In times of profound geopolitical turbulence - wars, trade shocks, energy insecurity, and climate breakdown - something unexpected is happening: while autocratic leaders double down on fossil fuels and climate denial, cities are stepping into the breach to create a different story. One of hope, resilience, and innovation.

Like wildflowers pushing through concrete, cities around the world are experimenting with new economic models that challenge the old orthodoxy of endless growth. They're turning away from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the sole measure of success and asking different questions: Are people housed? Are they thriving? Are we staying within planetary limits?

Featured guests:

Kate Raworth, Co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)

Leonora Grcheva, Cities and Regions Lead at DEAL

Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy

Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, South Africa

Carola Schouten, Mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands

Links:

Doughnut Economics in Local Governments: An Overview of Emerging Practice by Leonora Grcheva and Michele Vianello

Special Issue on Sustainable Prosperity in the 21st-Century City - the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy

Trump fossil-fuel push setting back green progress decades, critics warn - The Guardian

Resources for a better future: GDP - Resilience.org

Milan's Food Waste Hubs Network

Compilation of the Integrated Waste Management Plan for the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

CCU Challenge: Unlock the City’s Ambition of Becoming Fully Circular by 2050

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/