Author Archives: admin

About admin

R. Bruce Hull writes and teaches about building capacity in sustainability professionals who collaborate at the intersection of business, government, and civil society. The views are his and are not endorsed by any organization with which he is affiliated.

What I Believe

While climbing an observation tower leading towards the canopy of a Brazilian rainforest, Christoph (of Hotspot Tours) asked for an update to my Rebound Romantic philosophy published years ago in Infinite Nature. Here is the jeito-inspired update. I begin at … Continue reading

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Brazil can feed the world

Brazil is known for its stunning scenery, tasty caipirinhas, tantalizing carnivals, mighty Amazon river and enormous rainforest, but its real fame will come from the contributions of water and arable land to the 2050 story.  Brazil can feed the world. … Continue reading

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Towards which future should we aim?

Kloor’s recent blast about the schism in environmentalism echoes Nordhaus and Shellenberger‘s claim that environmentalism was dead or should die.  These reoccurring tussles over the purpose of environmentalism stumble over a familiar tension: sustainable development versus environmental protection. We can … Continue reading

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Leadership Plus Science

Integrative, multi-disciplinary science is necessary for charting a sustainable development trajectory to 2050, but it is not sufficient.  Yes, of course we need more climate science, sustainability science, and resiliency science.  We also need more and better resource sciences (water, … Continue reading

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Beyond Bio-Blitzs

When we share ideas about creating our future, two story-lines dominate. One is characterized by profit, work, discipline, achievement, productivity, efficiency, industry, and growth.  It goes by the name of Economic Development.  The other is characterized by protection, appreciation, wildness, … Continue reading

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A Tough Choice: Biodiversity or Ecosystem Services

The 2050 transitions are creating some difficult choices.  Decisions made between now and 2050 will define the future of humanity: the human population will grow to 9 billion or more; the proportion of people living in cities will approach 75%; … Continue reading

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2050 Transitions

Four  transitions are creating a pivotal moment in the history of humanity: demographics, markets, governance, and environment. Demographic Trends: Urbanization in Asia and Africa, Redevelopment in the West.  Urbanization is a defining feature of humanity’s development trajectory: in 1800 less … Continue reading

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More Sustainable Development Please

Most Americans agree: they to create more prosperous, convenient, equitable, healthy and attractive places to live.  79% of respondents to an American Planning Association poll agree that they want careful, inclusive, community-based planning processes.  They ranked the top five qualities … Continue reading

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Riff on President JFK’s 1963 Peace Speech

I hope it is neither sacrileges nor arrogant to riff on President JFK’s 1963  Post-Cuban Missile Crisis Peace Address at American University[1] [E]xamine our attitude towards sustainable development. [2] Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think … Continue reading

Posted in Convergence 2050 | 1 Comment

Anti-Agenda 21’s Agenda

Messages, materials, and tactics of so-called “local citizen groups” from Virginia to California share strikingly similar language and logic.  The Anti Agenda 21 movement is being organized and funded from afar.  Some investigators point to the usual suspects who typically … Continue reading

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