Amsterdam recently announced that it would be adopting the doughnut model as part of its approach to recovering from the impacts of covid-19.

The doughnut refers to a framework proposed by Kate Raworth in her book Doughnut Economics. The spelling of the title should put you on immediate notice that we’re not talking about Homer’s favourite snacks. Instead the doughnut shape represents an area where human needs are not met (the hole) and then an area (the tasty bit!) between the inner ring of the donut where human needs are met and the outer ring of the donuts representing the limit of sustainable resource use.

The concept is very simple: put human needs (not economic growth) at the centre of the model and then operate at level where everyone has enough but not so much that it’s at the expense of environmental sustainability.

The concept seems well aligned to New Zealand’s well-being Living Standard’s Framework.

Regardless of the economic model it’s interesting to see a large international city look at new frameworks to shape the post-covid recovery to also address sustainability goals.