Citizen Zero Issue 01 by Citizen Zero

P E OP L E

P L A NE T

P UR P O S E

Transforming lives in Africa’s Sahel region

Protecting nature with legal personhood

Eloise Skinner on social mobility & education

CONTENTS

We are all global citizens – the inspiration for us to create Citizen Zero and the sentiment that underpins everything we want to share with you. The notion that global citizens understand the wider world and their role in it, that they engage in diverse world views and perspectives, and through their collective actions inspire others to make positive changes, is central to living sustainably. CONTACT

hello@citizenzero.online EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt High CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Steve Shipley ART DIRECTOR

Daniel Crawford

Now, that seems more important than ever. The impacts of climate change have been keenly felt around the world this year, conflict and unrest is displacing people and impacting the lives of children and adults at home, at school, and at work, and political decisions are causing many of us to be anxious about the future. In all this lies an important distinction. Sustainable development is so much more than discussions about climate change, net zero, and carbon footprints. It’s decent work and economic growth, resilient infrastructure and industry, reduced inequality and better employment, no

poverty and good health, education, the urban environment, eradicating hunger, looking after life on land and at sea, and so much more. That’s what you’ll find in Citizen Zero. We celebrate the people, organisations, and innovations taking an active role in building a better future across the three pillars of sustainable development: economic viability, social equity, and environmental protection. In doing so we hope to inspire you all to contribute to a more sustainable, peaceful, and fair planet. Thanks to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, and passion to this first issue. Matt.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

THE VALLEY, AMSTERDAM: dramatic, geology-inspired, and built for humans and nature to live in harmony.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

CONTENTS

14 06 | REGULARS

BRIEFING The people, innovations, and stories on our radar

34 42

14 | SOCIAL

TREE AID How trees are transforming lives in Africa’s Sahel region

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

80 | ENVIRONMENT

RECYCLING REVOLUTION 44 | SOCIAL

EDUCATION FOR ALL

44 30 | PIONEER

CLEAN MOBILITY Goodbye daily plug charges, hello Lightyear’s solar-powered car

34 | TRAILBLAZER

PURPOSE POWER Eloise Skinner on social mobility, education and higher purpose

Why education is fundamental for sustainable development

58 | ECONOMIC

CULTURE OF IMPACT Preparing tomorrow’s leaders for sustainability challenges

A jacket grown from food waste? You’d better believe it

84 | DIARY

GLOBAL EVENTS Citizen Zero’s places to go and people to see

62 | ENVIRONMENT

NATURE’S VOICE How does giving nature legal personhood protect the world?

42 | PIONEER

FUTURE FABRICS

Connecting people with opportunities, via recycled plastic

74 | INVENTORY

URBAN MOBILITY

Innovative, clean, and electric. There’s even some hovershoes...

78 | PIONEER

MAKING MONEY WORK Tred is a new, cleaner way to manage spending

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

80 05

BRIEFING

Briefing T H E P E O P L E, I N N O VAT I O N S, A N D S T O R I E S O N O U R R A D A R

SOCIAL: EDUCATION DELIVERING FOR ALL It’s simple really, isn’t it? Your background doesn’t have to determine your future. And yet, social mobility remains so challenging across all aspects of life. Thankfully, there’s people and organisations making positive change – just ask University of Bradford graduate Aimee Brannan, who is now studying for a Masters Degree. Aimee, who is dyslexic, found education difficult, scraping through her GCSE exams and reluctantly enrolling on a childcare course at her mum’s suggestion. At 16, after a breakdown in her relationship with her parents, she went into care, living in council accommodation with other young people in similar situations. After a challenging fiveyear period, she attended an open day at the University of Bradford, enrolling on its

University of Bradford has a ‘designed-in’

criminology course in 2019.

approach to student employability that pro-

The institution champions opportunities for

vides curricular and extracurricular

care experienced students and is a signatory

opportunities. It works in partnership with

member of the Care Leavers Covenant. This

national and international employers to offer

year, for the third time in a row, it was ranked

real-world career development and provides

first in England on the Higher Education Policy

evidence-led career support.

Institute’s (HEPI) Social Mobility Index (SMI).

“This whole-system approach underpins our

Education is a key contributor to social

success in delivering social mobility for our

mobility, says HEPI, delivering benefits for

students, a systems model to inclusion as

both individuals and society. The SMI ranks

a means of accelerating equality for all, making

English universities by their contribution to

our diversity count, and enabling everyone

social mobility based on the social distance

to achieve their full potential,” says Vice-

travelled by their graduates.

Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon. bradford.ac.uk hepi.ac.uk

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SOCIAL: LAW LEGAL CHALLENGE Picture a plastic water bottle. There’s a good chance you’ll see a variation on the claim the bottle in question is ‘100% recyclable’. According to environmental law charity Client Earth, claims like this that appear on water bottles all over Europe ‘are either vague, factually incorrect, or not substantiated, and may suggest that bottles can be recycled in an infinite circular loop, which is simply not true’. Client Earth, along with the Environmental Coalition on Standards, is supporting the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC) in filing a legal complaint to the European Commission against Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone over its use of misleading ‘100% recyclable’

ECONOMIC: BUSINESS

and ‘100% recycled’ claims on plastic water

BUILDING BETTER

bottles sold across Europe.

Two years ago, Lego revealed new bricks

The external alert, raised to the European

made from recycled polyethylene tereph-

Commission and the Consumer Protection

thalate (rPET) from plastic bottles. The

Cooperation Network, alleges ‘suspected

prototype bricks used recycled bottles

widespread infringement of consumer

– every 1-litre bottle providing enough

protection law’. The alert, a tool that allows

material for 10 4x2 Lego bricks – with addi-

designated entities to submit evidence of

tives to equal the strength of existing

business practices they suspect infringe

standard Lego parts made from oil-based

consumer protection law, argues the recy-

ABS plastic. However, the Danish brand

cling statements may ‘mislead consumers

will halt plans to develop the bricks after

into viewing single-used bottles as a ‘sustain-

two years of testing, because it says the

able’ choice, when this simply isn’t the case’.

material won’t help to reduce its carbon

clientearth.org

emissions. Some sustainable materials will stay. Lego makes its trees, plants, leaves, and other accessories from bio-polyethylene, a sugarcane-based plastic. lego.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

ENVIRONMENT: FOOD LAST LINE OF DEFENCE Look around you [courtesy of the virtual tour in the link below]. Beyond the incredible natural beauty, there’s little else to see here in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. But, beneath your virtual feet, lies humanity’s last hope. Nestled in permafrost caves deep in the mountainside is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – an Arctic ‘doomsday’ store built to protect the world’s food stock from disasters ranging from nuclear war to global warming. The vault was launched in 2008 as a backup to the world’s national and regional gene banks that store the genetic code for thousands of plant species. It contains seed samples from nearly every country in the world and also serves as a backup for plant breeders looking to create new climate-change resistant crop varieties.

ECONOMIC: CULTURE

In spring 2023 the vault’s chambers, which are kept at temperatures of

NORWAY DISTILLED

around -18 degrees Celsius and only

Nestled in the heart of Oslo, HIMKOK is fast-

opened three times a year to limit expo-

becoming a Norwegian institution as much for its

sure to the outside world, received a

expertly crafted spirits as its sustainable practices.

diverse batch of nearly 20,000 rare

Citizen Zero meets Flavour Developer Paul Vosa.

seed variety samples from around the

What should we know about HIMKOK?

world, taking its total collection to more than 1.2 million. Said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust, the international non profit that operates the vault, “from here in Svalbard, the world looks different. This seed vault represents hope, unity and security”. virtualtourcompany.co.uk

We strive to embody Norwegian culture through expertly crafted cocktails and spirits distilled on site that stay true to the surrounding natural landscape. We do so with a strong sense of responsibility, sustainability, and a deep appreciation for the local environment and community. How do you create drinks sustainably? Having our own distillery, which uses renewable energy sources like hydropower, is a cornerstone

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

INNOVATION: MOBILITY MOVEMENT THAT MATTERS Since 2005, The Index Award biennale – or ‘the Nobel Prize for design’ to those in the know – has celebrated some of the world’s most impactful and iconic solutions and their designers dedicated to tackling problems that matter. Like Japanese designer Mikiya Kobayashi. From his Tokyo office and showroom, Kobayashi uses natural materials including sustainably sourced wood to meld traditional shape and form with modern manufacturing processes and technologies. His three-wheeled electric personal mobility concept, ILY-Ai appeared in The Index Biennale’s Play & Learning category, addressing solutions for several key outcomes of the SDGS such as affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, life of our commitment. Other steps include sourcing local ingredients and using traditional preservation techniques, zero-waste practices, investment in energy-efficient technologies, water conservation, and community engagement. We also track and report key sustainability metrics. Why do Norwegian embrace sustainability? Our connection with Norway’s natural beauty is integral to our identity. Throughout our history we’ve instilled a profound appreciation for nature,

on land, and industry, innovation and infrastructure. ILY-Ai is for those with mobility issues, such as the elderly and is designed for indoor and outdoor use. Beneath its organic shape, carved from solid chestnut, it hides digital mobility technology like sensors that automatically stop it when they detect an obstacle. mikiyakobayashi.com

and we’re stewards of our resources. Whether sustainable fishing practices or responsible forestry, we understand the importance of balancing our needs with the health of the environment. himkok.no

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

INNOVATION: CIRCULAR ECONOMY BEST FOOT FORWARD

we’re shamed into doing.

Citizen Zero talks to Alex Witty, founder of

How did Compound Footwear develop?

