Goiener energy cooperative: a Social Economy initiative facing the challenge of degrowth

Abstract

The current situation of climate crisis, resource depletion and growing inequalities has led to the emergence of several alternative proposals to the conventional economic model. Among them is the proposal of degrowth, which questions the current developmentalism and proposes a reduction in the use of resources, as well as a more equitable distribution of them. In order to analyse its viability, it is necessary to study the existence of degrowth initiatives in practice. To this end, using the methodology of the ethical triangle and the characterization of degrowth based on its normative and applied principles, the case of the Basque energy cooperative GoiEner is analysed to determine whether it can be considered a fully degrowth organization. The analysis shows that, although GoiEner is not yet one, it has the potential to become one in the future if it makes progress in complying with the defined principles.