Is Imagination a Limiting Factor in Re-imagining Earth System Governance? Exploring the Role of Speculative Futures
Organized by Research Centre Australia
Earth system governance is deeply engaged in projects, programs and advocacy for transformation of social, ecological, political and economic systems for more sustainable futures. The ability to imagine the future as different to the present is inherent to these endeavours. Yet we rarely pay close attention to our ability to imagine differently. In this session we explore speculative approaches to the future and consider the role of more diverse, enabling tools and techniques for building these critical skills as a tool to enable more reflexive practices. The session will discuss the need to overcome institutional barriers to engage in speculative futures, and engage participants in a ‘taster’ speculative futures exercise to get a feel for applications and processes. We will conclude with reflections and examples of speculative futures processes enabling change.