Compound Footwear, about his mission

Having spent a year working on a different

to convert motorsport industry waste into

footwear project and gaining an understand-

recycled, sustainable sneakers.

ing of the sneaker market and the waste it

What got you into sustainability?

generates, we were in the middle of the

When I was young my mother worked as a producer/director at the BBC Natural History Unit and her incredible stories of the wonders of the world cemented my passion for natural conservation and exploration. Studying in

and desirable, not a buzzword or something

COVID lockdown. The Australian Grand Prix had been cancelled and I saw that 1,800 tyres were sent back to the UK for incineration having never touched the road. It was a eureka moment: can we use the waste

Brighton, which has a strong green ethos,

rubber to replace that used in footwear?

influenced me too. I was constantly pissed

What’s the extent of the waste problem?

off by people preaching to me and shaming

Twenty-five billion pairs of shoes are manu-

me for their beliefs (which we both shared);

factured globally each year using virgin

it made me want to make sustainability sexy

materials, and 22 billion end up in landfill.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

ECONOMIC: BUSINESS CLIMATE LEADERS SPEAK ‘Deeper collaboration in the areas of greatest impact between business and government is needed to accelerate our net-zero actions for the benefit of society, public health, and the global economy’. The message to world leaders from the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders ahead of COP28. The alliance, more than 100 CEOs and Senior Execs from global companies, represents $4tn in revenues and 12 million employees. In the letter, released by the World Economic Forum, they explain that every fraction of a degree counts in the race to net zero, and that public-private collaboration and government support is crucial in tackling complex and lengthy regulatory and administrative processes that slow innovation, lack of suitable grid infrastructure with power networks unprepared to adequately integrate renewShoe production releases as much CO2 each year as the emissions of 66 million cars – a carbon footprint that accounts for 20% of the world’s fashion waste. Motorsport, including F1, rallying and Indycar, consumes more than 600,000 tyres in a season, most of which become waste after a race, or even a few laps. By using the rubber left on these tyres, we can prevent the use

able energy, and technological constraints. To succeed, says the alliance, regulatory and policy makers should massively scale up investment in renewable energy and power networks, lead by example on public procurement practices, turbocharge carbon removals, and simplify climate disclosure and measuring standards. initiatives.weforum.org

and demand for virgin rubber and reduce the carbon-intensive process it requires. We want Compound Footwear to be a global solution to this sneaker and tyre waste crisis. compoundfootwear.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SOCIAL: ARCHITECTURE AT ONE WITH NATURE The larch timber cladding The Plus is gently charred. It’s maintenance free and fire retardant, but also a nod to the history of the 300 acre woodland near the Norwegian village of Magnor where it sits, whose 17th century inhabitants practised slash-andburn agriculture. Architects Bjarke Ingels Group built the structure for sustainable furniture firm Vestre to demonstrate that nature, people, and industry can live in harmony and be sustainable. The Plus uses local mass timber, low-carbon concrete and recycled steel, incorporates energy-efficient Passivhaus techniques, and uses solar panels, geothermal wells, and heat pumps. big.dk

ENVIRONMENT: FASHION CREATING CIRCULAR TEXTILES

There’s a growing move to sustainable prac-

technology to create Infinna, a premium-

tices bubbling under in Finland – only last

quality, circular textile fiber that reduces

year the nation took the crown of Europe’s

reliance on virgin raw materials. The brand

best country for sustainable shoppers. The

currently works with the likes of Adidas,

country’s brands are leading the way. Like

Patagonia, Wrangler, Tommy Hilfiger, and

Infinited Fiber, which takes in cotton-rich

Calvin Klein.

textile waste and uses its own patented

infinitedfiber.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SOCIAL: INFRASTRUCTURE URBAN INNOVATION The traditional way to build a city – overbearing concrete infrastructure, little to no plant life, and noisy and unpleasant highways that make us humans seem an afterthought – seems so outdated. It’s little wonder cities worldwide are reinventing abandoned railway lines and decaying flyovers into aerial parks and green spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and community projects. Mumbai is one of them. A developer in the city appointed StudioPOD to create One Green Mile, a 1.8km stretch of land under the city’s Senapati Bapat Marg flyover, a series of major roads that extend for more than 11km through the heart of Mumbai. StudioPOD worked with MVRDV, an architecture practice from the Netherlands, on one part of the project to create a commu-

ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE STATE OF THE CLIMATE

The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering

nity space that would address the flyover’s

uncharted territory, tells us in no uncertain

negative impact while responding to the

terms about the impacts of climate change:

area’s lack of greenery and physical ameni-

‘life on planet earth is under siege. We are

ties. The result enhances connections for

now in uncharted territory’. The report,

pedestrians and cyclists, provides shaded

published by Oxford University Press on

and inclusive green public spaces, a gym,

behalf of the American Institute of Biological

performance space, and reading rooms.

Sciences, reveals all-time climate related

One Green Mile asks a question, says MVRDV

records and deeply concerning patterns

partner Stefan de Koning: ‘what if we expected

of climate-related disasters. They include:

highways to give something back to the

• E xceptional global heat waves leading

places they cut through?’ mvrdv.com

to record high temperatures • Record breaking sea surface temperatures and unprecedented low levels of sea ice around Antarctica • 38 days of global average temperatures above 1.5 degree Celsius by 12 September • Possibly the warmest temperature on Earth over the past 100,000 years in early July academic.oup.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SOCIAL

Building the Great Green Wall

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Tree Aid CEO Tom Skirrow on how thriving trees can transform the lives of communities in Africa’s Sahel region and help reverse the impacts of climate change The frankincense trees in Ethiopia’s Metema

harvest frankincense sustainably and

forest, the last green belt before the start of

protect the forest for future generations,

the desert, are a lifeline for members of the

are so important.

local community like 28-year-old mother of two Birtukan Gebeyehu. Yet, like so much

Joining Future Forest in a management and

of the natural resources and land in the Sahel,

leadership role, Birtukan now leads the

a drylands region of Africa where more than

forest management project and is the only

300 million people’s lives are affected by

female executive member. Through her

climate change, they’re at risk. Rising tem-

work she has increased her awareness of

peratures, high rates of tree felling, and

the climate crisis and conservation of

unsustainable tapping for frankincense

natural resources and, having not had the

mean that, with no action, the Metema forest

chance to attend school when she was

could be extinct in just 20 years.

young, is an advocate for the vital role of education and ensuring her own young chil-

For Birtukan and the communities who rely

dren have the opportunities that weren’t

on the forest for food and money – the trees

available to her. Trees, she says, ‘are the

provide up to 30% of household income for

beginning and the end. The whole system

families, who sell their resin to be used as

exists because there are trees, and if they

incense and essential oils around the world

are destroyed, it would collapse’.

– this would be devastating. Which is why community-led projects like Tree Aid’s Future Forest initiative, which provides tools and training so the local community can

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“In an environment where people already face poverty and food insecurity, every time more land is degraded the strain on life increases”

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

THE CHALLENGES IN THE SAHEL

“This is a part of the world most affected

The work in the Metema forest is just one

by the climate crisis and land degradation,”

example of many that demonstrate the

Skirrow explains. “As an example, there’s

potential of a thriving ecosystem of trees.

roughly nine million hectares in Burkina Faso

Tree Aid recognises this, working with local

alone that was once viable as arable land,

people in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger,

but no longer is. In an environment where

Ethiopia, and Senegal to tackle poverty and

people already face poverty and food inse-

the effects of the climate crisis by growing

curity, every time more land is degraded

trees, improving livelihoods, and restoring

the strain on life increases. The challenges

land. Its projects, says CEO Tom Skirrow,

of climate change become exponential.

help to provide food and income to those

Temperatures in the Sahel have increased

who most need it today, and protect the

by around 1% since the 1970s and are pro-

environment for tomorrow.

jected to increase by a further 3% to 4% by the end of this century – potentially double

“When we were founded in 1987 famine was

the global forecasted rise – so you have

rife across the drylands of Africa,” he says.

this huge impact of the changes that are

“The aid effort at the time providing food,

happening in a place that’s already one of

clothing, and water was absolutely a neces-

the most vulnerable.”

sary approach, but it was also short-termist. Our premise was that there must be some-

Communities in the region rely on farmland

thing more sustainable that could also

for food and income, yet land degradation

empower local communities and help tackle

from human-related and natural factors like

many of the problems they faced. It was quite forward-thinking at that point to say that if trees and landscape management could be brought to these areas and they were restored to what they once were, then it should and will reduce desertification, which in turn will lower the likelihood of drought and famine.” The people of the Sahel face some of the most challenging living conditions imaginable as the result of climate change. Daily lives across the region are devastated by a drastic and ongoing reduction in fertile land, food is difficult to grow, poverty is increasing, and millions are forced to go hungry or flee their homes in search of work.

“Planting trees is better for agroforestry, crop yields and water retention, preventing erosion, making soil more fertile, providing shade from the sun, and providing food”

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“We ensure people learn the right skills and capabilities to restore and protect their land for future generations” overfarming, overgrazing, deforestation, and extreme weather are turning fertile land to desert. Without trees to stabilise the soil, store water, and protect the land, droughts and floods are more frequent and severe, and soil that was once rich in nutrients can no longer support life. Globally, 12 million hectares of land are lost to desertification each year while, across Africa, 700 million hectares of forest landscapes are already degraded; in the continent’s drylands 300 million people are vulnerable to desertification. Tree Aid takes a holistic and community-led approach to reversing the impact of some of these challenges across four key areas: forest governance, natural resource manage-

responsibility within the landscape that

ment, enterprise development, and food

surrounds their community. If you don’t have

security and nutrition. The first, says Skirrow,

those systems, rules, expectations, and

provides the foundation upon which to make

responsibilities and all the other work we go

lasting change: “It’s about saying ‘what in

on to do will likely fail.

this landscape do people have the responsibilities and rights to manage and care

“Our approach to natural resource manage-

for?’,” he states. “If that care isn’t there the

ment is about understanding the incentives

landscape degrades, so our forest govern-

to restoration,” he continues. “There’s

ance model focuses on working with the

a negative cycle at the moment of needing

local community to understand how each

more viable land to farm for income, clearing

member can play a part and have a right and

existing forestry because of that, and using trees for fuel. To make restoration a viable option for people on the frontline of the climate

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“You set the right governance and understanding of roles and responsibilities, clearly map out the incentives and opportunities, embed the skills, and only then do you plant the tree” 22

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

BIRTUKAN GEBEYEHU Birtukan leads Tree Aid’s Future Forest forest management project in Ethiopa’s Metema Frankincense forest, one of the largest green belts before the start of the desert. The forest’s trees provide up to 30% of household income for families in the local community yet, without action, they could be extinct in 20 years due to the impacts of deforestation and the climate crisis. By participating in the project, Birtukan has received training on ways to protect the forest for future generations, and increased her awareness of the climate crisis and the conservation of natural resources. Today she champions the forest’s trees in her community, saying ‘they are the beginning and the end. The whole system exists because there are trees, and if they are destroyed it would collapse’. For Birtukan, like so many women involved in Tree Aid’s projects, the impact of participating in work to tackle community climate challenges reaches far beyond trees. Difficult personal experiences when young meant she was unable to attend school leaving her passionate about education and her children having opportunities she didn’t. Her work with Tree Aid and role as a leader has improved her self-esteem and encouraged her to support local initiatives transforming the lives of women and girls in the community.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“The only way to achieve lasting change – and change that’s desperately needed in this environment – is to work together and support the community to be empowered” crisis we work with communities to demonstrate the short- and long-term incentives for planting trees. In the long term it’s better for agroforestry, crop yields and water retention, preventing erosion, making soil more fertile, providing shade from the sun, and food.”

