Workshop series: Socio-ecological transformations and degrowth
Join us for a series of three workshops for young people – activists, students and other members of civil society – to address the socio-ecological crisis facing our society, help identify alternatives to it and strategies for how to get there.
The workshops are held by Ekaterina Chertkovskaya and Pierre Smith Khanna (Lund University), in collaboration with ABF Malmö and the Institute for Degrowth Studies. It is part of the Political Ecology and Degrowth for Youth project, run by Cirka Cph (Denmark), Lund University (Sweden) and Föreningen Robust (Norway), supported by Norden.
Registration form for the workshop series
Contact: pierre [dot] smith_khanna [at] miljo [dot] lth [dot] se (pierre[dot]smith_khanna[at]miljo[dot]lth[dot]se)
A final summit of the project will take place in Malmö during the summer of 2026 (registration for it will be handled separately).
Workshop 1. Critiques of the current socio-economic system (Sunday 3 May, 13–17)
This workshop will explore the economic roots of current socio-ecological problems, addressing the roles of economic growth, technology and capitalism and their impacts in countries in both the Global North and the Global South. We will start with a presentation on the structural causes of socio-ecologial problems followed by a role-playing workshop on extractivism conflicts in the Global South.
Tentative schedule
13:00– 14:30
- Introduction to the workshop
- Icebreakers, get to know each other
- Presentation – Why Systemic Change is Needed
- Questions
14:30–15:00
Fika break with coffee, tea and yummy snacks
15:00–17:00
Role play workshop on a green extractivism conflict in the Global South and the energy transition.
Workshop 2. Exploring alternatives to the current socio-economic model (Saturday 9 May, 13–16)
This workshop will explore alternatives to our current economic system, starting with a presentation on degrowth followed by a panel discussion with local initiatives and organisations who are already doing things differently, to think through the challenges they face and inspiring us to take action. We will be joined by Valeska Götz (Alnarp Agroecology Farm), Ana Rozas Pérez (Alternativa Kuriren), Marthe Nehl (Backa Kåken) and Christian Stenqvist (Röstånga energi kooperativ).
Tentative schedule:
13:00–14:00
- Introduction to the workshop
- Icebreakers, get to know each other
- Presentation: Degrowth Alternatives
- Questions
14:00–14:30
Fika break with coffee, tea and yummy snacks
14:30–16:00
- Panel discussion with local initiatives
- Themed break out group discussions
Workshop 3. Strategies for socio-ecological transformation (Sunday 17 May, 13–17)
This workshop will focus on different strategies for socio-ecological transformation. We will think through strategy analytically from a degrowth perspective – from the grassroots and institutional to revolutionary changes, and their potential synergies and conflicts. A workshop will lead us through crafting area-specific strategies according to participants interests.
Tentative schedule:
13:00–14:30
- Introduction to the workshop
- Icebreaker
- Presentation - Strategies for Socio-Ecological Transformation
- Questions
14:30–15:00
Fika break with coffee, tea and yummy snacks
15:00–17:00
- Workshop on collective strategising for transformation
- A small surprise to say goodbye 🙂