The authors examine the adequacy of adaptive and transformative capacities for navigating the polycrisis and propose five unifying processes as an organizing framework for considering other sustainability and crisis capacities.
The authors explore the concept of polycrises by examining historical examples from late 1st-millennium CE Mesoamerica, Late Medieval Eurasia, and the Early Modern Northern Hemisphere to illustrate how these periods exhibited key characteristics of a polycrisis. They argue that studying historical polycrises can enhance our understanding of contemporary challenges and inform the development of strategies
The authors examine involuntary migration and its associated global risks. They introduce the GRiNLoc-GpESTE tool to analyze the interconnectedness of factors driving migration, such as conflicts, natural disasters, climate change, and economic limitations. The study urges policymakers to address these risks with a cross-cutting approach, recognizing the potential for polycrisis.
Global Risks Related to Involuntary Migration Read More »
This report examines the complexities of a global polycrisis, highlighting the interconnected nature of environmental, economic, and social risks. It emphasizes the urgent need for systemic risk assessment and response. Key recommendations focus on fostering public engagement, redirecting financial resources, and advancing education and research to build resilience.
The authors examine the layering and succession of social and environmental crises—including a catastrophic typhoon, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic inflation—and their impacts on food security in Capiz, Philippines. The authors investigate how these crises manifest in poor coastal communities and how vulnerable populations navigate such challenges.
The authors explore a holistic picture of a social transformation process to address the challenges of the age of polycrisis.
Towards a Sustainable Future in the Age of Polycrisis Read More »
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
Causal Loop Diagrams handbook Read More »
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
Introduction: Escaping the Politics Trap? EU Integration Pathways Beyond the Polycrisis Read More »
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
Governance for Earth System Tipping Points – A Research Agenda Read More »
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,
2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement Read More »
