Pioneering places around the world are turning Doughnut Economics into practice. Local governments at many scales - from villages to megacities - are adopting the tools and concepts of Doughnut Economics in order to help bring about a thriving future. DEAL’s Cities & Regions work focuses on supporting these administrations, experimenting and learning together on many journeys of transformation. This page gives an overview of what Doughnut Economics means for local governments, what are the core concepts and tools to get started with, what other places are already doing and what DEAL can do to support you.
This map shows local and regional governments that have publicly started working with the concepts and tools of Doughnut Economics, click on each place to read their stories of action. Around 40 more places from all over the world have already begun internally exploring the potential of the Doughnut and we will be updating this map as their work evolves.
If you believe your place should also be on this map, do get in touch.
The journey for any city or region aiming to live within the Doughnut starts with the ambition of this question: How can our place be a home to thriving people, in a thriving place while respecting the wellbeing of all people and the health of the whole planet?
This question, which is central to the Doughnut Unrolled set of tools, invites every place to explore its local aspirations in the context of its global responsibilities, recognising that every place is connected to people and planet worldwide.
What’s the vision of a city or region that lives within the Doughnut? It’s a place that meets the essential needs of every person – from food, education and housing to social equity and political voice – so that every resident can lead a life of dignity, opportunity and community. It’s a place whose buildings and infrastructures are as generous as the living world, managing water, storing carbon, and housing wildlife just like the surrounding natural habitat. It’s a place that respects the rights of people whose lives it affects worldwide, from workers in global supply chains to refugees seeking safety. And it’s a place that lives within planetary boundaries, by using renewable energy and recirculating materials effectively.
Many indigenous societies have learned to live and thrive this way, but today there are – as far as is known – no towns, cities, regions or nations that succeed in doing so. Some are starting out now on a journey towards this vision, recognising that the ambition is clear but complex, that the journey is urgent but it takes time, and that it demands taking action here, even in the face of wider constraints.
DEAL has now developed a guide for all those working with or within local and regional government who is inspired by Doughnut Economics and wants to better understand how to put it into practice. It is intended as a starting point for those who are new to Doughnut Economics, as well as those who are already familiar and engaging with the concepts.
This guide brings together our most current understanding of how Doughnut Economics is being put into practice by local and regional governments, along with examples from places already in action. It lays out nine pathways for engaging with Doughnut Economics - from learning and testing, to developing metrics and strategy, to using the Doughnut as a unifying framework for policy-making. Each pathway sets out a series of potential actions, real-world examples from local governments around the world, as well as key available tools and resources. These pathways are not a step-by-step approach, but rather a catalogue of possibilities - a library of options - allowing each mayor, councillor, head of department and ambitious civil servant to identify the possibilities and opportunities in their own locality. You can see some of the stories of action below, illustrating the diverse approaches being taken in different places - to read more about the nine pathways and the various stories of action, check out the guide.
As a small team we focus on supporting places by:
In return, we ask all changemakers to share back their stories of action and learning, to inspire others.
If you are a local government, an organisation working with local governments or someone working in the built environment, and are interested in getting started, do contact us, and Leonora, our Cities and Regions Lead, will get in touch.
Any local government aiming to thrive within the Doughnut will need to work with its many residents, communities and organisations.
Explore how communities, researchers, and businesses are engaging with the core concepts and tools of Doughnut Economics.
Get inspired, connect with others and become part of the movement. No matter how big or small your contribution is, you’re welcome to join!