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE In the short term trees provide the opportunity to diversify income, build sustainable livelihood opportunities, and enterprise development. Across Africa 66% of the population are in ‘vulnerable’ employment; in the sub-Saharan region 413 million people live in extreme poverty. In this context, ongoing

TOM SKIRROW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TREE AID

reduction of fertile land and the climate crisis make it increasingly hard for people to grow crops to eat and sell and, with no sta-

especially vulnerable to the impact of the

ble source of income, basic essentials like

climate crisis in the Sahel, where the threat

healthcare and education are out of reach.

to rural livelihoods sees many adult men leave their communities to find work in urban

Tree Aid supports people to establish and

areas. Because of this, the responsibility

develop businesses using ‘non-timber’

to maintain natural resources, provide food,

forest products such as fruits, nuts, leaves,

fuel, shelter, and income rests with women

and oils to create viable enterprises capable

who, in countries like Burkina Faso, face

of supplementing farm income. Women are

challenges such as insecure rights, high levels of unpaid work, and unequal access to land, health, and education.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Since 2017, Tree Aid has supported women

resistant to drought. Local people can use

and children in Burkina Faso through the

the trees’ products to set up enterprises,

creation of nutrition gardens. These small

with several groups having already devel-

communal village plots are dedicated to

oped business plans and selling in shops

cultivating fast-growing trees like moringa

and kiosks.

and baobab that produce leaves in as little as three months, are highly nutritious, and

“We ensure people learn the right skills and

can be used fresh or dry for consumption

capabilities to restore and protect their land

and sale. The moringa tree in particular brings

for future generations,” adds Skirrow. “That

a host of benefits. Known as the ‘drought

covers everything from how to plant and grow

warrior’, it’s almost entirely edible from

a tree, understanding how to manage forest

leaves to roots, packed with essential nutri-

fires or nurturing a tree that is sick, through

ents – just 100g of leaves contain as much

to managing the soil and water around the

protein as an egg, calcium as a glass of milk, and vitamin C as an orange – and is highly C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

tree so that when the rains come it can be

focused and African-led to grow a vast belt

slowed or retained for the purpose of grow-

of trees, vegetation, and fertile land across

ing the trees. And, in terms of how we work,

the drylands of the Sahel to increase biodi-

all of these natural resource management

versity, restore and protect land, grow food,

skills actually come further down the line

and create green jobs. By 2030, the Great

that you’d imagine; you set the right gov-

Green Wall aims to restore 100 million hec-

ernance and understanding of roles and

tares of land, sequester 250 million tons of

responsibilities, clearly map out the incen-

carbon, and create 10 million green jobs.

tives and opportunities, embed the skills,

As part of the movement, Tree Aid works

and only then do you plant the tree.”

together with the African Union and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to

Relying on farmland for food and income

make lasting change.

makes life unpredictable. Too much or too little rain, rising temperatures and poor-

“The only way to achieve lasting change

quality soil means that communities often

– and change that’s desperately needed in

“There are millions of people out there that deserve better lives” struggle to grow enough food. As a result,

this environment – is to work together, sup-

malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies are

port the community to be empowered, and

common in the areas in which Tree Aid works

to have everyone pulling in the same direc-

– in sub-Saharan Africa 239 million people

tion,” says Skirrow. “When we work with

are undernourished, while nearly four mil-

a community it’s about them becoming the

lion children experience severe wasting.

change agents, but they can’t be the change

In this environment, trees like baobab or

agents without agency, and they can’t have

moringa are a crucial resource of fruit, nuts,

that agency without empowerment. On

and leaves, providing a stable and reliable

a practical level that involves looking at the

alternative to crops that may fail.

skills that are lacking, how we can shape them together, how we can help them under-

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

stand the rights and responsibilities they

Skirrow points out that across Tree Aid’s

have to the space, and perhaps build a fairer

holistic approach, community empower-

system for managing it. If everyone contrib-

ment and working in partnership with

utes to that system together, they have the

people in the Sahel is fundamental. This

ability to make collective positive choices to

ethos underpins the Great Green Wall,

create better outcomes.”

an international effort that’s community26

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

The benefits trees provide to regions like the

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years

Sahel and its people are vast. Aside from

ago, the second best time is now, and that’s

incentives for income and the provision of

acceptable for us because we’re in this for

nutritious sources of food, reforestation work

the long game,” says Skirrow. “Of course,

like that which Tree Aid carries out improves

you could fly a drone over the area and drop

biodiversity, helps prevent soil erosion,

seeds or seedlings and hope it works, but

improves water retention and prevents

the reality is it doesn’t. You make this work

flooding, improves soil fertility and thus

by working with the communities and build-

crop yield, and provide shade for people and

ing something they want to happen. If we

animals in increasingly high temperatures.

don’t start taking action now, then we’re in

And yet, the work isn’t simple.

serious trouble. I’d challenge anyone to say

“I’d challenge anyone to say the Sahel is too hard to restore. It’s a biodiverse and interesting environment. Yes, it’s tough terrain but if you plan well and choose the right trees for the conditions you can move at scale with the community”

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

the Sahel is too hard to restore. It’s a biodiverse and interesting environment. Yes, it’s tough terrain but if you plan well and choose the right trees for the conditions you can move at scale with the community. “There is clearly a link between global deforestation and land degradation and global heating and the climate crisis,” he adds. “That means there’s a clear incentive for a world that’s trying to solve this problem to look to a place that is not only most affected by climate change, but also has land ready to be restored and a community ready to put work into that space. If this is genuinely something we see as a global solution to a global problem, then we should be looking at places like the Sahel, where the benefits are myriad, and considering how to support the restoration effort more effectively.”

why is the Sahel only ever mentioned when we’re talking about a coup? Why do regions and countries that don’t provide major exports or ties to trade links, or are not a part of the geopolitical sphere get forgotten? Or why aren’t we talking about the need to put funding into the region from international

ASKING CHALLENGING QUESTIONS In 2022 Tree Aid launched a new five-year strategy. It recognises both the ‘profound and urgent’ need for transformation and the opportunity to make significant and lasting change across the drylands of Africa. It also recognises that the scale of work required is beyond that which Tree Aid can do alone. This, says Skirrow, means focusing on engaging with other organisations and governments to instigate broader and systemic change.

governments? “There needs to be a ripple effect from the work we’re doing and the work of the Great Green Wall. It’s about systems change – influencing local governments to create policies for incentives, trade, and sustainable environmental management, but also securing the investment needed to drive these changes. We have to bring the Sahel to people’s attention so they recognise it’s the centre of the climate and poverty crises,

“It’s about thinking more deeply about what the systems are that are stopping this happening across the board,” he says. “That involves challenging questions for all of us:

and that there are millions of people out there who deserve better lives.” treeaid.org

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

PIONEER

CLEAN

MOBIL 30

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Goodbye daily plug charges. Hello free and clean energy-driven mobility

LITY C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Pop quiz: how many kilometres are there in a lightyear? We’ll save you the headache – if the 0 on our keyboard can take it. It’s 9,460,000,000,000 km. That’s also the same distance that all cars combined drive in a single year. If we’re to make a real impact tackling the effects of climate change, cleaning up the automotive industry is crucial; a lightyear powered by fossil fuels isn’t the answer. Clean mobility is. And yet, many of the concerns associated with electric vehicles still exist: range anxiety, worries around charging infrastructure, and an inability to charge at home for starters. But, says Lightyear, electric vehicles don’t have to depend solely on plugs, sockets, and the grid. Instead, its Lightyear 2 harnesses the free, clean power of the sun. Lightyear 2 is solar electric, using an integrated five square metre-layer of solar cells that charge up to 70 km of range per day, reducing the need to rely on charging stations – in the right conditions it can drive for months without charging from the grid. It’s also highly efficient, both in aerodynamic design and powertrain, which has been designed to eliminate the need for energy draining components like a gearbox or driveshafts. Sustainable manufacturing techniques have been factored in too – Lightyear 2 uses recycled carbon body panels, has a vegan interior with naturally sourced materials, and detailing made of rattan palm. lightyear.one

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Lightyear’s mission is to bring clean mobility to the world by developing scalable solar electric vehicles

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

TRAILBLAZER

PURPOSE POWER We talk to Eloise Skinner about social mobility, education, and why every young person deserves the opportunity to decide their own future

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

confession: I don’t know how to introduce Eloise Skinner. You see, on paper there’s several options: Cambridge university graduate, successful former lawyer, author, teacher, existential therapist, founder

of two businesses making a difference in the education and social impact sectors. I could go on. And that’s without adding one-time member of an experimental monastic community established by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Enterprise Advisor for the Mayor of London’s education and careers strategy, and youth board member of the UK’s national social mobility charity, for good measure [we will, in the interests of time, save tarot reader and contortionist for another occasion]. In reality, the choice doesn’t matter too much. In the context of meeting Skinner to discuss social mobility in the UK, fairer access and inclusion for everyone, improving education and routes to work for young people, and social impact, they all contribute to her passion for the causes. And, rather helpfully, they’re all underpinned by a singular theme: purpose. Skinner is driven by the idea of integration, bringing all aspects of work and life together to live with intention, value, and integrity. She believes it’s fundamental in education, in finding work that’s as meaningful as it is a source of income, and in creating equality and diversity in the opportunities available to all of us. But first, that monastery.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“It came about towards the end of my time

a product of her own life journey. “I was born

in law,” Skinner says, telling me how a year

on an East London council estate,” she says.

of soul-searching after five practising as

“My parents were musicians, so I was

a successful corporate lawyer awakened

exposed to a lot of music, art, and culture –

her own sense of purpose and giving back.

my first ‘business’ enterprise was teaching

“It’s basically an experiment in applying

piano to kids, and I loved reading, writing

ancient concepts around what it means to

and, basically, arguing with people… or, as

really live fully, to connect with what matters

we should call it, ‘debating and advocacy’.

in the most deep and meaningful ways, and

I wasn’t really ever inspired to be a lawyer.”

living to a set of principles you value and believe in, whether that’s how you help oth-

Skinner went to sixth form, and later univer-

ers, how you give back to the community, or

sity, in Cambridge where she studied law,

even something like living sustainably. It’s

graduating with triple first class honours.

extreme. Like, the most intense version of

It was, she says, an environment that ce-

spirituality and how you live out your beliefs

mented her thoughts on equal opportunity

about the world, your place in it, and the

in education, social mobility, and equality.

purpose of your life.” “I always felt a little bit out of place,” she In principle, we suggest, it’s an idea not too

recalls. “I was surrounded by people who,

dissimilar from the global citizenship ethos

I thought, had far higher aspirations than

at the heart of sustainable development.

I did and it really opened my eyes to what

“Certainly the tradition I trained in, it’s very

was possible. I saw firsthand the power

much based on loving people in the same

of being in an environment where you’re

way you do yourself, giving back to the

told you can do anything and it struck me

community, and thinking about and caring

how unfair it was that so many never get

for others as you would for you or someone

that opportunity, especially in their forma-

you cared about,” Skinner agrees. “In the

tive years when they’re wondering what to

broader sense, finding that kind of purpose

do as a career or how to shape their future.

is crucial to living well, discovering and

It helped me realise the importance of role

accessing new opportunities in education

models in education who can practically

or in work, and understanding our place in

demonstrate what a job or an industry looks

the world.”

like, show what’s possible, and get young people to believe they’re capable of doing

“WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A FRESH OPPORTUNITY”

something if they want it.”

