Initiatives
Conversations and collaboration shaping the future of governance and diplomacy.
Giving Earth a Seat at the Table
Negotiators in the field of peace and security face overwhelmingly complex situations, with a multitude of actors and interests to be considered. Agreements carefully negotiated by parties to a conflict are violated and conflict returns. Decades of research and practice in the area of conflict resolution have made it clear that the likelihood of implementation of a peace agreement depends in part on the extent to which it has been inclusive and addressed the concerns of all involved.
If we understand a harmonious relationship with our planet to be a necessary part of the foundation of governance, it is not difficult to understand how ignoring the needs of the local environment can contribute to conflict. On another level, paying attention to nature also allows us to access other sources of wisdom and inspiration – and may unite us just as much as national or other limited interests tend to divide.
I’m currently working with organizations and diplomats around the world to experiment with new approaches for giving our planet a seat at the table in negotiations. Stay tuned for updates and more information on new tools and techniques.
Regenerative Governance
Democracy and governance need an upgrade. Partisan politics and short-term thinking driven by electoral timelines have taken us ever farther from decisions and actions which would be beneficial for people and planet alike.
What would it look like for governance to include nature as a genuine stakeholder in decision making? How can actions taken through the processes of democratic governance contribute to the evolution of the systems which underpin and fundamentally shape our world – for example, finance, education and agriculture? Can we take meaningful steps away from focusing mainly on problems, and toward working from the unique potential of specific places?
Drawing from principles and practices of regenerative development, I’m collaborating with others to develop regenerative approaches to governance that can help to transcend the challenges which currently dominate many democratic systems. This work contributes to a global shift in priorities as we learn together how to operate in complex systems, how to measure what matters, and how governance at all levels can contribute to the evolution of human society.