Adaptation

Efforts to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather, rising sea levels, and diminishing biodiversity. It involves implementing strategies to make communities, ecosystems, and resources more resilient, mitigating potential damage, and benefiting from any opportunities associated with climate change.

Afforestation

The process of creating forests on lands that were previously used for agriculture or are otherwise degraded. The strategy is helpful in restoring ecosystems, reducing soil erosion and air pollution, improving biodiversity, and thereby combating climate change.

Additional resources:

• SUSTAINABLE AFFORESTATION: FEASIBLE OR FALLACIOUS?

Agroecology

The study and application of ecological principles to agriculture, such as organic farming and permaculture. It creates sustainable farming practices that enhance biodiversity, soil health, and meet the needs of local communities.

Additional resources:

• FOOD SYSTEM SOLUTIONS TO FEED A GROWING PLANET

Autotrophic Organism

An autotrophic organism is a living organism that get energy from inorganic substances and stores it. This can be by photosynthesis (using sunlight like green plants and algae) or chemosynthesis (using chemical reactions, like certain bacteria found near volcanic vents).

Anthropocene

The Anthropocene, or the age of humans, highlights humanity’s transformative impact on Earth’s ecosystems, climate, and geology. It reflects the era in which human activities have exacted a heavy toll on nature and has become the dominant influence shaping the planet’s future.

Additional resources:

Biodegradable

A substance or material that can breakdown naturally and decompose into harmless components through the action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi thereby avoiding pollution. Biodegradable materials are environmentally friendly, as they do not persist in the environment and can return safely to natural ecosystems.

Additional Resources:

• SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING HABITS

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms in an ecosystem, including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms like bacteria, and the genetic information they contain. Each species plays a vital role in maintaining balance, strengthening ecosystem functions and health, and supporting life by providing resources like food, clean water, and shelter.

Additional Resources:

• CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIODIVERSITY.
• THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY.
• THRIVE OUTREACH CLUSTER: BIODIVERSITY FOR A THRIVING PLANET

Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity, understood as the variety of living things that inhabit the planet, its different levels of biological organisation and their respective genetic variability, as well as the natural patterns present in ecosystems. This reduction in biodiversity can disrupt ecosystem balance and affect the health of natural environments, human societies, and the capacity of the planet to support life.

Additional Resources:

• THRIVE OUTREACH CLUSTER: BIODIVERSITY FOR A THRIVING PLANET

Biofuel

Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, including plants, algae and agricultural waste. When used in transportation and industry, biofuels, like ethanol and biodiesel, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared with fossil fuels supporting thrivable energy goals.

Additional resources:

• BIOFUEL BASICS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Biomimicry

This means learning from and then emulating nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more thrivable designs. For example, observing natural processes, such as the way plants convert sunlight into energy, designers and engineers develop innovations that support thrivability.

Additional resources:

• BIOMIMICRY: A SCHOOLING FROM NATURE.
• NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Biomass Energy

It is a renewable energy source harnessed by producing heat and electricity from organic materials like grassy and woody plants, agricultural residues, and animal waste. Biomass energy offers a thrivable alternative to fossil fuels by recycling carbon already in the atmosphere.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: CONVERTING BIOMASS TO MICRO-SCALE ENERGY AND BY-PRODUCTS.
• WASTE FOR ENERGY: THE POWER OF BIOGAS AND BIOMASS.

Biosphere

The biosphere is the part of the Earth that is able to sustain life.

Additional resources:

• HOW TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY: LESSONS FROM THE BIOSPHERE 2 EXPERIMENT.

Biota

Biota is the entire community of living organisms—plants, animals, microorganisms, and more—that inhabit a specific environment or area, whether on land, in the sea, or in the air.

Additional resources:

• MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY AND WATER SECURITY.
• THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTACT WITH NATURE FOR WELL-BEING.
• BIG CATS IN NORTH AMERICA: THE COST OF SMUGGLING ANIMALS.
• WILDLIFE PROTECTION AROUND THE WORLD.
• INVASIVE PLANTS: WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THEM.
• KEYSTONE SPECIES: HOW THE WOLVES OF YELLOWSTONE CHANGED THE RIVERS.
• THE IMPACT OF SCUBA DIVING ON CORAL REEFS.
• GREEN SPACES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH – RETURNING TO OUR ROOTS.
• SUNSCREEN IS KILLING CORAL REEFS, SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Blackwater

Blackwater is tainted wastewater that cannot be combined with greywater and must be extracted from a building using separate blackwater pipes.

Blue Carbon

It is carbon stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, like mangroves and seagrasses, which absorb CO₂ and help mitigate climate change while also supporting biodiversity and protecting shorelines. It is called “Blue” due to proximity to the ocean; the carbon is stored in the soil and silt and helps absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in its biomass.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE OUTREACH CLUSTER: THE IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN GOVERNANCE

Blue Economy

A term in economics that refers to the thrivable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems. It includes sectors such as fisheries, renewable energy, tourism, and marine biotechnology.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Carbon Capture and Storage is a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial activities and power generations, preventing them from entering the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then safely transported and securely stored underground in geological formations to mitigate climate change.