For Skinner, much of her own sense of purpose revolves around advancing diversity,

While at Cambridge, Skinner worked on the

equality and social mobility. It is, in part,

university’s Access Team to broaden access to students from a wide range of backgrounds and with a diverse scope of experience. She continued to work with other charities after

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“I saw firsthand the power of being in an environment where you’re told you can do anything and it struck me how unfair it was that so many never get that opportunity”

graduating including Young Women’s Trust, an

throughout life, hurdles in education that

organisation tackling economic issues facing

lead to barriers to employment, and the

young women in the UK who, on average, earn

mental health and wellbeing impacts those

£5,000 less a year than young men of the

issues can create. It shouldn’t matter what

same age and are more likely to be in debt or

your parents or grandparents did with

struggling in the cost-of-living crisis. Skinner

their lives, whether or not they went to

donated the profits of her first book to the

university, what kind of career they had,

charity; profits from her second, The Purpose

or the level of income they earned. We

Handbook, went towards the UK national

should all have a fresh opportunity to

social mobility charity Career Ready, for which

create our own life story.”

Skinner is a Youth Board member.

“IT’S ABOUT BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS” “I wanted my books to contribute something

The challenges of social mobility and its

more,” she says on joining the charity, “really,

impact on areas like education and employ-

to be more purposeful. I was inspired to help fix

ment continue to be very real. In 2023,

the challenges young people face including social gaps that start early and endure C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“I was inspired to help fix the challenges young people face including social gaps that start early and endure throughout life, hurdles in education that lead to barriers to employment, and the mental health and wellbeing impacts of those issues”

the UK Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)

According to the IFS: ‘Previous work has

and the Nuffield Foundation launched

shown that intergenerational income mobility

a sweeping review into inequality and inter-

in England was lower for those born in 1970

generational mobility in the UK, addressing

than those born in 1958. Using administrative

areas including income, health, wealth,

data on the most recent birth cohorts for

and opportunity, not just between rich and

whom earnings data are available, we find no

poor but by gender, ethnicity, geography,

evidence of recovery from that decline.

age, and education. It found that children

National estimates of mobility of cohorts born

from poor households were finding it harder

in the late 1980s look very similar to those of

to move to higher income brackets than

the 1970 cohort and education inequalities

40 years ago, and that parental income had

continue to be the dominant mediator’.

become a stronger predictor of the income people born from the 1970s onwards could

The UK government’s Social Mobility

expect by the age of 28.

Commission published its State of the Nation

2023: People and Places report on social mobility across the UK in September 2023. It found it ‘worrying that social mobility 38

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

challenges,” says Skinner. “A lot of what Career Ready does is based around building people’s worldview in a way that’s different from their current perception, about shifting mindsets, and mentoring programmes – don’t underestimate the power of having someone in front of you as a young person who has been through the same challenges, is from the same background, and can show you it’s possible to succeed. There’s also practical help: things like resources, employer-led programmes, workplace experiences, and insights and information. It’s all about breaking down barriers.”

“PURPOSE IS FUNDAMENTAL IN EDUCATION” As well as consultancy and mentoring work for charities, Skinner runs two businesses – outcomes not only depend on who your

One Typical Day and The Purpose Workshop

parents are, your education, and your skills,

– focused on education, purpose, and living

but also where you grew up’, recognising

a full and meaningful life. One Typical Day,

21% of lower working-class young people

which she developed during time spent

are not in employment, education, or train-

training at Oxford University’s Venture

ing – a figure significantly higher than all

Creation Programme is a content creation

other socio-economic groups.

programme that helps students figure out their first careers and demystify the future

Career Ready helps to empower young peo-

world of work. It works with the Careers

ple, giving their talents a platform to flourish

and Enterprise Company, the Mayor of

from. It works with young people, schools,

London’s selected careers provider, to build

and colleges who face barriers in education

a portfolio of digital resources that’s shared

and employment that often means these skills

across a network of London schools and

go undiscovered.

educational institutions.

“It’s such a multifaceted problem, and consists of several deep-rooted and persistent C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“It’s so hard to even predict what the future

class plans and guide personal development

careers environment looks like; how do

for students. Giving young people the space

students begin to prepare for that?,” asks

to find that sense of purpose is fundamental

Skinner. “In that context – and this is where

in education. Often we do what we know,

learning and work integrate so well with

or what’s relevant to the environment we

purpose – we’re trying to help young people

grow up in, which is one of the challenges of

focus on a set of career values instead of

social mobility. How we bring this to school

a specific job, to know what they want out of

depends on the age group but it’s broadly

the world of work, and to understand there’s

about introducing certain questions in a way

flexibility and fluidity there. It goes back to

that’s practical. It’s often a part of a career

changing mindsets and showing, with real

class, where it’s quite a natural fit into

examples, that people the same as many

workshops and career planning, but it can

of these young people from disadvantaged

be about personal development too – all of

backgrounds have built a career based on

these kinds of questions are invaluable in

these kinds of values. Inspiring like that is

terms of mental health and wellbeing.”

one of the most powerful things you can do.” Skinner has a decade of experience in the The Purpose Workshop builds on many of

social impact space, particularly in education

these themes. Through an approach based

and social mobility. In her view, a long-term

on existential analysis and logotherapy –

and sustainable evolution of the education

a form of psychotherapy focused on the

system is necessary to tackle many of the

future and our ability to endure challenges

challenges young people currently face.

through a search for purpose – it helps

“From the perspective of things like social

people from all walks of life, not just school,

mobility and purpose, there needs to be

navigate life. “Everyone should have these

a shift to a broader, more varied and flexible

kinds of ideas and processes accessible

approach to careers and work,” she says.

to them,” says Skinner. “It’s something we

“That’s even truer today than ever. We’re

have a tendency to shy away from – we

seeing young people go into jobs that didn’t

might not always want to know the answer

exist five years ago so there’s a practical

or be prepared to face something that can

education piece there, but also the need to

fundamentally change our lives.

develop an understanding that it’s about designing a future that’s meaningful or which

“The Purpose Workshop is about finding

reflects who the person is and their values.

a way to introduce many of these themes in

Whether it’s companies, charities, businesses,

a positive way that’s not intimidating,” she

or any other scheme that’s helping young

explains. “We do that in businesses, charities,

people into work, we have to show them there

and in schools that work with us to create

are alternative paths, that they shouldn’t think they’re not capable, and that there are many ways to reach their goals.”

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“It shouldn’t matter what your parents or grandparents did with their lives, whether or not they went to university, what kind of career they had, or the level of income they earned”

And with that, my time with Skinner is up. But not before she tells me how, in the face of climate change and the threats we collectively face around sustainability, discussions like this around purpose and its practical impacts are more important than ever. So much so in fact that she’s actually in the midst of a master’s degree in existential analysis. There goes our intro… eloiseskinner.com

L E A R N MOR E

thepurposeworkshop.uk onetypicalday.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

PIONEER

FUTURE FABRICS What do you get when you feed industrial fruit waste destined for landfill to bacteria? A ‘leather’ jacket, of course Eagle-eyed visitors might have noticed something unusual about the blazer hanging in GANNI’s HQ flagship store in Copenhagen. Is it leather? Plastic perhaps? Considering the Scandinavian fashion brand’s B Corp certification, its responsible ethos across its use of materials, supply chain emissions and waste, and its fascination with exploring sustainable and innovative new fabrics, the answer is surely a resounding no. Rather, what they – and you – are looking at is a Celium blazer, the result of a collaboration between GANNI and Mexican biomaterials company Polybion. Celium is a bacterial cellulose leather alternative, grown from agro-industrial fruit waste destined for landfill where it would otherwise decompose and generate methane. Scraps sourced from local canned fruit production are fed to bacteria, which reproduces and generates the Celium as a byproduct. Although the blazer is produced using some of the methods associated with traditional leather production, Polybion says it has a much smaller carbon footprint without compromising on strength, weight, and breathability. polybion.bio

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Grown from agroindustrial fruit waste destined for landfill where it would otherwise decompose and generate methane

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SOCIAL

EDUCATION FOR ALL EDUCATION ISN’T A PRIVILEGE, IT’S A BIRTHRIGHT. IT’S ALSO A FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR ACHIEVING THE SDGS AND CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FU T URE, AS CITIZEN ZERO DISCOVERS

hen the Incheon Declaration, a framework for action on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all – was signed

in 2015 it set out a landmark vision for global education and its role as a key driver of sustainable development. The declaration builds on 2000’s Education for All and Millenium Development Goals with a strategy for education based on human rights and dignity, social justice, inclusion, protection, diversity, and shared responsibility and accountability. It represents a powerful statement of commitment from the global education community to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“ T H E R E’S A N U R G E N T N E E D F O R A L M O S T 7 0 M IL L I O N O U T- O F-S C H O O L C H IL D R E N A C R O S S T H E G L O B E T O G E T A N E D U C AT I O N T H AT E N A B L E S T H E M T O B E T T E R C O N T R I B U T E T O A S U S TA I N A B L E F U T U R E”

— D R M A R Y JO Y P IG O Z Z I , E X E C U T I V E DIR E C T OR , E DUC AT E A C HIL D

Said then UNICEF Executive Director

attaining basic reading skills by the end of

Anthony Lake to the gathering of more than

primary school is forecast to rise from 51%

1,600 participants from 160 countries:

to 67% between 2015 and 2030, but 300

‘Education is the key to a better life for every

million children and young people will still

child and the foundation of every strong

lack basic numeracy and literacy skills by

society – but far too many children are still

2030. An estimated 84 million will still be

being left behind. To realise all our develop-

out of school by the same date.

ment goals, we need every child in school and learning’. The message of both the dec-

Women and girls remain one of the most

laration and the SDGs was clear: education

affected groups. Around 40% of countries

is not a privilege, it is a birthright.

still haven’t achieved gender parity in primary education – a disadvantage that

There has been progress since 2015, yet

starts a lifetime of less access to skills and

much work is still needed across all levels

fewer opportunities in the labour market.

to meet the target outcomes of SDG 4 and

Persistent challenges include economic

all the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

constraints, issues with learning outcomes

Development’s 17 SDGs. Between Incheon

and dropout rates in marginalised regions,

in 2015 and 2021 worldwide primary school

and low levels of information and communi-

completion, lower secondary completion,

cations technology skills. Multiple global

and upper secondary completion increased

crises are also impacting progress. UNICEF

albeit, according to the UN, progress over

says children in conflict-affected countries

the period was notably slower than the

are more than twice as likely, and adolescents

15 years prior. The percentage of students

two-thirds more likely, to be out of school than in non-conflict affected countries;

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“The pandemic laid bare disparities in education that need immediate attention, and highlighted the critical importance of the sector,” Pigozzi states. “There’s an urgent need for almost 70 million OOSC across the globe to get an education that enables them to better contribute to a sustainable future, and millions more are not learning due to lack of, or misplaced, investment. Furthermore, what’s on offer often fails to deliver what is necessary for a sustainable life in this century. The effects of climate change and the increasing number of conflicts are only exacerbating the challenges faced by many frail and faltering education systems.” Pigozzi points to education financing and national investment – acknowledged by disruption from COVID-19 caused learning

the UN as essential in implementing SDG 4

loss in four out of five countries, says the UN.

