What if 20th-century economic models no longer fit today’s world? British economist Kate Raworth thinks it’s time for a rethink–and she’s sparking the shift with doughnut economics, a bold framework already shaping new policies in cities worldwide.

Building on the work of thinkers like Herman Daly, who questioned endless growth in the 1980s, Kate Raworth’s doughnut-shaped model outlines a space where human needs are met without breaking the planet’s limits. With Earth scientists warning that we’re nearing critical environmental tipping points–from climate change to biodiversity loss–the need for a new economic compass has never been clearer.

From a model that offers a healthier vision of prosperity to the outdated economic systems we’ve inherited, Kate Raworth invites us to rethink economics through the lenses of equity, ecology, and indigenous wisdom. A shift from growth for its own sake to economies that truly thrive.

In March 2025, The UNESCO Courier team sat down with Kate Raworth at UNESCO in Paris, on the sidelines of the University of the Earth event, to explore what this model could mean for the future of progress.

Curious what a doughnut has to do with economics? Hit play and find out.

An episode by Katerina Markelova, produced by Emmanuel Rudowski, with the voice of François Wibaux.

Photo: © UNESCO/Marie ETCHEGOYEN

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The UNESCO Headquarters in Paris are home to the Garden of Peace, a unique public landscape by the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Open to visitors, the Japanese garden is distinguished by its organic shapes, gently-sloping paths, and ponds with arched bridges.

Noguchi is known for his modernist sculptures, Akari lamps and the iconic coffee table, but few know that the creation of the UNESCO garden in the late 1950smarked the beginning of his career designing public spaces.

This episode of the UNESCO Courier podcast explores the origins of Noguchi’s work, his motivations for creating a peaceful public space and his choices for its design. It is produced in collaboration with the Noguchi Museum in New York, which holds the world's largest and most extensive collection of the artist’s sculptures, drawings, models, and designs—and also features a public garden.

An episode by Anuliina Savolainen and Gina Doubleday, production by Emmanuel Rudowski.

With the voices of François Wibaux (presentation) and Matthew Linzmeier.

Archival sound extract credits:

1 and 2: Isamu Noguchi interview recordings for Arnold Eagle film Noguchi: A Sculptor's World - Arnold Eagle, 1968. Courtesy of Arnold Eagle Estate.

3. Isamu Noguchi interviewed by Stephen Horenstein and Micah Morrison about the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, June 1981. Courtesy of the Noguchi Museum in New York.

Photo © UNESCO / Anne Hermelin Lizet

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Animals raised on factory farms often live in deplorable conditions. Knowing this doesn't stop us from eating meat. Why are we so indifferent to their suffering? Australian philosopher Peter Singer, one of the most influential intellectuals of his generation, has been addressing this blind spot in ethical thinking for more than fifty years. He has authored dozens of books, including Animal Liberation – a classic that continues to be a reference in the field of animal rights.
In this UNESCO Courier podcast episode, he talks about the living conditions of animals in intensive farming and sheds light on solutions. We also delve into the persistent issue of global hunger and uncover the core question that drives the philosopher's work.
An episode by Anuliina Savolainen, produced by Emmanuel Rudowski, with the voice of François Wibaux.
A written version of his interview features in The UNESCO Courier’s Spring 2025 issue, which explores food from a cultural, environmental, philosophical, and technological perspective.

© Photo Joel Travis Sage

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