About the Course

The Neoclassical Economics we use to finance our economies does not adequately account for the energy needed for and the waste produced by our economic activities. Ecological Economics more adequately communicates the limits to growth of a system with finite resources. Ecological Economics also attempts to ensure our economies operate withing planetary boundaries. Unfortunately, we have already breached most of these planetary boundaries, threatening the ecological systems that serve as our life support system. Operating within the limits to growth that nature places upon s will require taking a degrowth path to a post-growth economy where human well-being and not economic growth is our goal.

What You Will Learn

  • Understand the limitations of Neoclassical Economics in addressing environmental and ecological realities.

  • Explore how Ecological Economics provides a more accurate framework by accounting for energy inputs, waste outputs, and natural limits.

  • Learn about planetary boundaries and how current economic activity has exceeded many of them

  • Examine the consequences of overshooting ecological limits and the risks to our life support systems.

  • Discover the concept of degrowth and why shifting away from economic growth as a primary goal is essential.

  • Analyze what a post-growth economy could look like—one centered on human well-being rather than GDP.

  • Consider the economic disruptions of transitioning to a sustainable system and the dangers of not doing so.

  • Gain tools and perspectives to engage in sustainability conversations grounded in ecological and economic realities.

Course Curriculum

    1. Welcome from your Instructor

    2. Course Outline

    1. Introduction to Chapter 1

    2. Ecological Economics

    3. Planetary Boundaries

    4. Doughnut Economics

    5. Rethinking Economics (Arketa Institute Report Extract)

    6. Doha Debates: Capitalism

    7. Test your learnings

    8. Key Takeaways and Forum Discussion

    1. Introduction to Chapter 2

    2. Just Physics and Chemistry (Arketa Institute Report Extract)

    3. The Entropy Law and Economic Process

    4. The Economics of Biodiversity

    5. Test your learnings

    6. Key Takeaways and Forum Discussion

    1. Introduction to Chapter 3

    2. Green Growth Alone is Not the Answer (Arketa Institute Report Extract)

    3. Global Electricity Demand is Growing Faster Than Renewables

    4. Decoupling Debunked

    5. The Relationship Between GDP and CO2 has Loosened; It Needs to Be Cut Completely

    6. Companies Would Not Be Profitable If They Had to Pay for Natural Capital

    7. Test your learnings

    8. Key Takeaways and Forum Discussion

    1. Introduction to Chapter 4

    2. Realizing a Genuinely Sustainable Economy: Degrowth (Arketa Institute Report Extract)

    3. The Degrowth Database

    4. Research and Degrowth

    5. Will the End of Economic Growth Come by Design – or Disaster?

    6. Test your learnings

    7. Key Takeaways and Forum Discussion

    1. Introduction to Chapter 5

    2. Systems Thinking (Arketa Institute Report Extract)

    3. Thinking in Systems

    4. System-Level Investing

    5. Key Takeaways and Forum Discussion

    6. Test your learnings
  • Free
  • 57 lessons

Your Instructor

Domain Expert Partner Matt Orsagh

Matt has worked in the financial industry for over 25 years as a researcher, writer, speaker, and convener of individuals interested in sustainability. He is an active advocate for degrowth, ecological economics, and the wellbeing economy.

About Arketa Institute

Arketa Institute works with investment professionals and others within the finance industry to align the financial system with environmental and wellbeing needs, now and into the future. By providing research insights, collaborating on solution development, and directly supporting our peers in the finance industry, we seek to contribute to an economy that can provide for the needs of all within the limits of our planet. To learn more visit: https://www.arketa-institute.org

About ED4S

ED4S specializes in employee ESG skill development, empowering teams with the knowledge and tools to support your company’s sustainability and impact goals. Our corporate training programs for ESG are designed to be actionable, engaging, and aligned with today’s evolving business needs. Through targeted ESG learning and development, we help organizations strengthen internal capabilities and foster a culture of responsibility. Every offering is crafted as customisable corporate ESG training, ensuring it meets the unique challenges and opportunities of your workforce.
Our Team