– noting an estimated $97bn is needed annually at global level to meet 2030 targets.

EDUCATION AND THE SDGS

“COVID saw decreases in education funding

“We’re at the halfway mark to the SDGS and

that only the poorest countries have since

education, a key enabler of many of the goals,

tried to rectify,” she explains. “Domestic

is in a deep crisis,” Educate A Child (EAC)

funding, by far the largest source of funds

Executive Director, Dr Mary Joy Pigozzi, tells

for education, is ill-equipped to meet needs,

Citizen Zero. EAC is a global programme of

and those at the bottom of the pyramid con-

Education Above All Foundation, an organi-

tinue to have fewer resources invested in

sation working to ensure equal access to

them. Additional funds are key to any major

education and use the power of quality learn-

fixes at scale so we must innovate with fi-

ing for positive, sustainable, and inclusive

nancing, address the debt crisis, and move

change. EAC makes a material difference

away from current finance models if we’re

in the lives of children by providing access

to reach the SDGs and build a peaceful,

to quality primary education to millions of

sustainable planet.”

the hardest to reach out of school (OOSC) children around the world.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

In the context of sustainable development, education is a public good and a human right, and must focus on inclusion, equity, and giving everyone an equal opportunity, in particular those in marginalised or in vulnerable situations. As a standalone goal, SDG 4 comprises seven outcome targets for universal primary and secondary education, early childhood development and universal pre-primary education, equal access to vocational and higher education, relevant skills for decent work, gender equality, universal youth literacy, and education for sustainable development and global citizenship. Beyond this, however, a strong and effective education system underpins the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is recognised as essential for success across all of the SDGs, particularly those focused on

“ W I T H O U T E D U C AT I O N, MANY OT HER G OALS LIKE P OVERT Y R E D U C T I O N, N O H U N G E R, G O O D H E A LT H, G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y, A N D P E A C E A N D J U S T I C E, B E C O M E S I G N I F I C A N T LY MORE CHALLENGING — IF N O T IMP O S SIBLE —

growth and unemployment, building decent

T O AT TA I N ”

and fair work environments, health and wellbeing, climate change, sustainable con-

— DR M A R Y JO Y P IG O Z Z I

sumption, innovation, and production. “As a catalyst for individual and societal

more challenging – if not impossible – to

progress, equipping people with the knowl-

attain. It’s not standalone, but an enabler

edge and skills needed to tackle complex

of other goals that fosters cross-sector

global challenges is vital,” Pigozzi affirms.

collaboration to help tackle the complex

“Education prepares and empowers people

and interrelated nature of the SDGs.

to make informed decisions about their

Education is a fundamental building block

health and life, contributes to economic

for a more sustainable future.”

growth and social cohesion, and equips us to engage in important mandates like envi-

LEARNING AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

ronmental preservation. Without it, many

SDG 4’s target outcome 4.7, Education for

other goals like poverty reduction, no

sustainable development and global citizen-

hunger, good health, gender equality, and

ship, encapsulates Pigozzi’s point well. It

peace and justice, become significantly

looks beyond traditional academia to recognise the importance of knowledge and skills that promote sustainable development,

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

S U S TAI N AB I L ITY, DESIG N A ND EDUC ATIO N Students from Central Saint Martins,

• A versatile, modular, and interchangeable

University of the Arts London participated in an innovative sustainability and design partnership with UPM. They used a woodbased material that removes fossil fuels from plastics and reduces carbon footprint to rethink everyday products using circular and sustainable principles. The initiative directly relates to SDG 11, Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, but also

snowboard binding • A hybrid, modular, electro-acoustic synthesiser • A stylish ‘plogging’ set combining environmental care, comfort and fitness • A transformative rationing stamp setting rigorous standards to authenticate sustainability claims • A modular shoe designed to address

pioneers an innovative way to use

the prevailing issue of shoe waste

education to drive practical action. Eight winners were:

• A set of six user-friendly devices for camping

• A mono-material and modular motorcycle armour • Furniture crafted from a single sheet of bioplastic material

1 ECOFLEX: a mono-material and modular motorcycle armour for people in developing countries who rely on motorcycles but face high crash statistics. 3

2 PRIMA: weather resistant, user-friendly, and fullyrecyclable outdoor survival and camping equipment designed to connect people with nature. 3 MOUVICK ABC: a sustainable, durable, and washable alternative to plastic bags for ‘ploggers’, who combine exercise and picking litter.

1 2

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“I T’S I N C U M B E N T

including education for sustainable devel-

ON US TO REDUCE

equality, global citizenship, and appreciation

OR REVERSE T HE I M PA C T O F W H AT

opment and lifestyles, human rights, gender of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable development. “Awareness is critical for future generations, and education gives us a view of the challenges faced by global society,” says Bryan

WE DO AND TO MAKE S U R E — A S FA R A S I S H U M A N LY P O S S I B L E — T H AT W H AT W E D E S I G N AND PUT OUT IN T O T HE W ORL D B E N EF I T S H U M A N I T Y A N D O U R N AT U R A L EN VIRO NMEN T” — N IC K R HODE S , P ROGR A MME DIR E C T OR , P RODUC T, C E R A MIC A ND INDU S T R I A L DE S IGN , C E N T R A L S A IN T M A R T IN S , UNI V E R S I T Y OF T HE A R T S , L OND ON

Bibby Smith, discussing the importance of a wider world view in education. “To make a difference we must understand the challenges the world faces, from gender inequality, poverty, and hunger, through to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change. Having the knowledge and awareness of these challenges, and how the consequences of our actions impact both local and global communities, enables us to contribute to positive change.” Smith coordinates the Global Citizen Diploma (GCD) at ACS International School Hillingdon, which encourages students to foster self awareness and self-directedness in relation to their own experiences locally and globally, and in the context of sustainable development and SDG targets. The GCD is organised around key themes and recognises the importance of activities students engage with outside the classroom – volunteering with charities, involvement in student councils, community engagement, involvement with forces like the fire service, the police, or the cadets, and even athletic pursuits or creative work. “The way it contributes in terms of students becoming more globally-minded citizens is

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

global citizens, making them aware of the actions we take in our own lives and the impact they have on our own communities, broader communities, countries and, by extension, the world. Universities, internships and workplaces are seeking people with broader experience and

LEFT: MARTIN LEDWON, UPM, AND RIGHT, NICK RHODES, UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON

the ability to engage beyond their grades. It’s important to show that

critical,” Smith tells us. “It provides a frame-

young people aren’t just academic, but that

work and recognition for those activities so

they’re also globally-minded citizens.”

students have a resume of experience and skills, and are better able to articulate the

Educating and developing the leadership

way they’ve developed as an individual and

skills of young people for positive change

a citizen of the world. There’s direct connec-

and sustainable development is also a foun-

tion with the SDGs, particularly during

dational element of the work being delivered

community engagement. Students identify

at Education Above All and EAC, says Pigozzi.

which of the goals they’re striving to achieve

In this instance, in the form of youth involve-

and consider how the organisation they

ment, civic engagement, and volunteerism.

want to work with addresses sustainable

“It empowers them as advocates and

development.”

peacebuilders, and is fundamental for SDG 4 and so many of the other SDGs,” she says.

A key touchstone of the GCD, says Smith,

The organisation has trained thousands

is the idea that each individual is more than

through programmes like Protecting Education

their number – we all have a role to play in

in Conflict which builds networks of peace-

building a better and more sustainable future.

builders in conflict-affected regions, and

“One of the final questions students answer is how the diploma has changed them as C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“ O U R S T U D E N T S A R E A W A R E O F T H E I M PA C T S O F C L I M AT E C H A N G E, A N D O F T H E D I S PA R I T I E S I N A C C E S S T O C E R TA I N R E S O U R C E S A N D E D U C AT I O N A N D T H E Y’R E C O M M I T T E D T O ADDRES SIN G T HESE C H ALLEN GES” —

—

— NIC K RHO DES

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all 4.1: Universal primary and secondary education 4.2: E arly childhood development and universal pre-primary education 4.3: E qual access to technical/ vocational and higher education 4.4: Relevant skills for decent work 4.5: Gender equality and inclusion 4.6: Universal youth literacy 4.7: Effective learning environments

Reach Out To Asia, a programme that instils citizenship, mobilises young people as advocates, and equips them with green skills to address future climate challenges.

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S CHANGE MAKERS At Hult International Business School’s Sustainability Lab research helps accelerate achieving the SDGs. The Lab’s ecosystem of researchers focus on changes in practice and impact in the world around five themes: how to lead sustainability transitions across entire industry sectors, how the senior executive leadership role is evolving in line with sustainable development, social entrepreneurship and innovation for the SDGs, diversity equity, inclusion and belonging, and embedding the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “Education for sustainability is important at every educational level in all settings, especially universities and business schools educating today’s and tomorrow’s business C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

L to R: Mantas Mauricas, Runner up Design – PRIMA; Georgia Gibbs, Winner Design and Sustainability – INIM; Finnian Smith – Winner, Disruption – Synesthete; Oliver Valentine, Winner Manufacturing and UPM’s Staff Choice - Exoflex; Edward Wilkin, Winner Commercial Viability – Boarderline; Aniela Nykowska, Runner up, Commercial Viability – mouvick ABC

leaders,” Director of the Sustainability Lab,

leverage points to intervene in a system to

Matt Gitsham tells Citizen Zero, discussing

raise awareness and shift thinking about the

the importance of SDG 4 target 4.7, around

norms that have been governing our current

education for sustainability.

system, and how they need to change,” Gitsham says. “To achieve sustainability

Businesses and their leaders have a fun-

transitions at speed and scale, we need

damental role to play in delivering on SDG

significant investment in education to make

ambitions, whether through better and more

sure we’re building the next generation of

inclusive employment, driving technology

change agents.

and innovation, realising the financial investment necessary, or reducing the

“The Lab supports research that has a direct

negative impact of their activities. At Hult,

impact on influencing practice around the

research centres around equipping leaders

challenges at the heart of the SDGs,” he adds.

with the skills and knowledge necessary to

“As an example, we’ve led research projects

address these challenges and opportunities.

on corporate leadership and modern slavery.

“Education is one of the most effective

Our findings have influenced corporate practice on human rights due diligence on

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

modern slavery in supply chains, the design and introduction of modern slavery regulation in Australia and other jurisdictions, and the kinds of ESG questions relating to modern slavery asked by investors – all of these shifts in practice contribute towards achieving specific SDGs such as 8.7 and 5.2 on trafficking and modern slavery.” Sustainability is integrated across all core courses and assessments in Hult’s management education curriculum, Gitsham tells us. There’s also the Hult Prize, an annual competition for solving the planet’s most pressing social issues. It encourages a departure from deeply embedded assumptions that businesses can either do the right thing,

“T O M AK E A DIFFEREN CE W E M U S T U N D E R S TA N D

or the thing that makes money. Rather, the

T HE CHALLENGES

Hult Prize encourages students to innovate in the context of sustainability – previous winners include a solution turning banana crop waste to a plant-based and vegan leather, and a social impact rice brand com-

T H E W O R L D F A C E S, F R O M G E N D E R I N E Q U A L I T Y,

bating world hunger and alleviating poverty.

