing in Degrowth
The report 'Will the Future be Pleased with Us?' examines the business sustainability approaches of New Zealand’s twenty largest businesses by revenue. Its purpose is to aid discussion within the business community about the challenges facing larger firms as they seek to mature their business sustainability practice and integrate sustainability into their core business. heliocene_will-the-future-be-pleased-with-us_06082021Download … Continue reading Will The Future Be Pleased With Us?
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