Norway Within Planetary Limits

This session opened up a big question. What would Norway look like if we truly lived within the limits of nature, while still ensuring a good life for everyone?

Economist Thomas Røkås joined the conversation and introduced ideas from the donut economy, planetary boundaries, and other alternative approaches to economics. He is part of networks like Doughnut Economics Network Norway, Rethinking Economics Norway, and works closely with sustainability initiatives at NMBU. His work focuses on rethinking how our economic systems shape the way we live.

The starting point was a simple but difficult problem. Today’s economy is built on continuous growth, but the planet has limits. At the same time, not everyone has equal access to basic needs, opportunities, or a good quality of life. This creates a tension between ecological boundaries and social wellbeing.

The donut economy offers a different way of thinking about this. Instead of focusing only on growth, it asks how we can create a system where everyone’s basic needs are met, without crossing the limits of what the planet can handle. It is often visualized as a space between two boundaries. One is the ecological ceiling, which we should not exceed. The other is the social foundation, which no one should fall below. The goal is to live well within this space.

During the session, these ideas were brought closer to everyday life in Norway. The conversation moved between systems and lived experiences. Participants reflected on consumption, community, work, and what it really means to live well. There was a shared sense that many small changes are already happening, but that larger structural shifts are still needed.

The evening became a space to think differently, ask questions, and imagine other ways forward. It showed that even complex ideas can become meaningful when they are connected to real lives and shared conversations.