#7.3 Longer-term and Bigger Picture: Change-making

This step focuses on working globally, politically or on a large-scale, or boldly focusing on leveraging change in a significantly problematic area.

A close up of a figure wears a garment created from plant roots across its neck
Rootfull by Zena Holloway

Regeneration in the longer-term and bigger picture longer-term and bigger-picture

Examples of working globally, politically or on a large-scale, or boldly focusing on leveraging change in a significantly problematic area, may be:

  • Support ambitious global system change: working globally, boldly focusing on leveraging change in a significantly problematic area e.g. food security, fossil fuel non-proliferation, or refugee care. 
  • Work with Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Join national and international networks and academic collaborations
Paper leaves hang on a tree, with the clearest one reading "stop letting money and greed dictate the health of the world"
Dear Earth Exhibition / CDE Wharfdale and Airedale

TASK:

Decide where you can make a difference

Read through the possibilities below, and do your own research. 

  • What would most suit your practice or organisation? 
  • What relationships can you build on? 
  • What can you do that will make the biggest difference in ways that bolster your reputation and capacities? 

RESOURCES FOR THIS TASK

  • Practice or promote directly reparative forms of arts and design, e.g, artists actively involved in restoring land on a large scale, including peatlands, wetlands, oceans and forests.
  • Promote bioregionalism as an alternative frame to growth-obsessed nationalism. Bioregions are the largest and most efficient sense of scale where connections based on place make sense.
  • Work for a law to end ecocide and bolster laws to protect Earth and human rights.

These are extremely important for everyone to understand, as they guide all international co-operation on environmental and social justice. They are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. They were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

  • See the goal-by-goal guidance by Climate Museum UK 
  • A guide on how museums can use the Goals by Curating Tomorrow / Henry McGhie
  • UN Live Museum: An emerging major museum in Denmark and online/everywhere, inspiring people to tackle global challenges of climate change and the other Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Work for more inclusion in democratic and civic processes that tackle the Earth crisis and end corruption.
  • Actively support indigenous people and people from most affected areas to participate in global dialogue for a sustainable planet.
  • Offer resources and space for activists to learn, and to plan actions for systemic change.
  • Enable pluralistic, conversational learning to combat propaganda and corruption, and develop critical thinking and global awareness in your audiences.

Potentially every young, indigenous, displaced or affected person could sue governments and companies on grounds of violation of their rights. There is everything to play for in challenging these powers on the question: who bears the culpability for climate change and liability for its costs and consequences? The European Court ruled in April 2024 that human rights are violated by inaction on climate change. Could you form a group and get the support of a pro bono lawyer to make a case?

  • Work to restore global biodiversity: join the United for Biodiversity Coalition, calling for stronger mobilisation in raising awareness about the need to protect biodiversity. 
  • Support the Earth Protectors: a campaign to make ecocide an international crime against peace. They are keen on the role of arts and culture to explore and promote this idea. 
  • Natural Climate Solutions: Creating a better world for wildlife and people. Their aim is to prevent climate breakdown by restoring our life support systems. 
  • Bioneers: For 30 years, Bioneers has acted as a fertile hub of game-changing social and scientific innovators with breakthrough solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. 
  • Atlas of the Future: Lots of solutions, includes a map of creative/arts projects working on social and ecological challenges. 
  • About museums working at a bioregional scale, collaborating with other bioregions.