Swiss reject pioneering “Green Economy” referendum, but Geneva passes it

Yesterday, Switzerland held a remarkable vote. The question: whether to legally limit the country to living within its share of the ecological limits of our planet, by 2050. Currently, Switzerland uses three times the sustainable level of resources; so passing this law would have required the whole country, legally, to start a march toward physical … Continue reading Swiss reject pioneering “Green Economy” referendum, but Geneva passes it

“Do not forget”: A few terrible facts about torture

A few important facts that Americans must keep in mind as we head to the voting booth in 2016: The Republican candidate has said publicly, "I would bring back waterboarding, and I’d bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding,” adding, in other appearances, “Don’t tell me it doesn’t work—torture works,” and “If … Continue reading “Do not forget”: A few terrible facts about torture

“Deplorable”: Why we have to speak up about the US election

Watching this US presidential election cycle, from my vantage point in Sweden, has been among the most painful political experiences of my life. It is truly excruciating to observe the constant mendacity, meanness, and boastfulness of the Republican candidate (I am a dual US/Swedish citizen and grew up Republican, but currently have no party affiliation). … Continue reading “Deplorable”: Why we have to speak up about the US election

“Conservation” meets “Green Growth”: The Push-Me-Pull-You problem

Remember Dr. Dolittle? He was a vet who could talk to animals. One of the rarest was the "pushmi-pullyu," a llama with two heads (one head was where the tail ought to be). The pushmi-pullyu was a gentle creature that did not like to be stared at. And yet the other animals in Africa convinced … Continue reading “Conservation” meets “Green Growth”: The Push-Me-Pull-You problem

The Anthropocene: how “frightened” should we be?

Be afraid. Be very afraid ... of the Anthropocene. This is the message from Clive Hamilton writing in Nature, the preeminent science journal, in his recent editorial (see sources below). Humans are unequivocably a planetary force for change, and a group of scientists with the authority to decide such things now agrees that this new … Continue reading The Anthropocene: how “frightened” should we be?

New Book: “Parachuting Cats into Borneo”

"Fascinating" (Paul Polman, CEO Unilever) ... "Highly Recommended" (Maureen Hart, ISSP) ... "Indispensable" (Michael Kobori, Levi Strauss) The Center for Sustainability Transformation and the AtKisson Group are pleased to announce the publication of a new book by our co-founders, Axel Klimek and Alan AtKisson. Parachuting Cats into Borneo - and Other Lessons from the Change … Continue reading New Book: “Parachuting Cats into Borneo”

Wake Up: We Have a Long, Long Way to Go

Reprinted from Greenbiz.com, 16 Feb 2016 People like me — professional optimists in the field of sustainability — are fond of pointing out the positive. And lately there have been many positives to point out, such as the global adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.  However, sometimes even … Continue reading Wake Up: We Have a Long, Long Way to Go