Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist

by Kate Raworth

ROADS has been highly valuable for running role-plays of international climate negotiations over the past decade, often with real policymakers. Seeking to recreate the power dynamics at play, the C-ROADS team offer those representing powerful countries a literal seat at the table which is loaded with plentiful snacks, whilst leaving least developed country representatives to sit on the floor. So when the President of Micronesia took part in a role-play in 2009, he duly insisted on taking his place on the floor. As the mock negotiations got under way and the major powers made their usual inadequate pledges, the simulated sea level rose by one metre. So the C-ROADS team duly covered up all those on the floor – including the Micronesian President – with a big blue sheet. ‘He was thrilled,’ recounted Sterman, ‘because for the first time people saw what the implications of sea level rise would be.’41 Without understanding or experiencing the effects of stock and flow dynamics, we have little chance of recognising the speed and scale of energy transformation required to bring ourselves back within the planetary boundary for climate change.