The sessions offered insight into the power of hope in the face of systems that can often leave us feeling powerless, and the key message was clear: we can make a difference, and it starts with us.
The event focused on how personal transformation fuels broader systemic change. It showed us that there is no separation between our domestic lives and the catastrophes unfolding across the world.
The climate crisis is not something we can buy our way out of; we must act now to fight for climate equality and protect our shared future. Doing what we’ve always done is no longer an option. Instead, we must take intentional, well-structured steps forward, using a future focused vision to guide radical and collaborative change.
Our collective fight for climate justice is a collaborative process and as we all sat at home, listening to the incredible speakers over the last few days, to quote Rebecca Ford, Director of the IFF, ‘they gave hope a seat at the table’ for these discussions and every single talk and workshop gave a thoughtful and inspiring approach to planning for our future.
The standout moment was definitely the Three Horizons talk and workshop. I’ve been chatting with the International Futures Forum about learning to use the Framework, and I was so excited to see it in action! It was every bit as transformative to creating meaningful discussions as I thought it would be and then some.
I’ve loved learning about this approach to the patterns of change and how it can generate insights for shared action. The framework allows us to work towards real change, more than incremental small innovations, working towards our big, collective future visions.
It reaffirmed why I want to integrate this approach into my daily work: it empowers us to challenge the structures that often leave us feeling powerless and to embed regenerative thinking into the present.
In the workshop, we looked at creating a vision for Scotland’s Regenerative Future and it was a great way to start a Thursday. I felt so fired up by the end of the workshop.
A few of the key discussions I really enjoyed sharing with the other attendees were around the nuances to the the action we take to make sure that our discussions take into consideration the differences in rural and urban contexts and to make sure that any action we take, includes everyone and doesn’t exclude people based on accessibility needs.
Also a big special shout out to the Ubuntu Women’s Shelter, to see women supporting women in the face of structures that are deliberately set up to create deeper inequality and disadvantage them was so raw and inspiring and makes you feel hope that real change can happen and that there are always people fighting back against these outdated systems. Go support their work if you can.
The breakout sessions on Thursday were absolutely packed with knowledge and insights. I attended the Evaluating Arts Climate Projects session with the Culture for Climate Scotland team and a Design Thinking session with V&A Dundee. Both were incredibly valuable, offering practical tools and methodologies for integrating creative approaches into climate action. I don’t think I’ve ever left a conference with so many notes!
I’m really looking forward to receiving the illustrations of the front pages of our newspapers we created with the V&A about how we can change the world one partnership at a time.
A great few days spent pondering how we can make real change in the face of the Climate Emergency, and I am firmly giving hope a seat at the table in that conversation.