How can we build a green economy? Prospects for a sustainable economy within planetary limits

by Matthew Crighton, Friends of the Earth Scotland; secretary of the Just Transition Partnership.

In this webinar we will explore how economic activity can be made to fit within its environmental limits - starting by looking at the efforts to stop further climate breakdown, which will be essential if we want a wellbeing economy.

This experience has shown us, even if we know how to address major environmental challenges, how hard it is in practice. The critique offered by the Just Transition Partnership of trade unions and environmentalists reveals that mainstream economic approaches are failing in Scotland - as they are globally.

Should we draw the same conclusions about other environmental limits like the destruction of ecosystems, species extinction and plastic pollution in our seas? We can, for example, see similar shortcomings in the application of circular economy policies.

Looking more broadly at the need to reduce the overall amount of resources which we consume, we have to conclude that continued growth is simply not compatible with planetary limits. Does this mean that our economic system has to change?

Join us as we consider the challenges which this reality presents to the social movements of which we are part.

Everyone is welcome. 

Posted by Info FoES on January 14, 2026