This series brings together ideas from experts and practical experience to address major problems facing the planet. This six-part series focused on six essential capacities for sustainability: to measure, to adapt, to transform, to advance equity, to govern, and to link knowledge with action. The seminars included conversations with practitioners on how to develop and maintain these skills over time.
The virtual seminars were chaired by Dr. Alicia Harley of the Sustainability Science Program. Explore the individual seminar sessions below. Questions? Email Dr. Harley.
Past event information
Panelists Carrie Exton (OECD), Eli Fenichel (Yale University), and Mary Ruckelshaus (Natural Capital Project) tackled a key challenge in sustainable development: how to effectively measure progress toward sustainability. Read more about measuring sustainability effectively.
Carolyn Kousky (Environmental Defense Fund), Aditi Mukherji (CGIAR), and Claudia Thyme (Insurance Development Forum) explored how organizations adapt to disruption to continue sustainable development. Read more about adapting development for resilience.
Steve Nicholls (South Africa’s Climate Commission), Chuck Rumsey (Ecotrust Canada), and Amanda Woodrum (ReImagine Appalachia) examined how to drive structural change to support human well-being today while preserving resources for future generations. Read about transforming development for sustainability.
Nasif Khan (BRAC) Sharmila Murthy (Northeastern University), and Grant Wilson (Earth Law Center) explore strategies to build lasting capacity for equity through environmental justice and legal advocacy for future generations. Read about promoting equity.
Connie Nshemereirwe (Africa Science Leadership Programme), David Cash (forner Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection) and Stacy Glass (ChemFORWARD) explore strategies for building a robust capacity to link knowledge with action that ensures knowledge is both useable and used.
Vanessa Adams (Level4International), Kate Gordon (California Forward), and Robyn McGuckin (World Resources Institute) discuss their experiences with building and maintaining collaborative relationships in pursuit of sustainability. Read about governing cooperatively.
Seminar white papers
Background for each seminar is provided in these white papers summarizing relevant findings from the Capacity Building project of the Sustainability Science Program.
- Building Capacity to Measure Sustainability: Lessons from scholarship and practice
- Building Capacity to Adapt Development Pathways to Protect Human Well-being in the Face of Shocks: Lessons from scholarship and practice
- Building Capacity to Transform Unsustainable Development Pathways into Sustainable Ones: Lessons from scholarship and practice
- Building Capacity to Promote Equity within and among Generations: Lessons from scholarship and practice
- Building Capacity to Govern Cooperatively in Pursuit of Sustainable Development: Lessons from scholarship and practice