Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Biological systems are optimized for circular production systems because they follow the template of ecosystems, where spare nutrients are scavenged and waste is utilized by decomposers. Building technology from these systems allows us to model industries based on ecosystems, in lieu of the linear models pursued today, allowing us to unlock true sustainability.
Marion Nestle’s blog recently signalled a striking development in the world of ultra-processed foods. An extensive selection of the companies that make them have just been served with a lawsuit in an American court.
I suggest that our personal life goals should be to “lead an examined life and pursue long-term well-being for ourselves and our loved ones within ecological and social limits.” I suggest that our civic goals should be to “create ecologically sustainable, functionally democratic, and secure societies.”
In Power Metal, Beiser explains why we would need drastic increases in mining of critical metals – including copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, and the so-called “rare earths” – if we were to run anything like the current global economy solely on renewable electricity.
My call to action is both simple and revolutionary: embrace complexity and cultivate genuine dialogue. Develop the intellectual humility to acknowledge that our survival depends on our ability to adapt, collaborate, and think beyond tribal boundaries amid profound, transformational change.
By embracing harmony, relationality, and care, we can create a world where humanity flourishes — in balance with each other and the planet.
The illusion that a transition to a service economy would lower our material footprint is caused by the inability to look at the system as a whole and the feedback loops that exist.
The much-vaunted “energy transition” that promised a great leap forward from fossil fuels to renewables along with a cornucopia of technologies is now struggling with history and complexity. A few facts tell the story.
Our present historical moment emphasises limitless self-referential synthetic refashioning. This isn’t going to turn out well. We need to emphasise limits, local ecological implication, appeal to the virtues and critical tradition-making.
The less work we put into this system, the more we do for ourselves. The more time we spend in celebration of life, the less time we spend supporting hierarchy and lazy elites. And the more we follow that path, the faster this system will crumble.
Imagine if I were far more ecologically literate. If the newt and bee and wasp and snake can teach me so much, what would it be like if I were more attuned to a greater diversity of life?
When I last wrote that Washington in transition was a chaotic—even surreal—political environment, I had no idea just how weird things would get.
