Paul Hawken - Interconnected Futures - Fixing Business by Fixing Our Thinking
Mar 12, 2025
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In this conversation, visionary thinker Paul Hawken discusses the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how we approach business and our relationship with the planet. He emphasizes that merely doing less harm isn’t enough—businesses must actively do good. Highlighting the interconnectedness of carbon, biodiversity, and social justice, he advocates for integrating indigenous wisdom to tackle ecological issues. Paul also explores the transition from sustainability to true regeneration, urging a holistic approach to corporate practices for future generations.
Businesses must undergo a fundamental shift in perspective to move beyond mere sustainability and actively contribute to ecological regeneration.
Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change and biodiversity is essential for developing holistic and effective environmental solutions.
Carbon should be understood as a vital component of life, inspiring new narratives that appreciate its role in sustaining ecosystems.
Deep dives
Radical Transformation in Business Context
Businesses are currently facing an unprecedented transformation driven by new social, energy, and environmental demands. This shift requires organizations to rethink their purpose and make conscious efforts to minimize their negative impacts on natural resources. Balancing long-term sustainability goals with immediate operational constraints has become essential. To adapt effectively, businesses must explore innovative solutions and reinvent their approaches to align with these evolving contexts.
Evolving Understanding of the Ecological Crisis
The conversation highlights a significant evolution in understanding the ecological crisis, moving from a narrow focus on climate change to recognizing its interconnectedness with the biosphere and human activities. Historical narratives surrounding climate issues have primarily relied on fear, leading to disengagement and inaction among the public. Acknowledging that less than 1% of the world's population actively engages with climate issues illustrates the failure of traditional messaging. To foster effective change, a shift towards narratives that emphasize possibilities rather than limitations is crucial.
The Inseparability of Climate and Biodiversity
The discussion emphasizes that climate and biodiversity are not separate entities but rather interconnected elements of a singular living system. Misunderstandings about this relationship hinder effective climate solutions, as many attempts to address climate change overlook the ecological context. Recognizing biodiversity loss and climate degradation as intertwined crises allows for a more holistic approach to addressing environmental challenges. The call to action is to treat the atmosphere and the biosphere as a single, integrated system that must be preserved together.
The Role of Carbon in Life's Ecosystem
Carbon is positioned not merely as a problem to be eliminated but as an essential element that flows through life, linking all living organisms. This understanding of carbon's role shifts the narrative from viewing it as a detrimental force to appreciating its vital function in ecosystems. Awareness of carbon's properties fosters a sense of awe and wonder, urging individuals to appreciate its contributions to life rather than demonizing it. By redefining our relationship with carbon, society can begin to see practical solutions that leverage its potential for regeneration.
The Need for Systemic Change in Business Practices
Addressing environmental degradation requires fundamental changes in business practices, which often prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Companies must recognize that traditional economic models focused on constant growth may lead to ecological destruction and increased vulnerability. By going upstream in their supply chains, businesses can adopt regenerative practices that enhance resilience while ensuring their operations are ethically sound. This systemic shift toward integrating ecological considerations into business decisions is essential for creating a sustainable future.
In this episode, Julien is sitting down with Paul Hawken—visionary thinker, entrepreneur, author and founder of Project Drawdown. A leading, pioneering voice in the regeneration movement, Paul challenges the way we approach climate, biodiversity, and corporate responsibility. Not only doing less harm is not enough—businesses must actively do good. But to truly transform, we need more than new solutions; we need a fundamental, ontological shift in how we see the world and our role within it. His latest book, Carbon: The Book of Life, reminds us that all life-supporting systems are deeply interconnected.
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on rethinking business, reimagining our relationship with the planet, and moving beyond sustainability toward true regeneration.
