One of the goals of the Gabriel Al-Salem Foundation is to promote sustainability, which we see as a balance between the environment, social justice, and the economy. This year we decided to discuss alternative concepts for sustainability, which dig deeper into ways to optimize human and planetary wellbeing by minimizing inequality, poverty, and environmental harm.
The keynote presentation on Degrowth will answer the following questions:
- What is degrowth and why is it important for sustainability?
- What is the history and the main principles of degrowth thinking?
- What are some examples of degrowth policies and actions in the global North and South alike?
Keynote Speaker:
Martin Calisto Esquetini-Friant (the Netherlands)
PhD Researcher, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University
Martin has an interdisciplinary academic background in international development studies, political ecology and urban planning from McGill University, the University of Melbourne, and University College London. He has over seven years of experience as a sustainability researcher and practitioner working on several projects in Africa, Europe, Oceania and North and South America. His current research focuses on circular economy, environmental governance, post-development, and degrowth.
