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Student Guide

Green Growth or Degrowth — What Saves Our Planet?

​Green growth or Degrowth — What saves our planet? is a panel discussion by Aalto Sustainability Club, bringing together four experts from diverse backgrounds on the Marsio Stage at Aalto Campus to discuss this critical question that will define our future.

​The event will also be live-streamed.
Panel discussion poster on green growth vs. degrowth, 25 Mar 2025 at Aalto Campus. Speakers: Tim Forslund, Janne Peljo, Laura Wiman, Paavo Järvensivu.

​“We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster. This is a global emergency beyond any doubt.” ()

​The recent predicts GDP destruction of 50% somewhere between 2070 and 2090 if global warming is not limited well below 3°C. At the same time, our remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 2°C requires a 5.5% reduction of CO2 emissions per year (, ).

​Under our current circumstances, what is the right way forward? Is it possible to achieve truly green economic growth within the planetary constraints? Or is a shift toward a degrowth-oriented world required? Central questions that linger behind all climate talk, are hard to answer, and continue to divide experts.

​Often the two angles are considered to be opposing concepts. While degrowth is being referred to as economic suicide, green growth is considered an unreachable utopia.

​We want to go deeper. What is degrowth? What is truly green growth and what can it do? We invite you on an exciting journey to find an answer. 

​In the panel, we will discuss with:

  • ​, Senior Lead, EU Circular Economy Resource Centre and Sitra International Programmes
  • , chief policy adviser at the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)
  • , doctoral researcher on economic growth dependence at VTT
  • , co-founder at BIOS research unit, associate professor of political economy of ecological reconstruction at University of Helsinki

We encourage a balanced and respectful conversation to find solutions together.

​There will also be delicious food and drinks!

​So, join us to discuss the question that is going to define our future: Can we keep on flying, or should we start to prepare for landing?

​The event will also be live-streamed

Link to the stream:

This event is supported by

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Sustainability Action Booster

Sustainability Action Booster grant is on a mission to empower students to unleash their creative ideas and implement their own sustainability actions. Whether you have a small project idea or a wild vision for sustainability - apply funding from us!

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Questions, hopes, ideas for the panel? Don't hesitate to reach out to us (the panel moderators)! :)

​Anna Hakola
anna.hakola@aalto.fi or :)

​Duc Khuat
duc.khuat@aalto.fi

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