Towards a Sustainable Future in the Age of Polycrisis
The authors explore a holistic picture of a social transformation process to address the challenges of the age of polycrisis.
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Learning resource
Causal Loop Diagrams handbook
In this handbook, Cascade Institute Polycrisis Fellow Michael Lawrence explains how to read and draw a causal loop diagrams (CLD)–a systems mapping technique that helps us to think through our mental model of a system, increase our understanding of a system, and communicate our knowledge to others. It clarifies some common sources of confusion, provides
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Introduction: Escaping the Politics Trap? EU Integration Pathways Beyond the Polycrisis
The authors argue that since 2016, the European Union (EU) has been in a state of ‘polycrisis,’ where interconnected challenges threaten its cohesion and legitimacy. They develop an analytical framework elaborating the concepts of polycrises, polycleavages, and politics traps, applying it to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They conclude that, despite
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Governance for Earth System Tipping Points – A Research Agenda
The authors propose a new interdisciplinary research agenda to address the challenges that earth system tipping points pose for global governance. They argue that current institutions and policy tools are inadequate for managing the rapid, non-linear, and potentially irreversible nature of tipping processes. The paper seeks to develop a governance framework specifically suited to the
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2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the state of internal displacement worldwide, showing a 51% rise over the last five years, reaching 75.9 million people by the end of 2023. It highlights the increasing number of people displaced due to conflict, violence, and disasters, revealing how these crises are interconnected with broader social, economic,
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Global Resilience Report: Safeguarding the Nutrition of Vulnerable Children, Women, Families and Communities in the Context of Polycrisis
This report examines the impact of the polycrisis on food and nutrition insecurity, particularly among vulnerable women and children. It reveals that, despite rising malnutrition, many countries successfully adapted and strengthened key systems such as food, health, and education to protect nutrition. The report highlights the role of community-based actions, digital technologies, and coordination platforms
Exploring Food System Resilience to the Global Polycrisis in Six Asian Countries
The authors explore the resilience of food systems in six Asian countries (Bangladesh, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka) amidst the global polycrisis caused by COVID-19, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change. Using trend analyses of 19 indicators from global and national data sources, the study assesses four key domains of food system
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Flourishing Urban Futures to Overcome Polycrises – Roadmap for Resilience 2050
This report presents the outcomes of two Millennium Project Special Sessions held at the 2022 and 2023 FFRC Futures Conferences in Turku, Finland. Through participatory Futures Cliniques, the sessions explored how cities can build resilience in the face of polycrises. The report documents both the results and the methods used, offering valuable insights for students,
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Leadership in the Polycrisis: How UK Defense Training Can Help Us Navigate a Future of Unprecedented Environmental Disruption
The authors explore how leadership approaches in defense—focused on resilience, situational rehearsal, and initiative—offer insights for civilian leaders facing the polycrisis. Drawing on workshops and interviews with senior United Kingdom defense personnel, the study highlights how these strategies, grounded in team ethos and organizational structure, can help navigate the escalating risks of the climate and
An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity
Wes Jackson and Robert Jensen confront the ecological and social crises shaping humanity’s future, arguing that survival depends on contraction rather than expansion. They explore how geographic determinism has influenced history, leading to social injustice, consumerism, and high-energy dystopias. The authors propose a realistic, collective path forward, grounded in secular interpretations of theological concepts, to