Ecological economics into action: Lessons from the Barcelona City doughnut

Ecological economics emphasizes the interaction between economic systems, governance, environment and society. Doughnut economics has emerged within ecological economics, aiming to ensure a good life for all within planetary boundaries. Its framework can be operationalized at multiple scales and across diverse contexts and has been adopted in over forty cities and regions worldwide. In 2021, the Municipality of Barcelona embraced doughnut economics through a consortium of civil servants, academics, and local public consultants. This collaboration involved public participatory events and the development of tailored doughnut economics tools for cities and governments, culminating in the creation of Barcelona's Portrait and a set of civil society proposals to move forward. The City Portrait is a framework that combines data and community insights to assess a city’s performance. It applies doughnut economics to cities by evaluating their local and global responsibilities through four lenses—local social, local ecological, global social, and global ecological—enabling cities to envision how they can thrive while staying within planetary boundaries and ensuring social justice. This paper discusses the lessons learned from Barcelona's experience, highlighting the potential of doughnut economics as a framework for a just and sustainable transition at the city level. We examine the interaction between scientific research, the development of sustainability indicators, and everyday politics. Finally, we offer insights into the complexities of science-society-governance relationships in advancing new economic practices.