The Regenerative Framework
Further to my previous article, I set out the Regeneration Framework which is a structured approach to regeneration based on basic legal principles.
There are many brilliant sustainability and regenerative initiatives and organisations that serve a regenerative purpose all around the world. However, what might be missing is collective, unified action on this front at a global scale, or at least a lack of general awareness of that if it exists. This collective, unified action would seem to be necessary if we are to genuinely bring about change towards a regenerative future.
Regeneration can be defined as the regeneration and preservation of the natural health of our planet. It goes beyond a focus on sustainability and net zero emissions, now that many experts are saying they are not enough to save our planet.
Regeneration will not be easy to achieve because it will require fundamental changes to how our societies and businesses work globally. In fact, Sarah Ichioka and Michael Pawlyn talk of a paradigm shift and fundamental systems change. This is a significant task for us all but it is also hard to deny that it is urgent and necessary. There will also be a lot of resistance to changes that it envisages. But again these changes are necessary.
We can’t rely on business alone to bring about this change. Profit and planet don’t always mix and are often at odds with each other. Initiatives are commonly judged according to what financial return they can make which is why so many fail to get off the ground. Finance is still needed to support a regenerative system but it can’t be the driving purpose as it is now.
Governmental action also seems to be compromised by competing or conflicting interests that governments also aim to serve. But like finance, governments can certainly help to an extent.
This is why we need an effective global framework in place to bring about that necessary change.
The purpose of the Regeneration Framework is to bring together and harmonise the following key elements that can bring about Regeneration. These are:
- The Regeneration Standard
- Balance and Impartiality
- The Regeneration Guidelines
- The Regeneration Network
- Regenerative Non-Profit Organisations (RNPOs)
- Regenerative Initiatives funded by non-RNPOs
The Regeneration Standard
The first element of the Regeneration Framework is the Regeneration Standard. This is the identifiable brand of the Regeneration Framework. It will need a name (perhaps the Regeneration Standard or another name) and perhaps a logo to make it unique and identifiable. It can be protected by registered trademarks around the world. RNPOs and others that contribute to Regenerative Initiatives will be able to use the brand to help raise awareness.
The Regeneration Standard is the underlying principle of the Regeneration Framework. It sets a very high bar of quality that needs to be achieved in order to bring about Regeneration, principally because of the sheer enormity of the immense challenge that we all inevitably face.
The Regeneration Standard is about the quality of input, method, practices and output of the entire Regeneration Framework while allowing for a variation of input, method, practices and output according to regional or local needs of nature. So while it is called a standard, it by no means sets a standard approach to regeneration. What is appropriate for an initiative in Africa will be different to what is appropriate in Australia. But both initiatives need to meet the same standard of quality to be effective.
The Regeneration Standard will be a standard of excellence that aims to attract attention, expertise, resource and funding.
The Regeneration Standard is illustrated by and enshrined in the Regeneration Guidelines. As the Guidelines apply to all participants and Regenerative Initiatives, it ensures that all participants in the Regeneration Framework work to the same standards of excellence. This is absolutely essential if we are to achieve global regeneration.
Balance and Impartiality
An important concept for the Regeneration Framework is that it must be impartial and balanced, meaning it must be based on a balanced approach to regeneration that draws from an appropriate range and diversity of expertise. It is vital that the Regeneration Framework is free from unfounded views, misinformation and disinformation.
The Regeneration Guidelines
The Guidelines are the full guidebook of the Regeneration Framework. They are not intended to be regulatory, instead they are designed to foster knowhow, collaboration and collective action based on expert guidance. It will provide important guidance to RNPOs and others that fund Regenerative Initiatives and ensure that the Regeneration Standard is met for all Regenerative Initiatives.
In drawing up the Guidelines, a broad collective of expertise is vital. This expertise needs to come from many sources and disciplines such as science, economics, politics, systems design and very importantly indigenous cultures and values. It will also require legal expertise.
There are two very important concepts that should be enshrined in the Guidelines — justification and transparency. All use of all funds towards Regenerative Initiatives should be 100% justified and transparent. Similarly, all key decisions for Regenerative Initiatives should be fully justified and transparent. The Guidelines should set out a process for ensuring a high standard of justification for each and every initiative. It is with a high standard for justification and delivery that we can ensure that all initiatives meet the Regeneration Standard. Transparency also ensures accountability for all to see.
The Regeneration Network
RNPOs and all other participants that contribute to Regenerative Initiatives will form the collective membership of the ReGeneration Network. This network will serve to strengthen their collective efforts through support and collaboration. Members of the Network will be able to seek or provide guidance, share knowhow and expertise, pool and share resources together and collaborate on joint/collective Regenerative Initiatives.
The Regeneration Network needs to be a forum for regeneration expertise that is shared amongst its members and beyond.
As above, members of the Regeneration Network will be able to use the Regeneration Standard trademark to help raise awareness.
RNPOs
RNPOs are the work horses of Regeneration and are the principle actors within the Regeneration Framework. Their primary purpose is the regeneration and preservation of the natural health of our planet. Fundamentally they are non-profit. They may be charities, trusts or any other organisation that serves the purpose of regenerating and preserving the natural health of the planet. They may also provide support and guidance to other RNPOs or even to other organisations and businesses that fund Regenerative Initiatives. For them to be effective, they need to be made up of an appropriate range of experts that can advise on and lead Regenerative Initiatives and provide expertise in many other forums and contexts.
RNPOs can also use their collective resource and contribute to existing lobbying frameworks to help implement necessary political change, whether at the local, regional, national or global level.
Many existing organisations can convert to RNPOs if they can show that they can fully operate according to the Regeneration Standard and Regeneration Guidelines.
Regenerative Initiatives
Regenerative Initiatives are the output of the Regeneration Framework. For them to be implemented, they need to satisfy the Regeneration Standard and the Regeneration Guidelines. Justification is key — they will need to be interrogated according to appropriate justification criteria before they can be launched. This will ensure high quality of output and assist the broader collective action on regeneration. While the majority of Regenerative Initiatives may be funded and managed by RNPOs, businesses and other organisations that are not necessarily RNPOs may also fund and possibly manage smaller scale Regenerative Initiatives. This is important in the early stages of the Framework while RNPOs are yet to emerge.
