Lauren Meadow’s Post

Right now it’s hard to hope for a brighter future, but bright spots of positive transformational change are emerging all around us. That’s the focus of Forum for the Future’s 2024 Future of Sustainability report that launches today. If you could do with some fuel for the gritty optimism needed to be an effective changemaker around the sustainability challenges we face, take ten minutes to explore the first 6 Bright Spots - and watch out for the full 30 Bright Spots that we’ll be sharing between now and COP30. Thanks to our co-creation partners The Earthshot Prize and Rockerfeller Philanthropic Advisors and to Trane Technologies for supporting the initiative. #appliedfutures #futures #grittyoptimism #socialjustice #regeneration #esg #futureofsustainability

Working in sustainability right now, it's hard to hope for a better future. Every day doom scrolling on the lack of progress being made in tackling climate and social issues is fuelling an inertia and disbelief that we can turn the tide. That's why it's important to lean into what progress is being made. To celebrate and learn from the initiatives, ideas and organisations that are already challenging the status quo. Those shaking things up with game-changing potential to transform the ways we live and work. I've loved exploring this for Forum for the Future's latest Future of Sustainability campaign, Reimagining the Way the World Works. Progress does not often get the spotlight, but look a little deeper and it's hard not to be inspired by those on the frontlines making things happen. There's a lot of hope we can take, and a lot we can do as a result. Each of these initiatives (we're set to showcase 30 by COP30) offers us a glimpse of alternative futures and collectively demonstrate that transforming how we live and work is not only possible, but already happening. #TheFutureOfSustainability #Hope

The world's responses to escalating social and environmental crises have for too long fallen short of what's urgently needed: transformational change. Against this backdrop, it's hard to hope that a better future lies ahead. But look a little deeper... 'Bright Spots' are emerging - people and / or organisations who are fundamentally reimagining how we live and work, with game-changing potential to create a future in which both people and the planet thrive. These initiatives are daring to break new ground in how we produce and consume food and energy, and in how and why businesses operate. They are embracing the bold steps needed for transformational change - and there are lessons for us all. That's why Forum's latest Future of Sustainability campaign, Reimagining the Way the World Works, is putting them centre stage. In partnership with The Earthshot Prize, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Trane Technologies, we're set to showcase and celebrate 30 Bright Spots showing us that transformational change is not only possible, but already happening... Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gGDD_HJ2 #TheFutureofSustainability

In this major election year, all eyes are on who becomes the new leaders and how their visions will shape the second half of this crucial decade especially for climate action. Will we choose a more equitable pathway forward or stay on the trajectory of transformation for a few? At Forum, we want to look and learn from examples and voices of organisations, individuals and communities creating and practicing new forms of governance, decision making, and value sharing showcasing the potential for such reimagination even in the most complex systems and contexts. Dive into Forum for the Future’s Future of Sustainability campaign and discover 30 game-changing initiatives proving that transformational change is not just possible—it’s already happening. #TheFutureofSustainability #BrightSpots

With the new climate finance goal falling short, we need to focus on the progress that is being made and learn faster from the brightspots of hope – that’s why we have launched our new Future of Sustainability campaign to showcase 30 'Bright Spots'—social and climate initiatives demonstrating that transformational change is not only possible, but already happening. Do take a few minutes to watch the video and read the first six brightspots – the rest will follow through 2025 cumulating with 30 in time for Cop30. Forum for the Future

☀️In need of some (virtual) sunshine on a gloomy Tuesday? ☀️ Thanks, Rita Clifton CBE for sharing this illuminating first release of ‘Bright Spots’ from Forum for the Future’s new Future of Sustainability report, ‘Reimagining the Way the World Works’ Goodness knows, we can all do with more happy news, and this is hard evidence of transformational change - it’s not just possible, it’s happening! #FutureOfSustainability

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is proud to partner with Forum for the Future to showcase and celebrate 30 Bright Spots of transformational change that is underway. Personally, I am honored to be involved in such an important initiative. As I said in the report, the time has come for all of us to act faster, bigger, better, bolder. To do so, we must leverage the collective power of insights and ideas to become not just forward looking but futures focused. We have a responsibility to ensure that envisioning and creating positive, sustainable futures is not a luxury but a necessity. 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆; 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The ‘Brights Spots’ enable us to do that – they will help us radically re-imagine and put resources behind not what will be but what could and should be. Thank you, Forum for the Future for spearheading this timely and crucial work.

