The Messy Middle with Climate KIC's Kirsten Dunlop

Episode 10 features Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of Climate KIC, discussing the profound shifts needed for climate action and transformation through radical collaboration and place-based approaches.

Kirsten emphasizes the importance of navigating the 'messy middle' — the gap between present realities and future climate goals — by fostering hope, courage, and systemic change. She highlights the role of unexpected partnerships and integrating art with science to drive human transformation and collective action.

Kirsten emphasizes the need for radical collaboration between diverse stakeholders, overcoming fragmentation and competition to bridge the gap between climate commitments and implementation.

She highlights the power of place-based solutions grounded in local meaning and agency and argues we must go beyond targets, exercising courage and imagination to remake systems and mindsets.

A key theme is embracing uncertainty and complexity, making sense of constant change through action, reflection and human experience.

Kirsten stresses the untapped potential of human connection and collective possibility when people engage each other with curiosity and generosity.

Key themes:

- Bridging gaps in implementation.

- Fostering an ecosystem of change through “deep demonstrations.”

- Constructing social infrastructure to tackle climate challenges.

- Role of unexpected partnerships and integrating art with science.

- Role of psychological and social dynamics for transformation.

- Strategic directions for Climate-KIC from 2024-2030.

Kirsten's LinkedIn Post

Climate KIC's 2024-2030 Strategy

Net Zero Cities project