Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

Social innovations

2 June 2023

“We want to spark a post-growth debate based on concrete examples of commons initiatives”

Cities have become one of the main settings for addressing rising resource use and growing inequality. Commons initiatives can play an important role here, believes Jean-David Gerber. In a new research project with CDE, he investigates such forms of organization in both Switzerland and Ghana.

1 June 2021

New app points the way to sustainable consumption in Bern

Students at Bern’s universities have developed a website and app that guide users to over 170 sustainable shops and restaurants in Bern and surroundings.

17 June 2020

“We need fundamentally different economic forms”

In Switzerland, constant economic growth fuels more consumption and CO2 emissions. But instead of consuming more, we could reduce working hours – resulting in a triple gain: better quality of life, fairer societies, and reduced CO2 emissions.

11.10.2018

Consume different

Share, exchange, repair: Offers and initiatives aimed at sustainable consumption are booming. CDE researchers studied the most promising initiatives aimed at attracting people to sufficient living – and how the public sector can help.