Category Archives: Convergence 2050

Why is the shrill wing of environmentalism so negative?

Posted on December 12, 2013 by admin

Some so-called environmentalists remind me of the Tea Party: every response to any government initiatives “No!”  “Bad!” “Don’t!” Zach Beauchamp’s 5 Reasons Why 2013 Was The Best Year In Human History  uses five mega-trends to suggest humanity’s positive trajectory, and … Continue reading →

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Two Sides of the Climate Coin

Posted on December 4, 2013 by admin

The Poor Need Cheap Fossil Fuels There’s no question that burning fossil fuels is leading to a warmer climate and that addressing this problem is important. But doing so is a question of timing and priority. For many parts of … Continue reading →

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The Better Angels of Our Nature

Posted on July 28, 2013 by admin

The 2050 trends create daunting obstacles to our sustainable development. They also present wondrous opportunities.  Steven Pinker’s bestseller, The Better Angles of our Nature, provides one of those needed boosts of optimism that inspires us to focus on the opportunities … Continue reading →

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Earth Day 2013: The 2050 Convergence*

Posted on April 24, 2013 by admin

What does Earth Day mean to you? To me Earth Day is about the future, having a future, enjoying the future, creating a future in which we thrive. I want to celebrate Earth Day 2013 by looking into the future.  … Continue reading →

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Leadership and the Courage to Fail

Posted on March 18, 2013 by admin

Leadership for sustainability requires the courage to fail. It requires opportunistically responding to unpredictable black-swan events.  It requires acting without perfect information.  Leaders help create direction, alignment and commitment among a diverse group of well (and sometimes not well) intentioned … Continue reading →

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Brazil can feed the world

Posted on March 1, 2013 by admin

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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Leadership Plus Science

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

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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2050 Transitions

Posted on January 8, 2013 by admin

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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Riff on President JFK’s 1963 Peace Speech

Posted on June 7, 2012 by admin

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 →

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Leadership for Global Sustainability

Posted on April 21, 2012 by admin

Leadership for sustainability in a global society requires: –       Pluralism: Leadership requires boundary spanning to find, see, and create opportunities, a mindset to interpret and decode situations from multiple, often competing points of view, an openness to understand other people’s … Continue reading →

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