What Is the Doughnut?
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Economics, Health
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Doughnut Economics Action Lab
What it is
- This article and presentation provides students with an easy-to-understand overview of doughnut economics, a theoretical economic system that is both ecologically and socially responsible.
- It incorporates twelve social priorities identified as UN Sustainable Development Goals and nine planetary boundaries identified in a scientific paper published in 2015.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The article links to other resources that could be incorporated into this topic.
- This presentation is simple enough for students to understand, even if they do not have much background knowledge in economics.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have some familiarity with the concepts of gross domestic product, consumerism, and economic growth.
- The presentation is available as a Google Doc, PDF, Google Slides presentation, or simply on the webpage. The TED Talk video is only embedded in the Google Slides presentation.
Differentiation
- Economics classes could have students work in groups to come up with a business plan that solves an ecological problem and a social problem.
- Ethics classes could discuss what living within the doughnut will look like for different groups of people around the world. Students could reflect on the following questions:
- Which groups of people will see an improvement in their quality of life if the world begins to operate within the doughnut?
- What kinds of things might some groups of people have to give up in order for the world to live within the doughnut?
- Who will benefit from staying within the ecological boundaries of the doughnut?
- Other resources on this topic include this activity and worksheet on creating a personal doughnut, this article about the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and this video about human impacts on the Earth's systems.
From the scientist review
This resource describes the doughnut economy and how it can be personalized. The scope is to reduce the carbon footprint and achieve environmental sustainability in the current economic realities. This tool is recommended for teaching and use.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on doughnuteconomics.org
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
