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learn how to practice
radical imagination

In partnership with
Radical imagination means that even when we don’t have all the answers, we believe wholeheartedly that the future is extraordinary and we continue to manifest that irresistible vision.

— Angela Glover Blackwell

The Solutions

By using creative and liminal thinking, we can break free from our existing systems and envision new pathways for action. Radical imagination can inspire collective action and help us to imagine and create a more sustainable and just world.

Keywords

Reciprocity
Future-positivity
Interconnection
Intergenerational solidarity

Radical Imagination and Future Positivity

Radical imagination refers to the capacity to envision and create radically different futures that challenge the status quo and move us towards a more just and sustainable world. By using radical imagination to explore new possibilities, we can break free from the constraints of current thinking and systems and create new pathways for action.

Thinking of alternative futures involves reimagining our current economic, social, and political systems and considering how they could be transformed to prioritize sustainability and equity. This process requires us to challenge our assumptions about what is possible and to explore alternative ways of organizing society that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet.

A Culture of Reciprocity

Indigenous communities around the world have long practiced systems of reciprocity, which involve mutual exchange and sharing of resources, knowledge, and support among community members. These systems prioritize relationships and community well-being over individual gain and are rooted in a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

Incorporating systems of reciprocity into our culture can act as a powerful tool in shifting our culture and systems towards sustainability. In doing so, we can create a culture that values collaboration and cooperation rather than competition and individualism. Ultimately, incorporating systems of reciprocity into our culture requires a shift in values and priorities. By embracing the reciprocity and local community-based initiatives, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Regenerative Practices

Regenerative practices are not only a practical solution to climate change, but also a powerful cultural shift towards a more sustainable and just future. Through practices such as regenerative agriculture and forestry, improving soil health and enhancing biodiversity we can not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also adapt to them.

Perhaps even more powerfully than that, regenerative practices help us to challenge the dominant culture of consumerism and exploitation that has driven the climate crisis. By prioritising regeneration over exploitation, we can cultivate a deeper sense of connection and responsibility to the planet — we can recognise that we are part of a larger ecosystem that we depend on for our survival.

The Actions

The world is not homogenous — there is a rich tapestry of perspectives and ways of being. Find out how you can ignite your imagination and use it to find solutions to the damaging systems around us.

Learn

Read an article on radical imagination

< 5 min
£
free

Read this introduction on radical imagination to understand how you can use it to envision a more just and sustainable world. This article is published by the Everyday Activism Network to help people imagine a better future.

Watch a talk on the Seven Generation Principle

< 15 min
£
free

Watch this TED talk on “Imagining the Next Seven Generations”. It speaks of the Seven Generation Principle which states that in every decision, you should consider the impact it will have on the next seven generations. The principle encourages long-term thinking and sustainable practices that will benefit future generations.

Read a book on approaches to climate solutions

1+ weeks
£
10-20

Read a book that expands your understanding of how to address the climate crisis and what solutions are possible.


• All We Can Save (ed. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K Wilkonson)
• It’s Not That Radical (Mickaela Loch)
• Liminal Thinking (Dave Gray)
• The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis (Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac)
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (Robin Wall Kimmerer)
• Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds (Adrienne Maree Brown)
• From What If to What Is (Rob Hopkins)

Watch a video on biomimicry

< 15 min
£
free

Watch this video on why “Biomimicry is More Than Good Design” by Our Changing Climate. It argues for the power of looking to nature for inspiration when thinking about our problems. Whether that is in design, politics, or in our relationships

Support

Shaking hands as a sign of agreement

Follow climate justice media organisations

long term
£
free

Subscribe, follow and share media organisations focused on climate justice, that are organised by marginalised people or that highlight marginalised voices. They will widen your perspective and help you advocate for a more just and equitable world.


Atmos
• Dark Mountain project
Emergence Magazine
Gal-dem
Grist
Hakai magazine
Icarus Complex
Yes! Magazine

Support climate organisations changing culture

< 5 min
£
1-10

Support organisations dreaming big, trying to shift culture, and educating people. Many of these organisations are grassroots, and rely on the donations and support of people who find their content beneficial.


Advaya is a global platform for alternative education and transformative experiences that sit at the intersection of ecology, wellbeing and spirituality.
ClimateCulture is a creative hub that uses storytelling to inspire action; aiming to create a future culture of tomorrow that is interconnected rather than fragmented, diverse rather than Western-centric, regenerative rather than extractive, collaborative rather than competitive, circular rather than linear.
The Climate Museum is a US organisation that mobilises the power of arts and cultural programming to accelerate this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action, connecting people and advancing just solutions. Its success has inspired other climate museums around the world, so check out if there is one in your country.
The Green Dreamer is a podcast and journal highlighting the path to ecological regeneration, intersectional sustainability and true wellness for all.

Participate

A closeup of a raised fist, against a neutral background.

Attend Slow Factory’s Open Education events

a few hours
£
1-10

Attend the Open Education events on the Slow Factory. The Slow Factory mission is to redesign socially and environmentally harmful systems through educational programming, regenerative design, and materials innovation. The events cover a wide range of topics, including regenerative economics, fashion and beauty politics, and collective healing.

See all events
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Join the From What If to What Next community

< 5 min
£
1-10

Join and become a member of Rob Hopkin’s Patreon community to have access to all episodes of the podcast ‘From What if to What Next’ and ‘the Ministry of the Imagination’. These podcasts help build a shared imagination of what is possible, and then ground ideas in practical steps guided by experts. The topics are shaped by listener questions and you can also take part in Q&A events.

Join
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Lead

megaphone representing voices heard loud and clear

Spend time in nature

< 15 min
£
free

Time outdoors builds connection with nature that reminds us of what we have to lose, and what we stand to gain from building a more just, green, and sustainable future. Spend time in your local nature and reflect on your relationship with it.

Outdoor experiences inspiration
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Advocate for intergenerational policies

a few hours
£
free

Advocate for policies that create better living conditions for current and future generations. If you’re interested in governance and policymaking then you can submit to the World Future Council Future Policy Award. The award celebrates successful forward-thinking policies and has links to IGO's such as UN agencies and the OECD, so the potential for real-world adoption is high.

Future Policy Award
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Imagine the future

1 day
£
free

Imagine the future by using this guide created by Greenpeace. Movements often focus on what current harmful systems need to be dismantled; the other side of the coin is thinking about what should be built in its place. The guide has five lessons on how you can imagine and then create a future worth fighting for.

View Guide
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Host a ’Circle’ designed by ‘All We Can Save’

long term
£
free

‘All We Can Save‘ was born out of a longing for climate leadership that is justice-centered, heart-centered, and rooted in the work and wisdom of women. To deepen dialogue and support connection, learn how to facilitate a Circle workshop.

Circle facilitation guide
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