P O V E R T Y, A N D H U N G E R,

A recent project at Central Saint Martins,

T H R O U G H T O N AT U R A L

University of the Arts London demonstrates why education is imperative to equip the skills and knowledge needed to build a sustainable future. The college collaborated

DISASTERS A ND T HE I M PA C T S O F CL I M AT E

with Finnish forestry company UPM, which

CH A N GE”

found a way of upcycling and biorefining wood and forest management by-products to produce biochemical ingredients that a

range of industries can use instead of fossil fuels in plastics and other materials.

— B R YA N BIBB Y S MI T H , GLOBAL CITIZEN DIPLOMA COORDINATOR, A C S HIL L INGDON

Fifty product and industrial design students took on a brief built on sustainability and

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

Our students are aware of the impacts of climate change, and of the disparities in access to certain resources and education and they’re committed to addressing these challenges. “As product and industrial designers, our contributions make a difference to the physical environment,” Rhodes says. “It’s incumbent on us to reduce or reverse the impact of what we do and to make sure – as far as is humanly possible – that what we design and put out into the world benefits humanity and our natural environment.” The students’ work directly contributes to SDG 11, Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Winning designs include an outdoors surwellbeing themes, and reappraised how

vival kit for camping made of fully recyclable

multiple industries can make the urgent shift

components, a sustainably sourced and

to renewable circularity. They considered

recyclable snowboarding binding, a fully

how the application of the material in a certain

circular furniture set, a modular shoe designed

product type may encourage greater engage-

to address the issue of shoe waste [the

ment with the natural world.

average pair of trainers generates 30 lbs of CO2 emissions and the synthetic materials

“We’re a socially engaged institution and,

used in production take years to biode-

as such, are very concerned about people

grade], and a mono-material and modular

and the environment. Education plays a

motorcycle armour.

large role in that,” Nick Rhodes, Programme Director, Product, Ceramic and Industrial

SUCCESS FOR EVERYONE

Design explains to Citizen Zero. “The univer-

The Incheon Declaration set out several key

sity has a manifesto that speaks to our

steps to deliver on SDG 4 and the other

position on the climate emergency and social

sustainable development goals. Significant

empowerment; how we view both issues

additional financing is essential, as is the

directly affects the way we teach and learn.

need for good governance, citizen-led accountability in education, increasing the numbers of teachers available, and providing safe, non-violent, and inclusive learning

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“ T O A C H IE V E S U S TA I N A B IL I T Y T R A N S I T I O N S AT S P E E D A N D S C A L E, WE NEED SIG NIFICAN T IN VEST MEN T I N ED U C AT IO N T O M A K E S U RE W E’R E B U I L D I N G T H E N E X T G E N ER AT IO N O F C H A N G E A G E N T S” — M AT T GI T S H A M , DIR E C T OR , HULT S U S TA IN A BIL I T Y R E S E A RC H IMPA C T L A B environments. Achieving SDG 4, says the

crucial. “It recognises the interlinkages

declaration, ‘means that success can

among the SDGs and provides ways to

only be declared when it can be declared

approach the complex problems that need

for everyone’.

to be overcome for us to reach a sustainable future,” she says. “Working across sectors

“It comes down to two things: prioritisation

means more funds can be secured, and

and funding,” says Rhodes of the challenges

technical expertise and other support can

in providing fairer and more inclusive educa-

be shared. It also encourages innovation

tion. Gitsham points to several areas including

through exchanging ideas and practices,

identifying the learning needs, topics, and

enables policy coherence, and improves

skills that must feature in curricular, as well as

monitoring and evaluation. Protecting schools

the most effective pedagogies for enabling

and universities is also critical for SDG 4.

learning, how to motivate educators to bring

We’ve seen an alarming rise in conflicts and,

these themes to their teaching, and ways in

since 2018, more than 25,000 students

which we can overcome ‘institutional inertia’

and teachers have been harmed. Attacks on

to speed up and accelerate progress.

education are a step backwards in our journey towards a sustainable future.”

For Pigozzi, a multi-sectoral approach underpinned by collaboration that reflects the interconnected nature of the SDGs is C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

ECONOMIC

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

JOSE MAILLET, HEAD OF

That’s where education programmes like

GAÏA, TALKS US THROUGH

Audencia Business School on the path to

Gaïa, created to set students at France’s

THE SKILLS, CAPABILITIES,

‘virtuous organisational transformation’,

AND APPROACHES

learn to develop a culture of impact

PREPARING TOMORROW’S BUSINESS LEADERS FOR FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES

come in. During a Gaïa semester, students by mixing knowledge from management, environmental sciences, humanities and technology. Head of the programme, Jose Maillet, told us more about how the school is preparing tomorrow’s leaders to contribute to positive change. Why establish Gaïa, and why is it essential tomorrow’s leaders prioritise environmental and social challenges as much as they do any other traditional leadership skill? Gaïa was created to widely integrate ecological and social transition issues into our business

The world of business and corporations

school. Corporate Social Responsibility has

shoulders responsibility for climate change

been taught here for a long time, but transition

– the well-circulated Carbon Majors research

issues are essential to meet 21st century

stats showing that just 100 fossil fuel compa-

challenges. Faced with the devastating conse-

nies have been the source of more than 70%

quences of global warming, disappearing

of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions

biodiversity and growing social inequality,

since 1988 may be six years old, but they’re

students receive in-depth training in impact

no less staggering today.

management strategies so they can play an active role in the virtuous transformation of

But that doesn’t mean things can’t change.

organisations.

The UN Global Compact recognises, for example, that the successful delivery of

What kinds of climate change-related

the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

challenges impact organisational strategy

(SDGs) and 169 targets of the 2030 Agenda for

and development?

Sustainable Development requires engage-

Ecological and social issues aren’t suffi-

ment and contribution from all businesses.

ciently taken into account in companies, but

The next generation of business leaders have

ignoring or underestimating them isn’t an

a pivotal role to play in delivering the change

option. Water shortages, heatwaves putting

that’s needed, making the provision of the necessary skills, capabilities and sustainabilitydriven mindset crucial. C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

a strain on infrastructure, and the increasing scarcity of natural resources limiting access to raw materials are affecting all sectors of activity and society as a whole. Recurring heatwaves and the absence of clean tap water affect businesses, but also cause public health problems like excess mortality and sick leave, for which adaptation strategies must be thought out and put in place now. Can you explain what ‘culture of impact’ means within the context of a business and how it contributes to sustainable development? The culture of impact has historically been represented by a triptych of sustainable development: for a society to function

“ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES AREN’T SUFFICIENTLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN COMPANIES, BUT IGNORING OR UNDERESTIMATING THEM ISN’T AN OPTION” sustainably, it must simultaneously integrate

How does the course and its subject mat-

environmental, social, and economic issues

ter align with the goals and targets set out

into all its activities. The operational difficulty

in the SDGs?

of linking these three pillars, particularly

Gaïa now offers a Master 1 in ‘Management

within companies, has led to new models like

of the ecological and social transition’, a pro-

the Doughnut Economic theory, which sug-

gramme made up of 20 courses covering all

gests that all economic activity must respect

the SDGs. Each course focuses on several of

a social flooring below which it must not fall

the goals, but it’s difficult for students to

in order to avoid excessive inequality and

create a framework of SDGs that can be used

poverty, and an environmental ceiling which

universally. They represent a good basis for

must not be exceeded in order to maintain

developing a culture of impact, but the overall

a healthy and liveable planet.

coherence of all the SDGs remains complex to apply, and the diversity of the jobs held by students on graduation means that the SDGs must be integrated on a case-by-case basis.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

In the context of the impacts of climate change, what role do tomorrow’s leaders and their businesses play in driving posi-

CULTURE OF IMPACT

tive outcomes? Companies are both the problem and the solution. On the one hand their business models encourage consumers to over-consume their products and services, leading to major environmental degradation. On the other hand, they’re made up of people who perceive and understand the ecological challenges, and who want to be part of a virtuous transformation of their company in the service of society. These transformations remain tentative, but changes in business models are gradually emerging, sometimes out of conviction on the part of management and employees, and sometimes in response to shortages of raw materials and climate change, which are damaging or undermining the economic model of a growing number of companies.

Gaïa’s course catalogue: WHERE DO WE COME FROM? Understanding the roots and origin of ecological and social transition, combining environmental science with historical courses.

WHERE DO WE STAND? Exploring critical thinking and a reflective approach on the human, technological, and business issues and challenges of the 21st century.

WHERE DO WE GO? Taking a prospective vision, underpinned by business model and strategic management skills, to social and ecological transition.

HOW CAN WE ACT? “COMPANIES ARE BOTH THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION”

Acquiring strategic and managerial skills to develop the culture of impact in organisations and in society. grande-ecole.audencia.com

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

ENVIRONMENT

FINDING NATURE’S VOICE How does giving legal rights or legal personhood to nature help protect the world we hold dear? Dr Tineke Lambooy explains

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

A WHALE SWIMS BENEATH THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO

he Whanganui river is as beautiful

In 2017, this symbiotic relationship was recog-

a vision of the natural environment

nised in New Zealand law as the Whanganui

as you’ll find. Nestled among the

became the first river in the world to be given

towering cliffs, lush forests, and

legal personality. In the settlement of a dis-

picturesque waterfalls of New Zealand’s

pute for which the Māori tribes had fought

Whanganui National Park, it flows from the

for more than 100 years, the river system was

mountains of the country’s central North

recognised as an ‘indivisible and living whole

Island through to the Tasman Sea. For the

compromising the Whanganui River from the

Māori tribes who live along its banks the

mountains to the sea, incorporating its

river has always been a spiritual lifeblood,

tributaries and its physical and metaphysical

an ancestor or ‘person’ with whom they

elements’. Two guardians were appointed

coexist in harmony. They have a saying to

to act on behalf of the Whanganui, one from

that effect: ‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au’ –

the crown and one from the Whanganui iwi

I am the river and the river is me.

tribe; any future decisions affecting the river must recognise its legal status, and its health and wellbeing.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

The settlement is just one example of a growing number where the natural environment is being given legal rights allowing people to campaign on its behalf – others include the granting of legal personhood to Canada’s Magpie River, Columbia’s Supreme Court granting rights of nature to the Colombian part of the Amazon Forest, local protection rights for whales and dolphins swimming near San Francisco in the US, and Argentina’s Supreme Court acknowledging the legal personality of Sandra, an orangutan who was moved from an Argentinian zoo to the Center for Great Apes in Florida as a result of the decision.

