Ecosystems, governance and society in unstable times

Seminar followed by Q&A and drinks – attend in person or join online – all welcome

Abstract: We’re at a crossroads of humanity – which way will we turn? How do we enact dramatic systems change for Nature and climate repair, while still keeping our hands steady on the tiller of societies? What are the roles and limitations of science, and what proactive steps can we in civil society and academia take to lead a civilisational shift? How can we best support, and even collaborate with governments to govern and live wisely in unpredictable and risky times?

Ecosystems and biodiversity scientist, policy and governance strategist Prof Phoebe Barnard brings insights from three decades of senior work in global organisations, national governments, and nonprofit institutes to the conversations that we should be holding globally now about our present and future. She encourages questions that we should be asking – about what kinds of societies we want from now on, how we might get there from here, and how we can proactively shift a self-interested global civilisation and economy to a wiser, kinder and much more sustainable one, without lurching reactively into anarchy, autocracy and violence.

Biography: Prof Phoebe Barnard is a global futures analyst and sustainability strategist, global change ecologist, biodiversity conservation scientist, climate risk and resilience specialist, policy wonk, mentor for young professionals, and film co-producer. An affiliate full professor at University of Washington and research associate of three institutes at the Universities of Oxford and Cape Town, she has been dubbed ‘civilization-shifter’ by a US radio station and convenes top teams to work at the intersection of science, society, sustainability, policy, planning, leadership and media storytelling. She is co-producer of The Climate Restorers documentary series (2025), Climate Repair Café news magazine channel (2026-27, seeking sponsorship!) and Climate in a Time of Conflict (2026), about what we can all learn from Ukrainians coping with multiple crises at once. See also Wikipedia.

The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and the Nature Network are interested in promoting a wide variety of views and opinions on nature recovery from researchers and practitioners. The views, opinions and positions expressed within this lecture are those of the author alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery/Nature Network, or its researchers.