That you can join, subscribe to, participate in projects, or even get a Job
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
The Ellen MacArthur foundation (EMF) is one of the leaders championing the Circular Economy to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. The foundation is located on the Isle of Wait, a small island off the southern coast of England, UK.
Their illustrations and diagrams inspired some of my figures. Section III of DBW owes a lot to these meetings and people.
In writing DBW, I spent three days with a team from EMF discussing the circular economy and meeting with some of their industrial advisors. They were also one of the sponsors of the London Design Museum’s exhibit, Waste Age, and to my delight, were in London the same time I was there to help in the opening of the exhibit. They even got me invited to the opening night reception. So while in London, I spent time in the museum, talking to the exhibit curator, Justin McGuirk. The exhibit was wonderful: I highly recommend the Exhibit catalog, edited by experts. My copy is heavily annotated. Join their network!
I recommend careful reading of the EMFwebsite. It is a very extensive guide. And buy the Waste Age museum catalogue at https://designmuseumshop.com/products/waste-age-what-can-design-do-exhibition-catalogue
The Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)
https://doughnuteconomics.org/
Doughnut economics is the creation of Kate Raworth and her Doughnut Economics Action Lab at the University of Oxford, in England, UK. I found her book and work highly inspirational for Part II of DBW (on Meaning), because through her clever use of the doughnut, she showed how complex ecological and societal information can be shown in one relatively simple diagram, so that rather than judging every country in the world by a single number, countries can be judged by how well each performs on critically important variables. “The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries,” says Raworth “is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge, and it acts as a compass for human progress this century” (from her website, https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/).
The website has much valuable information, including organizations and case histories of the application of her methods to a wide variety of issues.
Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st century economist. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing.
RMI (Formerly known as The Rocky Mountain Institute)
RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to accelerate the clean energy transition and improve lives. Since our founding in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI’s chairman emeritus, we have grown to over 500 staff working on four continents with a global reach and reputation.
I have known RMI under its former name as the Rocky Mountain Institute, because that is where it was first located: west of Denver, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains of the United States at an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). The original building is now Amory Lovins’ home. RMI has expanded to multiple buildings and locations. But that first building is still a landmark of efficiency. Despite being located in a cold, wintry region, that original building, was one of the very first buildings that required almost no heating because its construction captured and stored 99%the heat that was necessary. Although the house was built a long time ago, it is still an excellent example of efficient energy construction. Read the little booklet on the home, published in 2007 (https://rmi.org/about/office-locations/amory-private-residence/). Yes, that was long ago and methods have improved since then, but the basic ideas are still the ones we all need to follow.
Design for Good
Design for Good brings together designers around the world with a shared goal of improving lives through human-centered design. They develop products & services with impacted communities, that are donated fully open-source.
We are a non-profit alliance of leading global organizations that will directly harness the creative talent of thousands of designers to design and deliver positive impact against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, on a scale only possible through global collaboration.
In 2022, Design for Good focuses on Goal 6: clean water & sanitation. We have selected SDG 6 based on three criteria. Firstly urgency: it was one of the most highly prioritised goals during COP26. Secondly globality: it has immediate needs in most of the 200 nations. Thirdly diversity: the needs range from physical products to digital apps to service designs, which allow for participation by a broad range of participants.
Although when I last checked (April 2023) their registration for designers was closed, they ask: “Please reach out to our team if you and your organization would like to be part of next year’s collaboration.”
Design for America
https://www.designforamerica.org/
Although restricted to the United States, this organization demonstrates how any group, anywhere, can activate students to do good. DfA started at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) in 2008 by Liz Gerber, who is now a professor of mechanical engineering, but works as a designer, social scientist, and activist, who also co-direct the Center for human-computer interaction at Northwestern. DfA now has chapters 9they are called “studios” at universities across the United States (including whee I am located, the University of California, San Diego).
Since 2008, DfA has helped “6500 students on 1,200+ projects ranging from campus food waste to homelessness to global sustainability.”
Project Drawdown
Cropped image (to fit this space) from Drawdown website: for full image, go to https://drawdown.org/drawdown-roadmap
Project Drawdown is both an organization dedicated to deal with Climate Change as well as a book.
Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. New York, New York: Penguin Books.
Project Drawdown’s mission is to help the world reach “drawdown”—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby halting catastrophic climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.
The drawdown.org website has a huge amount of information, including ways that you can join and help. They have reports and even a 6 unit TV sequence on Climate at https://drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101. Here is how they describe that work:
Your climate solutions journey begins now. Filled with the latest need-to-know science and fascinating insights from global leaders in climate policy, research, investment, and beyond, this video series is a brain-shift toward a brighter climate reality.
Climate Solutions 101 is the world’s first major educational effort focused solely on solutions. Rather than rehashing well-known climate challenges, Project Drawdown centers game-changing climate action based on its own rigorous scientific research and analysis. This course, presented in video units and in-depth conversations, combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of several inspiring voices from around the world. Climate solutions become attainable with increased access to free, science-based educational resources, elevated public discourse, and tangible examples of real-world action. Continue your climate solutions journey, today
The Climate Reality Project
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/
An extremely important, very active Washington, DC-based organization dedicated to fighting climate change. They have developed a network of Climate Activists, with numerous local chapters. There may be one where you live, and if not, they will help you organize one.. As they put it:
Yes, Climate change is big. The good news? You don’t have to fight it alone.Join our network of climate activists.
Chapters give you the chance to meet and work with other passionate activists and advocates to advance clean energy and other just climate solutions in your community.
Some chapter members bring a lifetime of experience. Some are just getting started as activists. The only requirement is a commitment to making a difference.
Chapters have become a vital force for progress in over one hundred communities and campuses nationwide, supporting Climate Reality’s national campaigns, fighting for environmental justice, and helping bring clean energy to major cities and rural towns alike.
Connect with the chapter in your community or campus today by contacting us. If there’s not already a chapter active close to you, we can help you start one!
I find their newsletters extremely informative.
Sonder Collective
We’re a collective of designers and researchers passionate about creating social change.
Sonder was born out of a desire to work differently on complex social issues. We believe the old ways of working are just not working. After many years in traditional consultancies, we saw an opportunity to reimagine the way we work by creating an alternative, non-profit, distributed network of specialists. We continue to experiment, learn and refine the model as we go!
We run a non-profit sustainable business. We don’t strive to make a profit, we keep operational costs to a minimum so we can invest in high quality work and focus on our impact.
We are distributed. From Helsinki to Lagos and Madrid, our member network spans time zones, continents and cultures. We bring diverse perspectives and sets of experiences to our work.
The World Economic Forum on Climate Change
https://www.weforum.org/topics/climate-change
The World Economic Forum is a valuable source of information on all things economic., and Climate Change has profound economic implications. As a result, they say:
The World Economic Forum is committed to supporting global efforts in the private and public sectors to limit global temperature rise and stave off disaster.
We aim to work with leaders to increase climate commitments, collaborate with partners to develop private initiatives, and provide a platform for innovators to realize their ambition and contribute solutions.
For a good example, check out the adjacent item on the June 1, 2023 report (what are the ultimate limits of our planet?
What are the ultimate limits of our planet? Scientists now have the answers
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/06/planetary-boundaries-scientists-earth-commission/
The New Report from Rockström (and a team of 51 authors!) expands upon the earlier work on planetary boundaries. You can read about it at the World Economic Forum URL (above) and also read the published paper in Nature magazine:
Rockström, J., Gupta, J., et al. (2023). Safe and just earth system boundaries. Nature. 10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8.
I prefer the original the Doughnut Economics figure and its list of societal boundaries, which I think treats societal issues in an easier to understand form than the figure from their article, above. This paper builds upon the model from Doughnut Economics (see chapter 22, Figure 11.3 of Design for a Better World). And the Doughnut Economics model builds upon the earlier work of Rockström and his group of co-resear4chers. ((which is the proper way for science to advance: resea4erchers building upon the work on one another).
This new report is a new advance in our understanding. Unfortunately, it is a sad report, for it shows that we are far behind on our attempt to create a safe and just earth. There is an excellent video, narrated by Rockström at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7070824311283982337/ The World Economic Forum has numerous excellent videos at https://www.weforum.org/videos/