RIGHTS OF NATURE The rights of nature movement represents a paradigm shift in our attitudes towards, and relationships with, nature. In recent human history our actions have been largely influenced by our own benefits and defined

“Legally, there are many ways in which rights of nature are being granted: constitutional, national law, court decision, local regulation, policy, or indigenous law”

by societal and economic development; nature is a resource from which we can take,

laws, rules, and rights [varied in different

and elements of the natural world are ob-

countries and jurisdictions] giving elements

jects over which people can make decisions.

of the natural environment – mountains,

Unlike companies and public entities, which

forests, rivers, animals, and plants – legal

generally have autonomous legal standing

standing, rights, or personhood. Proponents

so they can participate in public and private

recognise that the natural environment has

decision making, there has never been

the right to legal representation by a guardian

a legal or institutionalised voice of nature

who may act on its behalf, so as to secure the

that gives it the same power.

highest level of environmental protection against the challenges we collectively face.

But, in the context of increasing biodiversity and ecosystem loss, pollution, and the impacts

When Dr Tineke Lambooy read about the

of climate change, the trend to grant or

Whanganui river case in 2017, she researched

acknowledge rights of nature represents

the subject in more detail, it being the

a significant and potentially powerful moment of change. It involves the introduction of new

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“Environmental laws have an anthropocentric view of nature and natural resources”

perfect meeting point for her passion for

Since 2017, rights of nature has been another

nature and professional experience in corpo-

focus area. From 2020-2022, Dr Lambooy

rate law and sustainability. Dr Lambooy is

worked on a research paper, Putting the

a Professor of Corporate Law at Nyenrode

rights of nature on the map. A quantitative

Business University in the Netherlands

analysis of rights of nature initiatives across

where she focuses on corporate law, corpo-

the world. The paper was published in the

rate governance, and corporate social

Journal of Maps (2022). It considered in

responsibility; she has also developed the

more detail the rise of rights of nature and

Circular Economy and Sustainable

built a comprehensive database of initia-

Development programme at the university.

tives to date. The research project was

Her research covers themes such as corpo-

developed and conducted together with

rate governance and strategy, Environmental,

Alex Putzer, Ronald Jeurissen and Eunsu

Social and Governance (ESG), the UN’s

Kim. The paper, which sets out to close the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

knowledge gap around the subject and

human rights, climate change, and biodiver-

inform academics, policymakers, legislators,

sity and ecosystems.

judges, and researchers, identified and analysed 409 initiatives in 39 countries.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

IN 2008 ECUADOR INTRODUCED RIGHTS OF NATURE INTO ITS CONSTITUTION

Dr Lambooy joined us to discuss the rise of rights of nature and her research, as well as her involvement in building the case for rights of nature for the Dutch Wadden Sea, a globally unique geological and ecological site listed by UNESCO as World Heritage and an EU-designated Natura 2000. “The existing environment provides a framework for the protection of nature,” says Dr Lambooy, discussing the current legal landscape. “There are many international treaties such as the Convention for Biological Diversity, treaties applicable to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, wetlands, the ozone layer, and to mitigate the impact of dangerous

THE MAR MENOR, SPAIN PHOTO: NASA

MAR MENOR For several decades the Mar Menor, the largest saltwater lagoon in both Spain and Europe, was subjected to significant pollution and ecological damage. In 2016, extreme eutrophication – extreme algae growth – turned water green and killed 85% of the seagrass. Thousands of fish, unable to breath, were beached on the shore. After a campaign involving more than 640,000 people, the Spanish Parliament granted legal personality to Mar Menor, codifying its right to exist as an ecosystem and to protection, conservation, and restoration.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au’ – I am the river and the river is me

— WHANGANUI TRIBES

WHANGANUI RIVER, NEW ZEALAND 68

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

chemicals. The UN only last year declared that everyone has a right to a clean and healthy environment and, through the UN’s 2009 Harmony with Nature programme, member states acknowledged that the Earth and its ecosystems are home to humankind and that we need to protect them. “These high level treaties are concluded between states, which have to then implement them into local legislation,” she continues. “As a result, countries worldwide have implemented environmental laws, nature protection laws, human rights laws, rights laws, and more into their national legal systems. However, enforcement is problematic for numerous reasons. Modern environmental laws have an anthropocentric view of nature and natural resources – just look at the discussions in Europe around banning glyphosate and pesticides, the main arguments I hear are whether they’re dangerous for us rather than considering animals or the local environment. And that’s the problem. We say it’s environmental law, but it’s not really about the environment, it’s about us, our health, and our wellbeing. Rights of nature essentially fills that gap.”

A GROWING MOVEMENT While gaining wider acceptance recently, the idea of giving legal rights to nature isn’t a new concept. The term has its origins in a landmark article written by Professor Christoper Stone, Should Trees Have

Standing?: Towards Legal Rights for Natural Objects. Stone’s piece, written in 1972, focused on the Sierra Club v Morton legal case in which US environmental organisation Sierra Club sought to block the C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

example, rights of nature are an underlying norm written into the constitution, whereas in the US, we identified around 170 initiatives development of a ski resort at Mineral King valley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While the majority of the court rejected this lawsuit, the case prompted a famous dissent by judge Justice William O. Douglas who referenced Stone and suggested that, in response to ecological concerns, environmental objects should be granted legal personhood by the public.

of rights of nature, of which most concern local regulations. In those cases, every individual citizen has the right to act on behalf of the nature stipulated in the regulation.” As a recent example, Dr Lambooy cites Spain’s Mar Menor, one of Europe’s largest and most endangered saltwater lagoons, being recognised as a legal person by national law in 2022. Expansion of tourism around the Mar

The subject was resurrected in the early 2000s when, in 2006, the small Pennsylvanian town of Tamaqua Borough drafted a rights of nature law to prevent the dumping of toxic waste into the community. In 2008 Ecuador introduced rights of nature into its constitution, to date, the only constitution in the word to establish rights of nature. Since then, many national and local laws on rights of nature have been passed, including in the US, Canada and South America, Australia, and in Europe. Also, rights of nature have been acknowledged by courts, including in Bangladesh, India and Colombia. In the research project for the Journal of Maps, 409 cases were identified worldwide, of which two thirds had been granted, some had been rejected and the remainder were ongoing. Says Dr Lambooy: “Legally, there are many ways in which rights of nature are being granted: in the constitution, national law, indigenous law or local regulation, by a court decision or through policy. In Ecuador, for

Menor and agricultural and livestock operations washing water contaminated with fertilisers and pesticides into the lagoon had impacted its ecosystem and caused eutrophication, a process in which excessive richness of nutrients as a result of run-off from land causes dense plant and algal growth that kills wildlife. More than 640,000 people backed the campaign to recognise Mar Menor’s legal personality. As a result of the decision, three bodies now look after the Mar Menor – a commission of representatives, a scientific commision, and a supervising commission. Also, citizens have the right to act on behalf of the lagoon and require enforcement of its legal status.

RIGHTS OF THE WADDEN SEA In 2022, Dr Lambooy was asked a question by the Wadden Academy in the Netherlands: ‘could the rights of nature approach for the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea contribute to better protection of the unique natural values of the Wadden Sea?’. The Wadden Sea is a tidal coast area characterised by unique geological and ecological processes and biodiversity that, despite having protected

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

“We identified 409 cases worldwide, of which two thirds had been granted”

THE WADDEN SEA, THE NETHERLANDS

status under international treaties, European

producer in the Netherlands was also

and national laws, and policy documents,

revealed to have been operating for 10 years

is at risk of damage to its ecosystem. She

with an invalid licence that saw it discharg-

conducted the research together with Tessa

ing similar chemicals as in the Mar Menor.

van Soest and Ignace Breemer.

There’s also noise pollution because the Ministry of Defense practices in the area,

“It has a UNESCO World Heritage status

damage from containers lost by container

and is a designated Natura 2000 site

vessels that navigate just north of the

[a network of nature protection areas in

Wadden Sea, and overfishing. To come back

the European Union],” says Dr Lambooy.

to my earlier point, we have the laws and

“However, it faces several threats. Only

regulations in place, but they’re not working

recently it was published that there are

in practice.

60 licences for companies to discharge chemicals into the water – the largest milk C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

DR TINEKE LAMBOOY “Our government still sees the Wadden Sea as functional, prioritising its economic use above the intrinsic value of nature,” she continues. “Because the Wadden Sea is Natura 2000 designated and UNESCO World Heritage, our duty is to protect that environment and not allow anything harmful – those decisions have been made through that recognition. Yet, for every new economic or

“The main goal is that people look differently at their relationship with nature”

recreational decision, the interests of people versus nature are weighed again, which shouldn’t be happening. Through my work

Wadden Sea’. It also noted that ‘from time to

on this, I challenge people by posing the

time, economic activities are allowed that

question: how do you see the Wadden Sea?

raise questions regarding conformity with

As a basin of water we can exploit for busi-

existing laws and policies’. It concluded that

ness, run pipes through and take resources

a rights of nature approach to the Wadden

from, or as a unique world heritage system

Sea was possible, and that if it were to be

that’s home to 14 million migratory birds

granted legal personality it would be in the

that won’t survive if we destroy or pollute

form of a legal person with a clear mandate

their habitat.”

that reflected the commitments already accepted by the Netherlands. As a result of

Dr Lambooy’s study, Granting Rights of Nature

the work, two political parties in the country

to the Wadden Sea, revealed ‘extreme frag-

have begun making a legislative proposal to

mentation and complexity in the current

grant legal personality to the Wadden Sea,

environmental governance structure. Many

and a legislative proposal to include rights

organisations are involved in the design and

of nature in the Dutch constitution.

implementation of management measures and processes of decision making relating to the

Such a broad scope of international initiatives, and the specific legal jurisdictions of each country, make it difficult to accurately

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

judge the effectiveness of rights of nature decisions. “You have to consider each case separately and assess the functioning in that country. For new rights of nature, the best way to create such rights depends on the local legal system,” says Dr Lambooy. “Ultimately, the main goal of introducing and adopting rights of nature is that people look differently at their relationship with nature. The rights of nature movement contributes vastly to changing people’s views on any nature in their region. If we create a situation in which nature has a legal voice and hence can influence decisions by public institutions and private companies, we can protect the remaining nature and hopefully give it a chance to be restored and regenerate. In this way, we can understand nature as having intrinsic value and acknowledge that nature can coexist with us on our planet. That would constitute a systemic change in our thinking

SANDRA Sandra was born at a German zoo in 1986 and, in 1994, sent to Buenos

concerning ourselves and nature.

Aires. She gave birth to a male infant,

“It’s also about future generations,” she adds.

maternally interested in caring for

“Look at the fact that we’ve already transgressed six of the nine Planetary Boundaries: climate change, biosphere integrity, freshwater availability, land use, nutrient pollution, and novel entities. We’ve only one planet. There really aren’t any other options for us and it gives me hope to work on this topic. It’s an innovative legal approach and an innovative democratic approach because it involves citizens in its enforcement, and I think it’s really important that we’re now raising these questions that have become more and more urgent for the last 30 years or more.”

