Sangeeta Waldron speaks to Ben Bleet, sustainability and culture expert at Enfield Climate Action Forum, to find out more about Doughnut Economics

The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries (credit Kate Raworth and Christian Guthier. CC-BY-SA 4.0. Citation: Raworth, K. (2017), ‘Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist’. London: Penguin Random House) — credit Kate Raworth/Christian Guthier via *Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist* published by Penguin Random House

Have you heard of Doughnut Economics? It’s a model designed for 21st Century prosperity, aiming to ensure everyone has what they need to live well, without overshooting the planet’s limits.

As climate pressures grow and trust in existing systems falters, many people feel the systems we rely on are flawed. Research by Ipsos in November 2025 found that around half of people in the UK believe we need radical change.

Enfield Climate Action Forum (EnCaf), with LocalMotion Enfield, is exploring Doughnut Economics to understand how everyday decisions affect both people’s wellbeing and the planet. I spoke to Ben Bleet, sustainability and culture expert working with EnCaf, about how this approach might work locally.

What does Doughnut Economics offer us in Enfield?

It gives Enfield an opportunity to address its challenges collectively and systematically, while also pointing towards what a regenerative economy could look like in practice. It’s a way of thinking that overturns dominant narratives.

I think we’re in a ‘cost of not loving’ crisis. For decades, a neoliberal narrative has been woven into our culture; the idea that free markets self-correct and that people are inherently selfish. Neither of these are true, but they’ve shaped our institutions and thinking for nearly sixty years.

At the heart of that philosophy are two main ideas: that companies should be allowed to operate with minimal regulation, and that people are primarily motivated by self-interest.

Cultures built on those assumptions tend to exploit or harm our life-support systems of water, land, air and living organisms, because they rely on scarcity and competition rather than care.

Regenerative cultures, by contrast, recognise that collaboration can lead to shared abundance.

What stands out to you most when you think about applying Doughnut Economics locally?

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to influence the design of neighbourhood governance. There’s also ‘Pride of Place’ funding, announced by the government, which gives us a real pathway to move Enfield towards what Doughnut Economics calls a “safe and just space”.

What’s powerful about Doughnut Economics is that it helps us see the interconnections between social outcomes and planetary boundaries. It allows us to step into the future we want, rather than accepting the future we’re told is inevitable.

The mainstream narrative is very deterministic, it tells us there have always been wars, we’ll always need fossil fuels, and everything will somehow be fine. But we’re at a critical moment where Doughnut Economics can help amplify marginalised voices.

People don’t feel heard and that’s not just an Enfield issue; it’s a national one. Trust in institutions is low, and this process gives residents a genuine opportunity to be part of how Enfield is governed.

Are there examples of how we could apply this system to local issues?

This isn’t about telling people what should happen, it’s about creating a process where residents shape the outcomes.

Two very tangible examples are energy and health. Most people would like to save money on their bills. Across the country, more communities are going off-grid, including a street in Walthamstow, which shows this isn’t just a rural idea. If we retrofit homes and install solar panels, residents could reduce energy costs and even earn a small income by selling surplus energy back to the grid.

With health there’s scientific evidence that connection to nature improves wellbeing. Across the borough, there are spaces where we could introduce green verges with wildflowers, attracting bees, birds and insects. Add vegetable growing, and those spaces become even more valuable.

By creating green spaces close to people’s homes, you improve health and happiness. Community gardens foster connection and conversation. Loneliness is a huge issue, and these shared spaces will help address it. While allotments exist, they require time and travel, which many people don’t have. Small, local green spaces are a simple and inclusive alternative.

How would this approach differ from the way councils and governments usually measure success or growth?

We would still measure things like health and social cohesion. The difference is the approach, particularly how consultation works. When people feel they’ve had a genuine choice and helped build something, they’re far more committed to making it succeed.

It’s similar to citizens’ assemblies, which show that when you bring together a cross-section of the community, you get thoughtful decision-making. Our current political systems often reward whoever shouts the loudest. Doughnut Economics helps people understand their agency and share their moral ambition. It’s also relatively low-cost and doesn’t require big budgets.

Councils work in silos, treating climate, health, community and culture separately, when in reality they are deeply interconnected.

Finally, what role do local people play, and how can they be involved?

Everyone has a role and anyone interested should get in touch via EnCaf’s website. We’re currently shaping the process and learning from others, including from projects like the Green Estate in Sheffield, a council estate that has been rewilded. Ultimately, this is about rebuilding connection, with each other, and with the places we live.

Find out more about Enfield Climate Action Forum:
Visit encaf.org

This article is published with support from LocalMotion Enfield, part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change

LocalMotion Enfield is part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change – we're proud to partner with Enfield Dispatch to share local voices and stories

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