"The time has come for all of us to act faster, bigger, better, bolder. To do so, we must leverage the collective power of insights and ideas to become not just forward looking but futures focused. We have a responsibility to ensure that envisioning and creating positive, sustainable futures is not a luxury but a necessity. Transformative paths must center the perspectives of the Global Majority—perspectives rooted in centuries of communal wisdom and tradition. The 'Bright Spots' enable us to do that—they help us radically reimagine and put resources behind not just what will be but what could and should be." – Olga Tarasov, Vice President, Inquiry & Insights at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors At Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, we are proud to partner with Forum for the Future, The Earthshot Prize, Trane Technologies, and many other visionary organizations to shine a light on Bright Spots—30 groundbreaking initiatives fundamentally reimagining how we live and work. These Bright Spots offer much-needed hope, showcasing transformational change that is already happening across the globe. Each initiative demonstrates one or more of six key characteristics critical to driving the systemic change our world urgently needs. Together, they show us not just what is but what could and should be. Why focus on Bright Spots? For too long, responses to the world’s challenges have fallen short of the transformational change necessary for both people and the planet to thrive. This initiative brings forward innovative solutions from the frontlines of sustainability, offering alternative futures grounded in bold action, collective wisdom, and centuries of tradition. #Philanthropy #BrightSpots #Sustainability #GlobalMajority #TransformationalChange #Collaboration #FutureFocused

I don't know about you, but I think we could all do with a few bright spots. Really cheering to see the first release of 6x Forum for the Future 'Bright Spots' from their new Future of Sustainability report 'Reimagining the Way the World Works'...Do check out the link https://lnkd.in/gGDD_HJ2 This new Forum for the Future campaign—in partnership with The Earthshot Prize, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Trane Technologies—shows that transformational change is not only possible, but already happening. Drawing on almost 30 years of experience exploring the future of sustainability, it's a showcase of 30 examples of individuals and/or organisations that are fundamentally reimagining how we live and work—with game-changing potential to create a future in which both people and the planet thrive. Among the 6 initial ‘Bright Spots’ are: Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI): a non-profit working with small-scale fisheries in 161 communities in Mexico to co-design place-based approaches for healthy oceans and livelihoods. Safi Organics: one of the fastest-growing organic fertiliser manufacturing companies in Kenya to increase the yields of more than 20,000 smallholder farmers while drastically reducing their input costs.  ‘Our Zero Selby’: running in Selby in the UK, Our Zero Selby is a community-led project putting people at the heart of the transition to net-zero. The aim is to reduce carbon emissions while saving money, creating jobs and improving health and wellbeing. As Dr Sally Uren says “At Forum for the Future, we believe creating a better future starts with believing it can be done—that's why we’re putting reimagination centre stage. These ‘Bright Spots’ are giving us a glimpse of alternative futures and showing us that transformational change is not only possible, but already here.”

As we approach the holidays and reflect on the year ahead, many of us are searching for inspiration and hopeful signals to guide our work in 2025. I’m excited to share Forum for the Future’s latest Future of Sustainability: Reimagining the Way the World Works. We highlight emerging bright spots—people, organizations, and initiatives fundamentally reimagining how we live and work. These are game-changing efforts with the potential to create a future where both people and the planet thrive. If you're looking for practical inspiration, hope, and tangible pathways for change, take a look at the examples we feature. Let’s collectively turn these bright spots into the norm as we step into the new year!