How do we create more equitable, caring and regenerative futures?

London-based social entrepreneur, architect, and visionary thinker Indy Johar of Dark Matter Labs presents a keynote address to launch the Planetary Civics Initiative at RMIT.

As we enter an age of long and interconnected emergencies, our world grapples with simultaneous challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, antibiotic resistance, migration, AI, and human development. What we face is not merely a disruption; it’s a planetary-scale phenomenon.

This requires a shift in thinking and practices from the geopolitical to the planetary (the word ‘planetary’ is purposefully used as opposed to ‘world’ or ‘globe’). There is a level of mutual reliance and interdependence between humanity and the Earth’s living systems such as oceans, forests, rivers and glaciers – but also the city-regions and artificial intelligence systems that are rapidly being developed. Together we must effectively and compassionately face our shared futures.

Indy was recently awarded the London Design Medal for Innovation in 2022. Join this provocative public conversation on the strategic design of new super scale civic practices for deeply democratic futures.

Wild Hope: Conversations for a Planetary Commons, an exhibition calling for a radical shift to ‘planetary thinking’ as vital to the survival of human and non-human life on Earth, at Design Hub Gallery 15 August–30 September.