Right now, the sustainability movement faces a choice: to continue driving ‘shallow transitions’ or to start laying the foundations for the ‘deep transformation’ that’s long overdue. Forum’s Director of Global Programmes, Caroline Ashley, explores the difference between shallow and deep change. Read more
As Forum for the Future announces its new 2023-2025 strategy, For a just and regenerative future, Chief Executive Dr Sally Uren sets the context by exploring where the sustainability movement has made progress and where it’s fallen short. Recognising the crossroads the world stands at right now and the transitions already in play, Sally outlines Forum’s focus on enabling deep transformation over shallow, incremental gains, and how we will hone in on food, energy and business. Read more
Fashion brands and standardised measurements of their sustainability have come under greater scrutiny for inaccuracy and greenwashing. What can the fashion industry do as it seeks to become more sustainable? Karen Sim, Senior Sustainability Strategist at Forum, calls out for the inclusion of the ‘opaque middle’ to lead change in the fashion industry: manufacturers. Read more
This International Youth Day, Sangam Paudel, Forum’s first Sustainable Futures Fellow, shares his personal reflections on his past year working in the sustainability sector and what it could mean for youth hoping to make a positive difference through their work. Read more
Forum for the Future’s recently announced 2023-2025 strategy outlines our focus on enabling deep transformation in how we think about, produce, consume and value both food and energy, and the role of business in society and the economy. Here, Forum’s Director - Americas, Sandra Seru, reflects on current progress in the U.S. and outlines five ways in which sustainability professionals can work towards deep transformation. Read more
The transition to regenerative agriculture in the US asks for nothing less than a complete rewiring of the current agriculture system. Here, Mary McCarthy, Forum’s Technical Lead, explores what we can learn from the collaboration and co-creation underway in the Growing our Future community about what’s needed to raise ambitions and drive deep transformation. Read more
As regenerative approaches in the United States gain momentum, how do we ensure that the transition to a regenerative food and agriculture system supports equitable economic prosperity while allowing people and the planet to flourish long term? Here, Forum’s Principal Strategist, Mary McCarthy, shares insights from the Growing our Future community’s latest report, ‘What’s next for regenerative agriculture in the US?’. Read more
In 1973, abortion was made legal across the US after a landmark ruling known as Roe v. Wade. The US Supreme Court has now overturned that right. In its widespread implications, set to ripple way beyond reproductive rights, the move represents a significant threat to what’s urgently needed: a future that is socially just, as well as ecologically sound. Here, Forum for the Future’s Associate Director of Global Development, Priya Kvam, explores the issue as a systemic challenge and outlines four ke Read more
At what is a critical moment for the sustainability movement, Forum for the Future’s flagship Future of Sustainability campaign shed light on what the past can teach us about our future. These insights formed the basis of our first US in-person event in more than two years. Here, Forum’s Managing Director – Americas, Sandra Seru, shares her reflections from an evening spent trading hope. Read more
What does climate adaptation look like in resilient cities? How can systems change and futures approaches be used as tools for transformative adaptation, and build resilience in ways that are equitable and inclusive? Forum’s Principal Sustainability Strategist Yamini Srivastava and Ashali Bhandari, Senior Urban Planner, Transitions Research, share key reflections. Read more
Civil society plays a critical role in driving action to address the climate emergency. Yet the sector is facing complex challenges, including increased scrutiny and shifting regulatory goal-posts. Here, we explore what is challenging the resilience of climate action civil society and what might strengthen it, building on the excellent work already being done. Read more
The UK government’s latest energy security strategy, released on 7th April, puts offshore wind and nuclear power at the heart of its new policy. Forum’s Associate Director of UK/Europe, Martin Hunt, and Climate Strategist, Iain Watt, share key reflections on the latest paper and the change needed to create a just and regenerative energy system. Read more
To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, Forum’s Chair, Rita Clifton CBE, and Chief Executive, Dr Sally Uren OBE, share personal reflections on their role models, what it means to advance gender equality in the context of multiple sustainability crises, what advice they would give to younger female voices in the sector, and how they balance the many competing demands of work and home life. Read more
