In this symposium, experts explore the Anthropocene as a scientific, cultural, political, and economic paradigm shift, examining the trajectories of the Great Acceleration and the current state of the biosphere, and critically reflecting on key frameworks shaping global debate: planetary boundaries, tipping points, planetary stewardship, and the planetary commons.
The Anthropocene Paradigm Shift Read More »
In this conversation, Thomas Homer-Dixon introduces the Cascade Institute’s Polycrisis Core Model (PCM), a novel framework designed to map and analyse interactions among 11 critical global systems, each with multiple potential future states. The model employs cross-impact balance (CIB) analysis to evaluate over four million internally consistent scenarios, ultimately identifying 11 distinct “attractor” states. These
Mapping the Hope Attractor: A Conversation with Thomas- Homer Dixon Read More »
In this webinar, hosted by the World Academy of Art and Science and its EXTRA initiative, experts explored the interconnected nature of global crises and the systemic risks emerging from complex, cascading interactions across ecological, social, and technological systems. Topics included food system vulnerabilities, equity-centered governance, resilience dividends and positive externalities, and the modeling of
Coping with Polycrisis and Systemic Risks: New Approaches to Assessment and Governance Read More »
In this episode, Dr. Lou Leonard explores the global polycrisis—a convergence of multiple crisis such as climate change, ecological degradation, and rising inequality. He explains how these overlapping challenges are weakening natural systems and disrupting the foundations of our economies and societies. Leonard emphasizes the urgency of confronting these interconnected issues and highlights the importance
This webinar explores how the ongoing polycrisis—marked by overlapping ecological, economic, political, and social stressors—continues to destabilize regions across Africa and the Middle East. Using Egypt as a focal point, the discussion highlighted how unresolved structural vulnerabilities from the Arab Spring era remain deeply interconnected, with rising inequality, environmental degradation, and political repression still threatening
Polycrisis & Policy Brief Series Read More »
In this episode of The Call, economist Gita Gopinath joins host Jay Sapsford to explore the growing challenges posed by global fragmentation. As geopolitical tensions escalate, trade disputes intensify, and debt levels rise, the discussion examines how these dynamics threaten economic stability and international cooperation. Gopinath highlights the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on productivity
What are the Risks of a Fragmented World? Read More »
In this four-part documentary series, Laurie Laybourn explores the significant challenges associated with exceeding the 1.5°C global warming threshold. Through interviews with a diverse range of contributors, including climate negotiators, Pacific islanders, scientists, and grassroots activists, the series examines the social, political, and ecological implications of climate overshoot. It situates these perspectives within a broader
Overshoot: Navigating a world beyond 1.5°C Read More »
In this mini-series, journalist Anthony Bartaway explores the concept of the current polycrisis. He examines its potential causes, including the collapse of the international community, the spread of disinformation, and escalating environmental issues. In the first episode, Bartaway focuses on the rise in the number of wars worldwide, using this trend to illustrate how overlapping
The Polycrisis Part I: War Read More »
In this episode, Ajay Gambhir, Director of Systemic Risk Assessment at ASRA, explores the concept of polycrisis, showing how climate change is deeply interconnected with other global challenges across social, economic, and political systems. He highlights how crises reinforce one another, creating complex feedbacks that demand integrated solutions. A central theme is inequality, which shapes
Navigating Systemic Risk in the Age of Polycrisis Read More »
In this Cascade Institute Speaker Series episode, Dr. Nate Hagens, presents a compelling framework for understanding our world as a complex, energy-dependent “Superorganism” operating far from equilibrium. He analyzes potential future scenarios that humanity may be heading toward and introduces the idea that small, focused efforts can elevate entire systems to a higher order. This
The Price of Power: Navigating the Great Simplification Read More »
