LTP 2026.2 - John Mulrow

​"Degrowth: A Just Transition to a Smaller Global Economy"

​Degrowth is an intentional downscaling of the global economy, meant to support both ecological sustainability and social justice goals. In previous reports by the Degrowth Institute (DGI) we have detailed why and how the economy has outgrown the planet. It is not just carbon emissions, or wasteful consumption, or some specific sector of the economy that threatens planetary health, it's the pursuit of endless economic growth writ large. This presentation will introduce the work of DGI and present key insights from our work promoting economic downscaling as a path toward true sustainability. 

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​​Speaker Bio:

​John Mulrow is the founder and Executive Director of the Degrowth Institute (DGI) and an Adjunct Professor of Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. His academic research focuses on improving environmental assessment by accounting for social outcomes and biophysical limits to economic growth. This work ties directly into the degrowth movement - the call for a just transition to a smaller economy - which DGI supports by developing thought leadership and helping facilitate conversation and build movement around these ideas. Based in Chicago, John has spent his career at the intersection of systems thinking and on-the-ground climate action, from urban farming and disaster response to carbon footprinting and corporate consulting.