To the sceptics out there who don't believe that change is happening, or that an alternative economy is possible, we invite you to take a trip around the world and see a transition that is already underway and is gathering speeed.

The Global Transition to New Economy Map is an online, open-source map of innovative projects that challenge business as usual and contribute to the systemic change to our economy that we urgently require. Together, these projects create a “new economy”- one that prioritizes human wellbeing, within environmental limits.

While our world leaders are stuck in an endless back and forth on sustainable development, communities and organizations around the world are already putting in place the foundations of a green and fair economy. They are not waiting for their governments to act to build the future they want.

Projects on the map include cooperatives and social enterprises, local currencies, new ways to measure wellbeing, community energy micro-generation, biodiversity projects and many more. Rooted in their locality and responding to local need, these projects vary greatly, and highlight how our common path to a green and fair world takes different forms in the Global North and South, and within countries.

In common to all these projects is their contribution to the systemic transformation of key economic and societal areas. We have arranged the projects according to these areas. In a green and fair world, we envisage…

• New ways of visioning, modeling and measuring the economy that take environmental limits and human wellbeing into account (Models and Metrics)
• Citizens with an understanding of an economy that prioritizes human wellbeing within environmental limits, working together to build vibrant and resilient communities (Citizens and Communities)
• Capital for communities, enterprises, and individuals, which enables them to flourish while simultaneously creating wider positive social and environmental outcomes (Finance)
• Social justice and improvement of quality of life for all, including for those currently living in poverty (Justice and Equity)
• Local, national, and international governments responsive to citizens’ needs, creating the necessary framework for economies that deliver on human wellbeing within environmental limits (Governance and Politics)
• New ways of issuing and supplying money and other mediums of exchange, to favor local economic and community development (Currencies)
• The production of goods and services in socially and environmentally responsible ways, including innovative forms of capital ownership and new organizational arrangements (Enterprise and Ownership)
• Economies that emphasize local production for local need, increasing resilience and adaptability to external environmental, social and economic pressures (Local Economies)
• New equitable ways of protecting, allocating and restoring natural, cultural and other resources that collectively belong to all humans, now and in the future (The Commons)

In addition to the compelling vision of a new economy, arranged around key areas and rooted in projects on the ground, our map has a more practical aim: strengthening a global citizens’ movement by linking activists from around the world.

Our map provides a space for groups, organizations, and individuals to share tips and signpost resources to others engaged in similar projects. For example, we currently have over 60 local currency and LETS schemes on our map.

As a knowledge-sharing platform, we are gathering extensive information on green and fair economy projects- their aims, location, size and activities. This data enables us to celebrate success stories and highlight best practice approaches, in different sectors and contexts. Our map is embeddable and all the data is open-source and downloadable, so that everyone can use this information in their own work.

Personal favorites? Solar Sister, a women’s social enterprise in Uganda retailing solar lamps in East Africa; Gross National Happiness, Bhutan’s dethroning of GDP; the Brixton Pound, the UK’s first complementary currency in an urban area…The list of inspiring projects goes on and on!

Our world leaders should pay attention: an economy that is green and fair is not only possible and workable, but is springing into being through the efforts of active citizens around the world.

If you know of a great project we want to hear from you!  Join activists, community groups and organizations all over the world who are putting their project on the map.

To find out more about the thinking behind the green and fair economy, please visit our sister site the Global Transition 2012.

Carina Millstone from The New Economics Institute. To get in touch with us, please drop a line to neweconomics@neweconomicsinstitute.org