Founder Kenny Ausubel coined the word bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture of social and scientific innovators who are mimicking nature¹s operating instructions to serve human ends while enriching the web of life. We take a "solve-the-whole-problem" approach: Taking care of nature means taking care of people - and taking care of people means taking care of nature. It's part of our mission.
Our Mission
Viable solutions already exist for most of our environmental and social crises. The solutions in nature consistently surpass our concept of what is possible. Where we don’t know what to do, we have a good idea what directions to head in. Once people discover these realities, it dramatically leverages pressure for change.
That vision ignited us in 1990 to found the Bioneers Conference to disseminate breakthrough solutions. In 2006, the landmark UN Millennium Ecosystem report concluded: “Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”
The hour is dangerously late, yet there appears to be a worldwide awakening. The next ten years will be the make-it-or-break-it period to make a fundamental, large-scale shift.
Bioneers has two keystone goals to help make this shift successfully.
Connect people with solutions by popularizing breakthrough ideas and practices.
Grow social capital by catalyzing, connecting and strengthening strategic networks, including bioregional and community-based alliances.
As Bioneers celebrates our 20th anniversary, our ability to act as a fertile source for the urgent transition to a restored world is converging with an unprecedented receptivity in the world for innovative ways of thinking and acting.
There is as much cause for hope as for horror. As David Orr said, “Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled u
USA
1. Education & Communication
1.1 Awareness and behavior change
1.2 Life skills & values-based framework
1.3 Wide and deep network of educational leaders
1.4 Holistic greening of schools
1.5 Train communications & education professionals in sustainability
1.6 Updating resources for teachers and students
2. Energy
2.7 Green Urban Design for Energy Efficiency
3.1 Reduce deforestation
3.4 Restore degraded lands
5.2 Transcends old stories
5.6 Sustainability renaissance creates legislation with The Earth Charter as constitution
5.7 New story of success. Economics serve sustainable prosperity
5.8 All beings invited to be weavers of the new story
6.1 Commitment to change
6.2 Mobilizers at all levels
6.4 Share information / Knowledge cross disciplines
6.8 Recognition / awards for innovative actions
7.2 Ethical Advertising
7.3 Mass & Digital Media Education Campaign
7.7 Restorative justice with community governance of conflict resolution
9.6 Cultivate the commitment to wholeness
10. Media for awakening awareness
10.1 Holistic language used in multi-platform media
10.2 Power of media to influence institutional powers and leaders
10.3 Teaching of sustainable ethics in schools
10.4 Critical thought about media in communication/media schools
10.5 Dissemination of climate solutions in mass media
10.6 New journalist concepts based on collective imagination
10.9 Communicating sustainable life styles
11.1 Redefinition of the commons and social contracts
