Sustainability Through Doughnut Economics

Name: Sustainability Through Doughnut Economics
Rating: 4.6 (22 reviews)

A Visual Framework For Sustainable Development

Highest Rated

Created byGreen Courses

Last updated 7/2026

English

What you'll learn

Define the Doughnut Economics Framework
Learn the Current Global Status of Social Shortfall and Ecological Overshoot in the Doughnut Framework
Identify Inequalities in Social Shortfall and Ecological Overshoot between Rich and Poor Countries
Understand How Can the Doughnut Economics Framework Redefine Progress for Sustainable Development

Course content

1 section • 9 lectures • 1h 8m total length

Introduction2:35
Define the doughnut economics framework, linking social and planetary boundaries with indicators and data to measure progress beyond GDP, focusing on wellbeing, sustainable development, and planetary health.
What is The Doughnut Economics Framework?16:16
Visualize the doughnut economics framework balancing planetary boundaries with twelve social foundations, creating a safe space between an inner hole and the outer edge of ecological ceilings.
What is the Current Global Status of Social Shortfall and Ecological Overshoot?4:36
Illustrate the 2022 global status of social shortfall and ecological overshoot in the doughnut, showing inner social wedges and outer ecological wedges relative to planetary boundaries.
How Did Social Shortfall and Ecological Overshoot Evolve in the 21st Century?7:42
Analyze the evolution of social shortfall and ecological overshoot from 2000–2001 to 2021–2022 within the doughnut framework. See how social progress contrasts with rising ecological overshoot across global indicators.
How Far is Our Progress Off-course?10:03
Analyze the doughnut's social shortfall and ecological overshoot, assess historical trends and scenario changes needed to reach 2030 social goals and 2050 ecological targets.
Are There any Inequalities between Rich and Poor Countries?14:39
Explore doughnut economics framework across three income clusters to show how the richest 20% create ecological overshoot while the poorest 40% face the largest social shortfall.
How Can the Doughnut Economics Framework Redefine Progress for SDGs?8:01
The doughnut framework reframes progress by redefining conception, metrics, and directionality, replacing gdp-focused growth with a holistic dashboard of 35 social and ecological indicators for planetary health and human well-being.
Conclusion and Take-home Lessons3:47
Explore the doughnut economics framework, a safe space between social foundations and ecological ceilings that aims to meet everyone's needs within planetary limits and monitor social and ecological indicators.
Bonus lecture: Discover more great courses!0:33

Requirements

Basic knowledge of the principle of sustainable development
Basic knwoledge of social and ecological indicators for SDGs
Mindset to understand how the doughnut framework works

Description

The Doughnut Economics Framework has become one of the most influential models in sustainability, reshaping how governments, institutions, and innovators define progress. It goes beyond traditional economics to answer the most urgent question of our century: How can humanity thrive without breaking the ecological limits of our planet?

What Makes This Course Essential?

Most discussions on sustainability focus on isolated problems such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and pollution.
The Doughnut Framework brings all these pieces together into one clear, visual, and actionable model.

By taking this course, you will learn:

Where humanity stands right now in terms of social shortfall and ecological overshoot
How global conditions have shifted through the 21st century
Why current progress is off-track, and what must change
How inequalities between rich and poor countries shape our shared future
How the Doughnut redefines progress beyond GDP and endless growth
How does the Doughnut model compare to the SDGs

By the end of this course, you will not only understand where humanity stands today, but also what it will take for societies to thrive within planetary boundaries. You will be equipped with a framework that challenges old assumptions and opens the door to a smarter, fairer, and more sustainable world.

Enroll now and take the first step toward understanding one of the most influential ideas shaping the future of economics, sustainability, and global development.

Who this course is for:

Decision-makers, engineers, scholars, activists, practitioners and anyone curious about the Doughnut Framework