Document provides a detailed overview of the main themes and key ideas contained in the report "Turning Over a New Leaf" from the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the University of the United States. Nations (UNU-EHS). The report focuses on the need for a profound societal transformation to avert the growing global risks associated with climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and inequality. It identifies five key changes needed to achieve a desirable future and analyses the mental models that shape the current functioning of society. The document also suggests action steps at both the individual and structural levels to support this transformation.

Main themes and key ideas:

The report, “Turning Over a New Leaf,” argues that superficial changes are not enough to address complex global challenges. Instead, deep change is needed that touches on the fundamental assumptions, values, and goals of our society. This change is framed through five interconnected areas:

1. Rethink waste: From trash to treasure: The current linear system of production and consumption (extraction - production - consumption - disposal) leads to unsustainable resource depletion and waste accumulation. The report highlights the need to move to a circular model, where materials are kept in circulation, the life of products is extended and waste is minimised through reuse, repair and recycling.

• "We live in a system where we take raw materials from the Earth, use them or make products from them, and then throw them away when we're done with them."
• The report cites the example of Kamikatsu City in Japan, with an 80% recycling rate, as a model for zero waste.
• A transition to the "cradle-to-cradle" principle and the introduction of modular product design are proposed.

1. Realign with nature: From separation to harmony: The long-standing perception of humans as superior and separate from nature has led to the destruction of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity. The report calls for a reassessment of this relationship and a recognition of the interdependence of humans and nature. It stresses the need to respect nature for its own value and to promote relationships based on kinship.

• "For centuries we have been taught that humans are superior and separate from nature."
• The report highlights the negative consequences of nature destruction on essential resources such as clean air and water.
• As an example, he cites the seven-generation principle practiced by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which emphasizes long-term thinking.

1. Reconsider responsibility: From me to we: Current thinking often prioritizes one's own communities and interests, leading to short-sighted decisions with negative global consequences (e.g. waste exports). The report argues for extending the sense of responsibility to the global level and future generations. It emphasizes the need for cooperation and joint solutions to global challenges.

• "As humans, we tend to think first about our own communities, even though many of the challenges we face affect the entire world."
• Unilateralism and egotistical approaches to solving global problems are criticized, such as efforts at solar geo-engineering without a global agreement.

1. Reimagine the future: From seconds to centuries: Culturally conditioned limitations on ideas about possible futures prevent radical change. The report calls for strengthening the collective imagination and defining the desirable future in which people would like to live. The example of the solarpunk movement is given, which imagines a world powered by renewable resources and focused on justice and well-being.

• "We are culturally conditioned to limit the range of possibilities for potential futures, believing that radical change is 'utopian' and ultimately unattainable."
• It is emphasized that a vision of a desired future can shape current decisions and actions.

1. Redefine value: From economic wealth to planetary health: The current focus on economic growth often fails to improve overall well-being and is damaging the planet. The report argues for a rethinking of what we consider “valuable” and for prioritizing indicators such as happiness, health and the state of the environment. It suggests recognizing the non-economic values of nature and focusing on compassion, care and equal opportunities for all.

• "If more wealth does not guarantee more well-being, why prioritize economic growth?"
• The report cites examples of countries where doctors are prescribing “green prescriptions” to promote health through time spent in nature.
• The need to live within planetary boundaries and focus on increasing well-being rather than constant economic growth is emphasized.

Theory of Deep Change (ToDC):

The report presents a theoretical framework for deep change, based on the iceberg model of systems thinking. This model argues that visible events and outcomes (the “tip of the iceberg”) are influenced by deeper patterns, structures (institutions, laws, behaviors) and underlying assumptions, values, and beliefs of society (the “roots of the iceberg”). To achieve lasting and desirable change, it is necessary to focus on these deeper levels.

• "If current events observed in the world are undesirable, such as forest fire devastation or desert locust outbreaks, they can often be linked to global climate change, and solutions can focus on the root causes of the problem."
• The report uses the metaphor of a tree, where undesirable outcomes are “rotten fruits” and change requires cultivating the “soil” (basic assumptions) and tending to the “roots” (inner levers and outer levers).

Inner and Outer Levers:

The report distinguishes between two types of levers of change:

• Inner levers: They represent changes in the thinking, values, and beliefs of individuals. They focus on overcoming the assumptions that support unsustainable behavior. An example is changing perceptions of smoking.
• “The most powerful levers operate at the level of assumptions to change our core beliefs and values; cultivating the soil from which a new tree will grow.”
• Other examples include adopting a mindset of “sufficiency” and cultivating humility.
• Outer levers: They represent structural, political and institutional reforms that enable collective shift and support new goals and values in the material world. An example is the introduction of rights for inanimate entities (rivers).
• “These external levers represent how to translate new goals into practical structures to achieve more desirable outcomes.”
• Other examples include changes in governance systems (laws, taxes, subsidies), changing the discount rate for long-term investments, and introducing new measures of progress (e.g. Gross National Happiness – GNH).

Visions of the future:

The report outlines visions for the future in line with five key changes:

• A world in harmony with nature: All life has value and people live in harmony with ecosystems.
• A world without waste: Resources are used consciously, materials are circulated and waste does not exist.
• Global Neighborhood: National borders do not pose obstacles to cooperation and mutual assistance.
• Good ancestors: Today's decisions ensure the quality of life and opportunities for future generations.
• The economy of well-being: The society is founded on compassion and care, prioritizing the well-being of people and the planet.

Action steps:

The report highlights that change requires efforts at all levels. Internal levers require individual changes in thinking and behavior, while external levers require collective action and reforms at the system level. It emphasizes that the success of transformation depends on the involvement of different actors and on who shapes the future.

The report, “Turning Over a New Leaf,” makes a compelling case for the need for a deep and comprehensive societal transformation to avert rising global risks. Through a framework of five key shifts and an analysis of the internal and external levers of change, it provides valuable insight into how we can move from an unsustainable present to a desirable and prosperous future for all. It emphasizes that this change requires a rethinking of fundamental assumptions and values, as well as the implementation of structural reforms and the strengthening of collective responsibility. Spring

Key quotes:

• "In our interconnected planet, striving for a better world means engaging in discussion and dialogue about values and goals with people from diverse backgrounds so that we can reach conclusions we agree with."
• “Similarly, in September 2024, UN member states adopted the Pact for the Future, which represents the most comprehensive international agreement in many years.”
• "If we accepted that resources are finite and scarce, we would have different goals and create different structures than the ones we have today."
• “Internal and external levers can work together when we rethink responsibility.”
• "Imagination of a more desirable future has the power to shape our current decisions and actions, which will plant the seeds for those visions to become reality."
• "Change can also begin at the level of structures, because seemingly small changes in structure can spark imagination about what is possible and gradually change our reality."
• "The success of achieving the desired future depends largely on who is shaping it."