As part of the Ecological Economics (ISEE) and Degrowth Conference 2025 entitled ‘Building socially just postgrowth futures – linking theory and action’, ZNWU researchers Ilias Naji and Jakob Kubin organised a special session together with Janina Urban (Witten/Herdecke University).

Under the title “Banks, Finance, and Post-Growth: Institutions for Sustainable Futures?”, over 30 people discussed this question on site and online.

Two exciting research projects were presented beforehand:

Giorgio Falchi (EUI) reflected on how Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) can support degrowth, suggesting that strategic fiscal policy can reshape economies without triggering inflation.

Danish Hasan Ansari (University Vermont) presented on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a lever for socio-ecological change-offering interest-free loans, income transfers, and less crisis-prone banking.

We were delighted by the lively interest, which shows:

– that many in the research and activist community are not only focussed on sustainable and degrowth goals, but also on concrete implementation. This always raises the question of financing.

– an interest in both radical ideas and pragmatic steps towards a transformation that respects planetary boundaries and human needs.

– the task of contributing to more networking, exchange and the development of concrete concepts

We would like to thank the presenters, the guests and the organisers in Oslo!