2023 Future of Global Governance Series

The Future of Global Governance Series: Sustainable Development, Risk, and Strategic Foresight in a Transdisciplinary Systemic World

Organizers: Marvin Cheung and Marguerite Van Cook, Ph.D.

Organizations: The Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs and the Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR)

Date: 11 Nov 2023, Saturday 9AM - 11AM (New York Eastern Time)

Format: 10 minutes presentation with 5 minutes Q&A

Press Attendance: Dr. Angelos Alamanos (Associate Editor, Nature Sustainability, Springer Nature)

Description:

Building upon the 2022 Future of Global Governance Series Workshops held at the UN General Assembly Science Summit, the Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs and the Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR) is pleased to present the 2023 Future of Global Governance Conference. This year's conference features an exciting range of topics from transdisciplinary research to indigenous co-governance, climate governance, and lunar governance.

Marvin Cheung

Co-Director, Center for Global Agenda (CGA) at Unbuilt Labs; Chair, Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR)

This brief presentation introduces a novel theory on Transdisciplinary Systems Research (TSR) as well as its related concepts Transdisciplinary Systems Thinking (TST) and Transdisciplinary Systems Intervention (TSI). As a response to critiques of Soft Systems Thinking (SST), Hard Systems Thinking (HST), and Critical Systems Thinking (CST), TST has been formulated to solve grand challenges such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by combining transdisciplinary research (TDR) and systems thinking, with a dedicated research philosophy including a theory on boundaries (ontology), procedures for examining evidence (epistemology), and valuation lenses (axiology). TSR is when TST is applied to research. TSI are outputs of TSR which can include recommendations, interventions, and other actions. The methodological implications and evaluation criteria for TSR will not be covered in the presentation but they will be available in the conference paper.

See conference paper here

This presentation is part of a 2-part series. See Part 1: “What can systems research teach us about conducting impactful research for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals?”

Dr. Jennifer Keahey

Associate Professor, Arizona State University

The early twenty-first century sits at the apex of the Anthropocene. With its origins in the Industrial Revolution, this geological age of human dominance is the consequence of a world-system that values power and profit over the well-being of Earth's systems and species. In this talk, I draw from the cases of post-Soviet Latvia and post-apartheid South Africa, to show how both state-led and market-led development regimes have produced environmental and social devastation. In a 1979 speech on racism within the academy, the Black feminist scholar, Audre Lorde argued that the master's tools are incapable of dismantling the master's house. In a similar vein, I challenge global governance to revisit Western assumptions about the nature and meaning of development. Just alternatives to development are grounded in Indigenous, post-authoritarian, and decolonial cosmovisions that recognize our fundamental interconnectedness to everyone and everything, opening avenues for systemic change.

Harshita Khera

Operations Director, Open Lunar Foundation

Lunar governance presents a unique challenge, one that needs a departure from traditional, discipline-specific paradigms. A more effective governance system on the Moon is not only about lunar activities but also about inspiring Earth. By taking a transdisciplinary approach, we can draw lessons from history through cross-sector and cross-cultural insights, which can contribute to the advancement of global governance and cooperation. A transdisciplinary approach is crucial in tackling complex issues like lunar exploration, resource utilization, and settlement, as it enables a deeper and more holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved. Through fostering collaboration and integration across diverse disciplines,a transdisciplinary approach is better suited to formulate comprehensive, innovative, and adaptable solutions that consider the intricate and multifaceted nature of these challenges. In this presentation, we delve into the concept of transdisciplinary lunar governance through an exploration of real-world applications, examples, challenges, and benefits.

James Romberger

Artist and Educator

My graphic novel Post York (Dark Horse, 2021; translation to Spanish by Planeta, 2023) depicts a Manhattan flooded in the near future after the ice caps melt.  While the title is an ecofiction with some romanticized elements, I wanted to engage the public on critical issues around climate change and flood scenarios. New Yorkers have already been shocked by the heavy floods of Hurricane Sandy (2012) and Tropical Storm Ophelia (2023). I posed a set of questions to Unbuilt Labs to explore the science behind the scenarios I drew. They detailed such aspects as whether or not any of the in-progress seawalls or other defensive technologies will help stem the rising waters and storm surges, how high the oceans actually could rise and the resulting effects on the architectural stability of the various sorts of buildings in different neighborhoods, and the resulting dangers of mold and toxic algae. They challenged longtime sci-fi tropes about the availability and viability of any preserved foodstuffs, canned, bottled or otherwise. The afterword's summation: "It would be advisable to vacate the area."

Sherry Da

Graduate Student, University of Oxford; MSc in Water Science, Policy, and Management

Indigenous Peoples account for around 6% of the global population but are stewards of over a third of the world’s most important ecological areas. However, Indigenous Peoples around the world have been consistently left out of governance and planning decisions when it comes to natural resources management, land use planning, and sustainable development. 

In Canada’s efforts of reconciliation with the effects of colonization of Turtle Island, many steps have been made to include Indigenous Peoples as a part of the policy and decision-making process. I will showcase some examples of successful Indigenous consultation and co-creation for better policy making, community buy-in, and holistic design. By highlighting some examples of Indigenous nature and community values, I will show how they can be applied for more inclusive local-global governance and how it fits within a systems approach for more sustainable development. 

Achilles Kallergis

Director of Cities and Mobilities, Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility and Assistant Professor, The New School

Manavi Datta

Equity Researcher, Rivera Consulting Inc.

Climate Mobilities in African Cites, is a participatory research initiative conducted in four coastal African cities: Accra,  Ghana; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Monrovia, Liberia. Through an extensive effort with six  artners the project reached 4500 residents in high-risk urban areas to understand daily living conditions from a macro as well as an experiential viewpoint. In this presentation Achilles Kallergis and Manavi DaSa will first, highlight the  participatory, networked model that guided the project operations. Second the presentation will focus on how a transdisciplinary praxis emerges because of collecting a range of data points that transcends scale. Finally, how does the foundational research approach help expand conversations about climate governance and advance the potential of place-based governance strategies.

Post York (Dark Horse, 2021) by Prof. James Romberger