Regenerative futures and the power of hope

Each month, we are interviewing leaders in their respective fields of the climate and nature transition. This month, we sat down with Bill Sharpe, one the original founders of the Three Horizons approach to futures.

By Bill Sharpe

Each month, we are interviewing a range of influential and inspirational leaders from across the climate and nature transition. These interviews are intended as a window into innovative and exciting ways of approaching the transition and to spotlight the people who are at the forefront of these changes. This month, we sat down with Bill Sharpe, a pioneer of new approaches linking futures techniques and systems thinking. Bill is one the original founders of the Three Horizons approach to futures - an internationally recognized framework to explore systems change. Bill is currently working with a range of organisations to help embed principles of regenerative thinking across our society.

What is one object that you currently have on your desk?

A box of IFF Prompt Cards. Based on many years of experience in taking on complex, messy problems, where we are in over our heads, each one offers a fresh way to look at things that can open up a different perspective. I get an email each week that picks one out and I put it up in front of me. This week it’s “See direction as a result of process”.

How would explain what you work on to a five year old?

Imagine you and your friends lived near a playground that you wanted to use, but the equipment was getting old and broken, and maybe even a bit dangerous. You want to get together and find a way to get new things and make it all good to use and safe. You can’t do it on your own and you’ll need the help of the grown-ups, but you know some of them aren’t interested. You need good ways to bring people together to explore what to do and get others to join them. Grown-ups have lots of problems that are a bit like this and I help them get together, sort things out and decide how to get things moving.

Can you describe a recent moment or experience on a project that has particularly stuck in your mind?

I was at a workshop on hope with a community of change practitioners. What struck me is the power of hope as an organising orientation of heart and spirit to the work of change, and how this has not been fully appreciated and mobilised even by people whose practice is about all about supporting change by people and organisations.

What are some of the hardest challenges you’re grappling with right now?

I am working on a long-term project FixOurFood which aims to transform the Yorkshire food system to one that is regenerative – benefitting both human and planetary health. The relationship between food, health, nature, climate and society lies at the heart of the polycrisis.

And what are the most exciting developments you are seeing in your space?

I am excited that the fields of futures and systems change are coming together with regenerative practice to create the holistic practice of regenerative futures. Developing this field is my main interest and work at the moment.

You’re organising a gathering to discuss new approaches the transition to a sustainable future. What does it look like, what would it focus on, and who would be around the table?

It will be particular to place, working at the four levels of individual, community, bioregion and planet.

It will allow everyone to slow down, seeing themselves as connected and co-evolving with the natural abundance of life in the place they live.

It will mobilise hope as the inner spring and regenerative virtue of life, revealing each life as a unique embodiment of creative possibility.

If you want to learn more about Bill's work with Three Horizons, read more here.