How doughnut economics model could help us
System makes sense for Ottawa, say Robb Barnes and Jennifer Johanna Drouin.
What do a doughnut and Ottawa's Official Plan have in common? Absolutely nothing right now, but maybe they should.
Doughnut economics, a concept originated by economist Kate Raworth, consists of two concentric rings: a social foundation to ensure that no one is missing out on life's essentials, and an ecological ceiling ensuring we protect the Earth. These concentric rings form the doughnut, a space where humanity can thrive. While drawn at a global scale, cities are downscaling the doughnut to meet their needs.
Doughnut economics is already being implemented in Amsterdam, where the city has embraced the doughnut model in its plan to build back better after the pandemic. In fact, Amsterdam's plan for the next 30 years embraces the doughnut economics model with community groups joining in to support the implementation of the plan.
Copenhagen, Brussels, Portland and Philadelphia are also engaging with the doughnut. Should Ottawa be next?
Rethinking Ottawa's shape and future growth is on the agenda at city hall, with official plan discussions underway now. The official plan — Ottawa's guiding land use and policy document — will determine Ottawa's shape to the year 2046 and beyond.
For the new official plan, we need to move away from “business as usual” and explore innovative ways, like doughnut economics, to build consensus around what Ottawa should look like.
The first draft of the new official plan saw an unprecedented number of residents write in comments on a three-volume, 500-page document. More than 500 people showed up for a local online consultation in Alta Vista alone.
An official plan based on the doughnut model could lead the way to a thriving city that respects the well-being of its people and the planet. This is the moment for Ottawa to put environmental sustainability and social justice on paper and into action.
And it is well past the time to act. The City of Ottawa has already declared both a climate and housing emergency.
In line with international targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the City of Ottawa's climate plan calls for drastic climate emissions cuts by 2030.
This means changing our urban form to foster sustainable transportation and better transit, creating a local “retrofit economy” by upgrading and climate-proofing Ottawa's building stock, and ensuring new neighbourhoods meet the highest climate standards.
In short, this means Ottawa needs to embed walkable, 15-minute neighbourhoods throughout our urban fabric. These communities need to be inclusive, diverse, dynamic places that strengthen our local economy and foster resilience in the face of growing global climate risks.
The “old” model of car-centric growth is also at odds with Ottawa's housing affordability and homelessness crisis. We need to intensify and regenerate rather than sprawl. Solutions to the housing crisis need to look at issues including transit connectivity between housing, hospitals and grocery stores, as well as prioritizing accessibility and affordability.
And in Ottawa, the entire discussion must take place in the context of reconciliation with the Algonquin–Anishinabeg. The official plan must work toward answering the question:
How does this plan advance the goal of reconciliation? Indigenous views and leadership have the potential to transform ill-functioning economies and social systems, and the new plan should reflect that.
Doughnut economics can help build a better Ottawa. Its outer rim — the ecological ceiling — helps us look at the local impacts of issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Its inner rim — the social foundation — prompts us to address issues such as health, housing and income disparity.
What will Ottawa look like decades from now? The next official plan will have much to say about that. With some foresight and deep citizen engagement, we can make our city's future work for people and the planet. The doughnut might be the perfect tool to help.