Beyond Growth Estonia Conference & Report
The first "Life in Post-Growth Estonia" (Elu kasvujärgses Eestis) conference took place on October 2–3, 2025, under the joint leadership of the Estonian Degrowth Organization and Biotoopia. It was the first major degrowth event held in Estonia and part of the international Beyond Growth conference series. That same year, conferences focusing on post-growth themes were also held in Spain, Austria, and Norway. The Estonian Chamber of Environmental Associations named the conference one of the year's three most environmentally beneficial initiatives.
The conference aimed to spark a public discussion on how to ensure Estonia’s resilience amidst the "polycrisis" stemming from the capitalist economic system. It also sought to explore systemic solutions that would enable our society to adapt to the post-growth era in a way that safeguards ecological integrity and ensures a fulfilling life for as many people as possible.
The conference was preceded in the spring and summer of 2025 by a series of discussion evenings titled "Life Experiments" (*Elukatsed*), which explored post-growth themes from the perspectives of education, security, nature, and the economy. These discussions were framed by two central questions: what fundamental premises should guide us in examining the functioning of current systems with a fresh, empowered perspective; and what must we, as humanity, learn together in order to create and maintain sustainable well-being? Insights regarding fundamental premises that emerged during the discussion evenings were integrated into the conference program, framed by the principles of planetary boundaries: the economy must serve society rather than the other way around, and society must respect the limits of the natural environment. In structuring the program, a central question for each field was where Estonia needs to make a systemic leap—identifying areas where changes at the national level are not yet occurring rapidly enough or where current underlying assumptions are not sustainable in the long term.
In collaboration with the conference organizing team and advisory board, topics for presentations and workshops were selected; these do not claim to be exhaustive or comprehensive but rather open up important avenues for discussion.
In the environmental sphere, the focus was on discussions regarding human perception and the restoration of our connection to nature, as well as the importance of soil health, acknowledging the central role soil plays in ecosystems.
Regarding society, workshops addressed the nature of socio-economic inequality and possibilities for its systemic reduction, ways to make care work more visible, and the need to reconceptualize security as a shared community asset.
In the economic sphere, the focus was on sustainable alternatives to the high-tech-centric worldview and the hope that technology alone can solve humanity's greatest crises. Discussions also covered business alternatives—exemplified by the cooperative movement—as well as awareness and practices related to reducing energy consumption. The legacy of Estonia as a post-socialist state—stemming from a time when promises of collective ownership and sharing resulted in widespread poverty and suffering—was also examined as a significant systemic factor.
In addition to presentations and discussions, participants experienced more direct contact with nature: they took part in a forest hike, sang traditional*regilaul* (runic songs), practiced repairing objects, and learned about the activities of the "Edible City" initiative. Shifts in perception were prompted by semi-interactive artworks installed at the venue, created by Marta Peebo, Jane Remm, Marta Konovalov, Kaija Kesa-Rebane, and Helen Tago. The conference’s evening program featured the premiere of the new documentary*The Cost of Growth*, followed by a discussion with its creator, Lena Hartog.
The conference "Life in Post-Growth Estonia" combined research-based presentations, in-depth discussions, practical perspectives, and experiential activities, helping participants conceptualize well-being beyond the economic growth paradigm. It served as a meeting place for policymakers, business professionals, researchers, journalists, civil society representatives, practitioners, and anyone interested in the well-being of both people and nature.
The conference was organized by the NGO Tasaarengu Eesti and Biotoopia, in collaboration with partners from the TLÜ SustainERA team, TalTech’s Ragnar Nurkse Department, the Estonian Fund for Nature, the Club of Rome – Estonia, and others. In addition to the organizing partners, the conference was funded by 165 supporters via the Hooandja crowdfunding campaign, various other private individuals from Estonia and abroad, the Green European Foundation, and KÜSK.
Find out more about the conference on the website kasvujärgne-eesti.ee or in the report available for download here. Watch the keynote presentations on our YouTube channel and view photos in our social media posts: Day 1 and Day 2.
