European Newsletter - Apr'25

Welcome to the April edition of the IDN European Circle newsletter! A lot of new events added to the calendar this month, one of which is the very first webinar organised by the European Circle! We're also welcoming a new member organisation based in Berlin. Keep on reading to find out more!

European Circle update

During our last Circle meeting (see also the minutes (external link)) we fixed the date and topic for our first webinar: if you are interested in Rights of nature and how this relates to degrowth, mark the evening of April 29th in your calendar (exact time will follow)! As usual, we also shared updates on what's cooking in the different degrowth groups in Europe.

We are also very pleased to welcome our latest organization that joined the IDN from Berlin: Growing Out of Growth (GOOG) (https://growingoutofgrowth.org/ (external link)). They are responsible for example of the very successful Degrowthuary campaign last February.

Check out their Instagram (external link) for more information.

Calls for help!

No calls for help this month!
If you would like input for a project, have a job opportunity to share or anything else you need help with from our degrowth community, let us know at europe@degrowth.net (external link)!

Upcoming events/actions

Brussels [Belgium], every other week, starting March 29th

Every other Saturday, starting March 29, Growth Kills and Scientist Rebellion will reclaim public space by forming circles of chairs to discuss concrete solutions to the social and ecological crises. Our goal: to promote participatory democracy by creating sovereign citizens' assemblies.

Since the state prohibits unauthorized demonstrations, setting up a circle of chairs in a public space is technically forbidden. But this very restriction gives the action the necessary dose of sensationalism to draw media attention. More importantly, it forces the public to reflect:

  • What kind of "democracy" do we live in if citizens who simply place chairs in public space to debate are systematically removed by the police?
  • And what legitimacy do politicians-especially those on the far right-have to claim they represent our voices?

Online, April 22nd and 24th

In view of the 6th International Assembly of the Degrowth Movement, online assemblies will take place in April 2025. Register here (external link) (mandatory for participation).

Online and in-person seminars Utrecht university [The Netherlands] starting on 24th April
Welcome to Visions for the Future
https://visions-for-the-future.sites.uu.nl/ (external link) (external link)
A range of alternative socio-economic systems have been proposed as solutions to the pressing challenges of our age such as deepening ecological crises, growing material and social inequalities, and pervasive corporate power, just to name a few. Yet so far there has not been a comprehensive ethical analysis that allows one to rigorously compare these proposals, which makes it difficult for scholars, citizens, and politicians to know which alternative system (or combination of such systems) is most promising. The new Visions for the Future will conduct this analysis by critically exploring the institutional makeup of these systems and their ability to realise the range of normative values that are at stake.


JUNE

[Everywhere] Global Degrowth Day 2025, June 7th

This year we are resuming the tradition of celebrating Global Degrowth Day on the first Saturday in June, which falls on June 7, 2025.Please use the form below to register your event and contribute to a world map of degrowth celebrations demonstrating the liveliness of the movement. https://my.liberaforms.org/registration-gdd-2025 (external link)

Oslo [Norway], June 23-27th

  • June 23rd - Beyond Growth conference at the University of Oslo (Ole Johan Dahls Hus) Kate Raworth delivers keynote, event mostly in Norwegian)
  • June 23rd - 6th International Assembly of the Degrowth Movement (in-person)
  • June 24-27th - The conference ISEE-Degrowth 2025 (external link) is jointly organised as the 18th Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) and the 11th International Degrowth Conference.

JULY

Barcelona [Spain], July 3-6th
Strategy conference on degrowth of aviation and tourism
The conference will happen in Barcelona between 3rd-6th July 2025 (tbc) with the potential for hubs in other places of the world as well as with hybrid formats to attend online. It is built up around the following questions:

  • Where do we stand with our struggles and where should we focus our energy in the coming years?
  • What skills will we need as a movement in a world of escalating crises
  • How can our struggle against aviation and tourism connect to the struggles of those fighting to meet their essential needs?
  • How can we join forces and learn from each other?

Sign up here (external link) to receive updates about the conference!

Vienna [Austria], July 14th to August 4th
Alternative economic and monetary systems
BOKU University, OeAD student housing and Economy for the Common Good are organising Summer University courses on alternative economic and monetary systems, aimed at international students and professionals. Find more information on the program on their website (external link)!

Jyväskylä [Finland], July 21-28th
Study circle on degrowth and exnovation
The second session of a study circle (external link) that in fact spans three years, this time with a focus on community building in the midst of collapse. Registration is still open and you can find more details and the price range for the full week including lodging, meals, membership and the program here (external link).


AUGUST

Freie Feldlage Harzgerode [Germany], August 4-10th
Altshift Festival
This year is all about building alliances with other related movements. It's a shift we are desiring in our society, a shift away from eco-social injustices, from consumerism, from the colonial matrix of power; a shift in a direction we are shining lights on, even if we need more lights to pave the way. Then this shift must be preceded by pressing Alt. More info on Instagram (external link) or on the festival's website (external link)


SEPTEMBER

Istambul [Turkey], Sept 12-14th
Next Economies https://nexteconomies.net/ (external link) (external link)
The root cause of the climate, biodiversity, and social crises lies within our current economic system. Last year's International Prosumer Economy Conference (IPEC2024), Youtube videos here (external link), showed strong interest for coming together again and working towards "United Next Economies."
Next Economies is distinct from other conferences due to its focus on actionable systemic solutions and their practical implementation. This unique approach attracts a diverse and influential global audience. Our conference draws in policy makers, impact and philanthrophic investors, companies and social entrepreneurs interested in sustainable and innovative practices. It also engages NGOs, international organizations, academia and professionals from various sectors, including finance, media, tech, and creative industries.
Stay updated with the latest news by following our social media accounts!

Copenhagen [Denmark], Sept 21st-22nd
Degrowth Festival
Degrowth CPH, together with other Danish organisations, is organising their Degrowth Festival again! More information soon to come, but as a sneak peak you can find last year's facebook event here (external link) and the recordings of some of the sessions on the YouTube channel of the Syndicate of Creatures (external link).

Madrid [Spain], Sept 26-27th
Beyond Growth España Conference: Toward a just degrowth

  • September 26th in the Spanish Parliament (Congreso de los Diputados)
  • September 27th: Social Forum - Make hope possible

Estonia, September/October
Beyond Growth Conference in their parliament or in nature.
More info to come


OCTOBER

Malmö [Sweden], October 2-4th
Agroecology Europe Forum 2025
The co-creation call of Agroecology Europe Forum 2025 is open to proposals the 1st February - the 31st of March. For updates on practical information, like venue, program and registration, you can check the website of Agroecology Europe (external link).

Sund Folkehøgskole, fall and spring 2025-2026 [Norway]
Sund Folkehøgskole is establishing a new program from Fall 2025-Spring 2026, on the topic of Degrowth. The reason for instating the program is the development we see in society today, with climate change, increased differences, the destruction of nature and far too high consumption (in Norway).
More info on the program here (external link).


2027

The International Degrowth Conference will take a break in 2026 but they are already looking for a host location for 2027. Interested? Check this article for more detail. https://degrowth.info/en/blog/call-for-the-2027-international-degrowth-conference (external link)

Interested in joining as a member of IDN?

If you like what you read and want to further help building this network and bringing Degrowth to all the corners of our society, then you should join the International Degrowth Network and the tool where we work Matrix!

Feel free to share this email with other people or groups that may be interested. Thank you so much in advance!

If you have any other questions or proposals relevant to the European degrowth context, you can contact us at europe@degrowth.net (external link).

We wish you a nice month!

Your degrowther European circle