Donut Panic

Donut Panic! Teaching Young People to Thrive in a Finite World
A Cross-Curricular Guide to Doughnut Economics and the Just Transition

Donut Panic! Teaching Young People to Thrive in a Finite World is a 2026 cross-curricular Global Citizenship Education resource book by Financial Justice Ireland, designed for post-primary teachers working with young people.

The resource is the first of two linked books:

Introductory level:
Donut Panic! Teaching Young People to Thrive in a Finite World: A Cross-Curricular Guide to Doughnut Economics and the Just Transition

Advanced level:
Post-Growth Futures: A Cross-Curricular Teachers’ Guide to Economics, Justice and Thriving Beyond Growth

The second book, Post-Growth Futures, is due for completion in 2027. Both books are cross-curricular and include content that can be applied across Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.

Donut Panic! responds to one of the defining challenges of the 21st century: how can we protect the living world while ensuring that everyone has what they need to live with dignity and to thrive? At a time of intersecting crises, young people need space to explore the systems shaping their lives and futures. Donut Panic! supports teachers to bring these conversations into the classroom in ways that are accessible, creative, participatory and hopeful.

Drawing on Doughnut Economics and the principles of a Just Transition, the resource moves beyond individual behaviour change to explore the wider economic, social and political forces driving ecological breakdown and rising inequality. It invites students to think critically about growth, wealth, power, needs, limits, balance, care, justice and responsibility.

Through immersive storytelling, discussion, reflection and hands-on activities, students are supported to explore interconnections across systems through systems thinking, and to imagine fairer alternative futures through future thinking. The resource centres the power, agency and lived experience of young people, recognising them not only as learners, but as thinkers, citizens and changemakers.

Teachers can adapt individual activities to suit the needs, interests and curriculum priorities of their class. The resource is designed to support cross-curricular engagement across areas connected to Global Citizenship Education.

Donut Panic! helps teachers and students ask urgent questions together: What does it mean to live in balance? What does it mean to thrive? How can we build futures that are fair, sustainable and full of possibility?

Want to know more? Explore a taster section of this new resource book below, or contact us to request a copy at education@financialjustice.ie.

Conceptualised and developed by Hilary Darcy
Illustrations and conceptual consultations by Paola Rozo