It’s time to re-design the way supply chains work to help ensure critical environmental and social needs are met. We look at the cotton supply chain and explore opportunities to transform it for resilience, regeneration, and justice with innovative business models. Read more
While environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration in Asia was still in its relative infancy two years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased ESG investments. The example of the protein system shows that while the push for ESG metrics is a step in the right direction, it falls short of enabling the deep transformations needed to build a just and resilient future. Read more
On the back of COP26, Forum’s Co-Founder, Jonathon Porritt, shares five reasons to think, come COP27, we’ll be in a very different place… Read more
As we digest the agreements reached at COP26, it’s clear that the role of businesses in tackling major global challenges must continue to evolve. James Payne, Associate Director - Transformational Strategies, provides an overview of Forum’s new report on business transformation towards a just and regenerative future. Read more
As COP26 arrives, Forum’s Associate Director - Transformational Strategies, James Payne, and Global Programmes Director, Caroline Ashley, explore the need to reset our ambition, aiming not for a net zero world but a just and regenerative one. Read more
With COP26 fast approaching, Forum’s Dhaval Negandhi, Associate Director for Climate, and Hannah Pathak, Director - Forum UK/Europe, call out five key elements the Climate Summit must address if we are to achieve the deep transformation needed to meet the Paris Agreement and deliver a just and regenerative future. Read more
Putting living systems back in the equation isn’t easy work, but it is possible, and deeply rewarding. Where might we start? In this blog, Laura Winn, Head of School of System Change, offers three sets of practices that can support a regenerative outlook, even when working with systems that seem disconnected with place. Read more
As the opening ceremonies of the Convention on Biological Diversity kick off in Kunming, China, Jane Lawton, Forum’s Chief Development and Communications Officer, and Dhaval Negandhi, Associate Director for Climate, call out the critical need to connect the international debates and action on nature and climate, and advocate for three critical shifts that will ensure we can solve for the key challenges of our time. Read more
As the world’s first ever Food Systems Summit approaches, the spotlight on the need to transform the way we produce and consume food is intensifying. But what does the future look like? What shifts will get us there? And just how can we drive deep transformation with game-changing and long-lasting potential? Lesley Mitchell, Forum’s Associate Director - Sustainable Nutrition, explores. Read more
Food and agricultural systems need deep transformation, requiring nothing less than fundamental reframing of what land and ‘farming’ means to businesses, argues Forum's Director of Global Programmes, Caroline Ashley in BusinessGreen. Read more
This month saw the release of the latest IPCC Report, and there’s no shortage of blogs and articles summarising its key conclusions. So what is there to add? Forum’s new Associate Director – Climate, Dhaval Negandhi and Climate Strategist Iain Watt share key reflections on the latest IPCC report findings and the deep transformation required to create a just and regenerative future. Read more
We take stock of the small wins that have happened since launching the Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres 2030 vision, and examine what else is needed to accelerate the sector's transformation towards one that is resilient and regenerative. Read more
In its latest report, the Edible Fats and Oils Collaboration urges the food and feed industry to consider the sustainability aspects of all fats and oils in one holistic system, instead of vilifying individual ingredients. Read more
Forum for the Future’s Chief Executive, Dr Sally Uren, explores what is needed as the sustainability movement hits a vital inflection point. Read more
As immense global disruption continues, businesses can and must take the opportunity to re-evaluate their organisational purpose if they are to emerge stronger and more prepared for the turbulent 2020s. Here, Forum for the Future’s Dr Sally Uren shares her thoughts on the ‘three D’s’ critical to ensuring this re-evaluation puts sustainability and the need to embrace a just transition at its heart. Read more
How can we inspire change and support young people to take climate action in a positive and personal way? A new campaign sets to engage 14-19 year old students to stimulate debate and action as we approach COP26. Read more
22/02/2021 The 2020s urgently need effective and ambitious business leaders, working to create a more sustainable and inclusive future. Caroline Ashley, Forum's Global Director of System Change Programmes, discusses the keys skills needed and explains why it's all about CHARM. Read more