Gembira, in Argentina but was not him. Gembira was eventually sent to a Chinese zoo, leaving Sandra to live alone for many years in Buenos Aires until a local animal welfare group concerned for her welfare, took her case to court to claim personhood rights. In 2015 judge Elena Liberatori declared Sandra is legally not an animal, but a non-human person entitled to legal rights and better living conditions. Liberatori said “with that ruling I wanted to tell society something new, that animals are sentient beings and that the first right they have is our obligation to respect them”.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

INVENTORY

URBAN MOBILITY

Innovative, integrated, affordable, and clean e-mobility solutions represent a key step in the transition towards low-carbon urban mobility, and sustainable cities and communities. Here’s our pick of some of the most interesting.

KATALIS EV500 Katalis’ design team creates innovative and electric future mobility solutions as beautiful as they are environmentally responsible. At first glance you might not think of EV500 as the bike of the future, but underneath its vintage-inspired aluminium body is a 500W electric motor and a 48V battery that’s good for 40 km and can be recharged in three hours – perfect for commuting. katalis.co

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PROPELLA 7S

LEMOND PROLOG AR

JACKRABBIT XG

One of the lightest e-bikes

So small, but so capable.

of its class, and also one

Tour de France winner

JackRabbit’s lightweight

of the most affordable.

Greg LeMond, the carbon

and compact [it folds down

Propella’s 7S weighs 16 kg,

fibre Prolog AR is lighter

to 7in wide] XG is good for

has a 64 km pedal-assist

than many e-bikes. Its

track, terrain, or the city.

range and a top speed of 30

Mahle M1 motor and 250W

It gives 30 km/h of 100%

km/h. Its 250W-hour remov-

battery can provide up to

electric power from a 500W

able battery pack charges

112 km of assisted riding

motor, and has a range of

in under three hours.

on a single charge.

up to 32 km.

propella.bike

lemond.com

jackrabbit.bike

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PODBIKE FRIKAR Is it an electric car? An e-bike? Actually, it’s the best of both. Podbike’s Frikar is a fullycovered cycle [its aerodynamically designed cover gives less air resistance than a racing bike] with four wheels for better stability, lights and indicators for urban use, electric assist for speeds up to 25 km/h, and protec-

VEPA TOWER

tive zones to absorb impact energy. It’s

Sustainable and resilient infrastructure

classified as a cycle within Europe, so no

is essential for future urban environ-

licence or registration is required, and it’ll

ments. If we can use less land, all the

give up to 80 km range per battery.

better. VePa provides space-efficient and

podbike.com

sustainable parking infrastructure to facilitate the transition to zero-emission mobility. The Tower stores 12 vehicles in an area equivalent to two parking spaces, has electric charging stations, and can be fitted with photovoltaics, battery storage, and vertical greening solutions. vepa.space

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INMOTION V11 Two wheels are better than four. So how good is one? Well, InMotion’s electric unicycle is ideal for urban commutes and space saving. It has built in air suspension for a smoother ride, a fold-up handle, dual charge ports, brake and headlights, and dual charge ports. myinmotion.com

RANGE: 96 KM

BRUNTOR CARGO

MAX SPEED: 49 KM/H CHARGE TIME: 5 HRS WITH DUAL CHARGER

A four-wheel, stand-up cargo carrying scooter

MOTOR POWER: 2200W

for zero-emission last

BATTERY: 1500WH 84V

mile urban delivery. It’s 15% faster than a cargo bike and costs just one euro per 100km. bruntor.com

INMOTION HOVERSHOES X1 Because, why not? We can’t be future-ready without hovershoes. These have a 54W battery each, 11 km of range, and can hit 11km/h. myinmotion.com C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

PIONEER

MAKING MONEY WORK Meet Tred, a new, cleaner way to manage spending and your impact on the environment In the seven years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the world’s 60 largest private banks financed fossil fuels to the tune of US$5.5tn. Whatsmore, according to the 14th annual Banking on Climate

Chaos report, 49 of the 60 banks profiled in the report made net zero commitments, but ‘most are not paired with rigorous policies excluding finance for fossil fuel exploration’. Neither people or businesses who want meaningful change and conscious sustainable development can afford to have their money being invested in this way. That’s 78

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(L-R) TRED CO-FOUNDERS WILL SMITH AND PETER KIRBY

the idea behind Tred’s app and debit card,

to Tred’s dashboard for greater visibility on

which is made from recycled plastic and

all spending and transactions.

uses vegan inks and glues. Tred helps people and businesses understand the real

Beyond reporting, Tred can also provide

impact their choices have on the environ-

information and advice on how and where

ment, and to track, reduce and offset their

to change spending habits, connect users

carbon footprint.

with environmentally friendly brands and businesses, measure progress against

It does so by calculating the carbon emis-

others, and take an active role in offsetting

sions of every transaction, giving real-time

projects and initiatives around the world.

info and a breakdown of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and providing insights into where

tred.earth

and how improvements and progress can be made. It also uses Open Banking, meaning other accounts and cards can be connected C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

ENVIRONMENT

TURNING WASTE INTO OPPORTUNITY Low cost, fighting plastic pollution, and tackling social mobility challenges. Introducing Bagcycle’s recycled plastic revolution In a world of EVs, electric and hydro-

sustainability is for living. I know

gen-powered aircraft, drones and urban

firsthand how important access to

air mobility solutions, even robotaxis,

simple, affordable transportation is,

you’d be forgiven for overlooking the

and how lack of opportunities incr-

humble bicycle. But if we’re serious

eases social inequality even further.”

about tackling social inequality, building more sustainable cities and

Bagcycle is Garcia’s solution to these

communities, and providing access

challenges. Its eponymous two-

to decent work and economic growth

wheeler is made from recycled plastic

for everyone, you’d be wrong to do so.

– around 8 kg or 800 plastic bottles

Just ask David Garcia. “Childhood, getting to school, to work, or studying to be an engineer – I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had a bike to connect me with those opportunities,” says the Colombianborn engineer and founder of Bagcycle, which makes foldable, low-cost bicycles from recycled single-use plastic bottles and bags. “People are losing opportunities like that. Commuting is essential for social and economic development, just as

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

DAVID GARCIA, FOUNDER, BAGCYCLE

“Childhood, getting to school, to work, or studying to be an engineer – I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had a bike to connect me with those opportunities” per bike. “Even though plastic can be

“I really believe that everything can

harmful to everything around us, it’s

be done better,” adds Garcia. “Yes, we

still the most produced and used mate-

can use plastic for long-lasting prod-

rial worldwide,” he says, discussing

ucts, but why not for fighting social

the evolution of the Bagcycle concept.

inequalities and tackling air pollution,

“Products made with plastic usually

or for fulfilling personal needs and

have the shortest life cycle ratios,

social mobility? Once I’d identified

meaning waste and pollutants grow

these problems, the focus was on cre-

faster than consumption. The solution

ating a safe, effective, and affordable

isn’t just stopping using plastics,

mode of transport that’s also a tool for

we’ve already accumulated too much

people to become change agents.”

waste. Instead, we must prevent what’s already in the environment

Single-use waste plastic is the perfect

from becoming the invisible, but more

medium to work with, says Garcia –

dangerous, microplastics.

it can be recycled multiple times

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LEADERS IN INNOVATION Bagcycle is an advanced participant of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships programme that supports startups working towards sustainable development in their respective countries. Other advanced participant solutions include sustainable building materials made from natural bamboo and using a zero-waste process; ready to assemble and modular sustainable construction solutions for affordable homes in underserved communities; a water treatment system that processes polluted water into clean; and a vertical lake system that uses rainwater to produce fish for food in two weeks.

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

without losing its inherent features,

Garcia’s vision is that Bagcycle con-

making it a readily available raw mate-

nects people with opportunities in

rial to help contribute to a new

much the same way his own bike did

generation of economic growth and

when he was young. The high costs

development. The recycled plastic in

associated with essential needs like

Bagcycle’s design is strong too, due to

transportation are yet another form of

its flexibility, shock absorption capac-

discrimination, he says: “It just segre-

ity, and resistance to corrosion. Its

gates under-privileged people from

lightness means it can fold down small

society and opportunities, and widens

enough to be carried in a backpack.

social inequality. Making Bagcycle affordable for everyone means that our

The company works with small and

environmental, social, and economic

vulnerable communities to collect

impact is positive and exponential.

waste plastic. Says Garcia: “For a long time, plastic collectors and vulnerable

“Using a Bagcycle helps people solve

communities that recycle have been

their own transport problems while

ignored, and their work undervalued.

also contributing to wider sustainable

They’ve developed the expertise and

development and change,” he notes.

knowledge in separating and classify-

“One of the challenges in modern society

ing waste materials and, as a result,

is that we’re so used to behaving and

they have social security, are organised,

thinking primarily of ourselves rather

own their own cooperative companies

than collectively as humans. To address

and they have been trained and

this we’ve made sure that, for every

supported in working safely and sustain-

Bagcycle that’s sold another is given to

ably. Working with these communities

someone who needs it for free. It’s more

is all about respect, empowering them

than gifting. It’s giving someone the

into the production circle and econo-

opportunity to study, work, and have

my, and ensuring they have fair work

a better future.”

and life conditions.” bagcycle.org

“The solution isn’t just stopping using plastics, we’ve already accumulated too much waste. Instead, we must prevent what’s already in the environment from becoming the invisible, but more dangerous, microplastics”

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

EVENTS

G L O B

E V E

N D A

Global Events Citizen Zero’s places to go, and people to see

GREENTECH FESTIVAL CONNECT 23–24th Nov GARDENS BY THE BAY, SINGAPORE How do we create a more sustainable

and its GTF Connect series, showcase

tomorrow? The question that, five years ago,

ideas and innovations from every sector

former Formula 1 World Champion Nico

to drive constructive and positive change.

Rosberg and engineers Marco Voigt and

That Singapore’s event is held in the

Sven Krüger posed. The answer? Through

environmental sustainability-inspired

a platform that brings together everyone

Gardens by the Bay is an added bonus.

who can create change in green technology:

singapore.greentechfestival.com

startups, corporations, environmental activists, and politicians. Greentech Festival,

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

EMEX LONDON 2023 22–23rd Nov EXCEL LONDON, UK One for businesses and professionals, EMEX London is dedicated to carbon management, energy efficiency, the built environment and transport, and sustainability as organisational priorities. emexlondon.com

UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE (COP28) 30th Nov–12th Dec DUBAI, UAE The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties will address solutions that must be scaled up this decade to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, build resilience, and mobilise finance at scale. unfccc.int/cop28

EARTH AGE BY GLOBAL CITIZEN FORUM 6–7th Dec RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE Organised by Canadian non-profit organisation The Global Citizen Forum, Earth Age encourages visitors to embrace global citizenship and their sense of shared responsibility for the planet. globalcitizenforum.org

C I T I Z E N Z E R O ——— I S S U E O N E

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