Regeneration – The Movement
There are many people talking about regeneration, including many in this collection of people, books and organizations. We want to highlight the work of Damon Gameau. He has been working with Paul Hawken, the founder of Project Drawdown, Kate Raworth the ground-breaking economist, and others around the world on films and campaigns to help generate more understanding and excitement around the possibilities of regeneration.
Check out the film 2040 – here is the trailer.
There are educator resources that accompany the 2040 film here.
Damon’s latest initiative can be found at this website. Watch this video about joining the regeneration.
We have watched Damon’s TedTalk many times since it was published in fall 2022 – a compelling appeal to tell a new, old story of humans and our kin.
We are also inspired by Sierra Robinson from British Columbia who made this TedTalk at the age of 17. She makes a strong case for regeneration over sustainability.
Braiding Sweetgrass
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, she performs the most exquisite alchemy by weaving her scientific training, Indigenous wisdom traditions and her teachings of plants into pure gold – and medicine – for our time. A natural born story teller and teacher, she lays before us a path that circles back and forward at the same time, marking the way with defining questions that are worthy of answering.
Her work epitomizes what we hope to achieve one day in our projects by weaving together science, wisdom traditions and the arts.
There is a great new adaptation now available: Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults.
Evidence-Based Hope
Dr. Elin Kelsey, a Canadian scholar, public speaker, educator and award-winning author, is helping to shift the narrative around our environmental issues to help us see the amazing things happening all over the world to rebuild biodiversity, address plastic pollution, restore species at risk, and so much more. She has been interviewed in several podcasts about her work, and her book, Hope Matters – Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis.
We share her belief that people are more likely to be motivated to get involved and make a difference when they see what is possible, and how they can have an impact too. Check out #oceanoptimism, #earthoptimism, and #conservationoptimism, for stories of impact and change for the better.
We hosted a presentation and Q&A session with Elin during Earth Week 2022 as part of our Climate Action Accelerator Program. Her topic was Why Hope Matters in the Age of Doom and Gloom. You are most welcome to view the recording here.
All We Can Save
Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson are leaders in helping people take bold climate action. They are editors of the book All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, a collection of essays from scientists, artists, activists on the climate crisis.
These women are also doing amazing work – they founded the All We Can Save Project with resources to help facilitate action by anyone who wants to try.
Dr. Johnson has a great TedTalk on How to Find Joy in Climate Action.
Dr. Wilkinson co-hosts a wonderful podcast, A Matter of Degrees, which is filled with stories of bold climate leadership, groundbreaking campaigns, and people doing their best to be part of the solution.
Flourish Systems Change Podcast
Based on the wonderful book, Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency, this podcast is a series of thought-provoking from leaders around the world helping us adopt a regenerative approach to shaping our future.
Find the podcasts here.
Doughnut Economics
Doughnut Economics is a brilliant way to look at the planetary limitations, and the social foundation for human life. It can be used as a lens, a model, for charting a future that will address the many intersecting crises of our time. Kate Raworth is the founder – check out this TedTalk where she explains it.
She is also a guest in the Flourish podcast series we highlight above.
Learn more here
Project Drawdown
This collaborative effort of scientists around the world presents the solutions that already exist to achieve the point where we start drawing down greenhouse gas emissions. It has many free resources, including a short video-based course, and a set of programs for schools.
Their Executive Director, Jonathan Foley, presented this TedTalk which gives an excellent 15-minute summary of both the critical point we are at, and what we can do to chart the path forward.
Visit the Project Drawdown Website
International Living Future Institute
The International Living Future Institute is working to catalyze the transformation to communities that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. We have been deeply moved by their leadership, and are proud to be working on a registered Living Building Challenge project.
We invite you to watch this TedTalk by Jason McLennan, the founder of the Living Building Challenge. Jason is now the Chief Sustainability Officer at PerkinsWill, the second largest architectural firm in the world. Jason lives in the US Northwest, and is also proud Canadian.
Read Jason’s November 2022 blog reflecting on what is needed now in the “green building” movement.
Biomimicry
Let Janine Benyus, co-founder of the Biomicry Institute, tell you more about the incredible and growing field of biomimicry.
Visit the Biomimicry Institute Website
Regeneration.org
Paul Hawken is a leader in the regeneration movement. He was the founder of Project Drawdown, and is now leading a new initiative to help amplify the solutions to the climate crisis with his book, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, and the accompanying website. Plenty of inspiration to fuel your action.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
There is so much to learn about how to make the necessary transition to a circular economy, where the word “waste” doesn’t exist.
Here are four short videos they have made (amongst many) that will give you a crash course in the circular economy in under 13 minutes!
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are about achieving peace and prosperity for all people, and our planet. Our own quest to make a practical difference in our local community is inspired by this vision.
With each of our projects, we are striving to multiply our efforts and make an impact on as many goals as possible.
One Planet Living
“Imagine a world where everyone, everywhere lives happy, healthy lives within the limits of the planet, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness. We call this One Planet Living, and we believe it’s achievable.” One Planet Living is a vision of a world where we can live happily within the Earth’s resources, using a straightforward framework to inspire and support action.
