The 2026 edition of the Hiking Ecological Economics Workshop has recently taken place from 12 to 15 July, 2026.
This programme is designed for researchers, students, and professionals with a background in ecological economics who are interested in exploring the societal and economic challenges posed by climate change.
The workshop has combined academic discussions with outdoor activities in the stunning natural landscapes of the Apuan Alps. Participants interacted in an environment where resource scarcity, energy sobriety and sustainability are mandatory: the Rifugio del Freo is powered solely by solar panels, meaning that there is no electricity at night. Similarly, the Apuan Alps, where the world-famous Carrara Marble is mined, are slowly being eroded by the marble industry, provide a perfect opportunity for experiencing the tension between nature, sufficiency, and extractivism.
Theme Description:
The backlash of recent geopolitical events has caused a global crisis in energy and in the provision of key raw materials. This has resulted in a situation where rich nations in the Global North are outbidding poorer nations in the Global South for key resources, with many countries having to implement energy rationing. In the Global North this will result in a large inflationary shock, whilst the Global South could experience resource unwanted and unjust forced economic de-growth: scarcity, recession, and social turmoil.
Within the context of the ecological crisis, it is widely acknowledged that the Global North should take strong action to curb its resource consumption and emissions. Yet, we are seeing that the crisis leads to the exact opposite: the Global South, which has legitimate claims to development, is being forced to curb consumption whilst the Global North (and in particular its wealthiest classes) attempt to continue previous trends unabated.
The workshop has reflected on sufficiency as a paradigm to implement equitable reductions in consumption in the Global North, whilst allowing more “breathing room” for the Global South to navigate development needs in the midst of the polycrisis.