Additional resources:

• CARBON CAPTURE: WILL IT SAVE US OR END US?

Carbon Credit

A carbon credit permits an organisation or a company to emit a certain amount of carbon or other greenhouse gas emissions. Companies can trade carbon credits if they don’t use the credit’s total allowance.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, emitted by a particular individual, organisation, or product. It accounts for all emissions generated through activities such as energy use, transportation, and consumption of goods and services, contributing to climate change.

Additional resources:

• 6 WAYS TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
• COFFEE PRODUCERS: IS THE CARBON COST TOO HIGH?
• Fun task: Carbon calculator

Carbon Negative

Being carbon negative means that a person, group, or entity emits less carbon and greenhouse gas than the amount absorbed or offset, which is good for the planet.

Carbon-Neutral

Becoming carbon-neutral means balancing the output of greenhouse gas emissions with what is able to absorb it, such as carbon sinks.

Additional resources:

• CARBON NEUTRAL CITIES: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?
• WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARBON-NEUTRAL PRODUCTS.

Carbon Positive

The phrase ‘carbon positive’ is misleading. Additionally, it means that a person, group, or entity emits more carbon and greenhouse gas than the amount absorbed or offset, which is problematic.

Carbon Offset

It is a tradable right or certificate that allows individuals, businesses, or governments to compensate for their carbon emissions by funding projects that reduce, absorb, avoid or remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases elsewhere. This can involve purchasing credits through carbon trading platforms or supporting activities like reforestation, renewable energy projects, or energy efficiency improvements.

Additional resources:

• CAN MARKET-BASED INSTRUMENTS SAVE US?

Carbon Tax

A carbon tax is a tax on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions imposed by the government on the carbon content of fossil fuels, designed to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce these emissions. Assigning a monetary cost to emissions, promotes cleaner energy choices and helps combat climate change.

Additional resources:

• CARBON TAX: DOES IT REALLY WORK?

Carbon Sequestration

A decarbonisation technique that captures and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the environment to mitigate climate change. This can occur naturally through forests, soils, and oceans or through technological solutions like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC). By reducing greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration supports a thriving planet for future generations.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: CARBON SINKS | DID YOU KNOW? | THRIVE
• RADICAL WAYS TO ADDRESS THE (GHG) EMISSIONS CHALLENGE THROUGH CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
• SEE ALSO: Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS).

Carbon Sink

A carbon sink is a natural or man-made reservoir for C0₂. Examples of natural carbon sinks include soils, forests and oceans. Artificial carbon sinks can take the form of high-pressure storage of CO₂, deep beneath the Earth’s crust (Alexandrov, 2008).

Additional resources:

• DID YOU KNOW? CARBON SINKS.

Clean Energy

Clean energy comes from energy that does not emit greenhouse gases when produced.

Additional resources:

• Q & A: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY.
• NUCLEAR ENERGY AS A CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE.
• CLEAN COAL ENERGY: HOW CLEAN IS IT REALLY?

Climate Adaptation

Climate adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or gain benefits. Human intervention often facilitates adjustment to the expected climate and its effects.

Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in Earth’s temperature, ecosystems, and weather patterns. These changes are primarily driven by human activities, such as the emission of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, resulting in global warming, rising sea levels, severe climates, shrinking glaciers and ecosystem disruptions.

Additional resources:

• HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS COMMUNITIES.
• THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY.
• CLIMATE CHANGE: GLOBAL EVOLUTION AND POSSIBLE IMPACTS.
• CLIMATE CHANGE, MODELLING AND IMPACTS.
• DO YOU KNOW THESE CLIMATE CHANGE BUZZWORDS?

Climate Mitigation

Man-made interventions to reduce emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

Climate Resilience

What degree of risk mitigation can a socio-ecological system provide? Evidently, climate resilience investigates how effectively current systems can absorb shocks and continue to function under climate risk, as opposed to thrivability, which aims to increase the number of climate resilient systems.

Additional resources:

• CLIMATE CHANGE IN AFRICA: RESILIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.

Closed Loop

A closed loop is “an automatic control system in which an operation, process, or mechanism is regulated by feedback” (Boulding, 1966).

Community Development Funds

These are funds fed back into the community by Fairtrade Certified companies. This enables the people at the extracting end, such as the farmers and workers, to invest in projects that develop necessities in their community such as education, health, clean water, and housing.

THRIVE Framework – Complex Wicked Problems

A complex, wicked problem often refers to a social, cultural, political, or economic problem that is impossible to solve. This happens due to incomplete or contradictory information and knowledge, multiple actors, and the people involved. This includes a large economic or financial burden and the intersectionality of these problems with other problems and dimensions. Mammoth challenges ahead of us have deemed climate change as a ‘wicked problem’ (Breuer & Ludeke-Freund, 2017).

Additional resources:

• THE EFFECT OF POPULATION GROWTH RATES ON HUMAN WELL-BEING.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

CSR is a self-regulation framework where businesses take accountability for their environmental, social, and economic impacts. It encompasses four key areas: minimising environmental harm, ensuring ethical operations, engaging in philanthropic initiatives, and maintaining financial transparency, fostering trust with stakeholders and society.

Additional resources:

• CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXPLAINED WITH EXAMPLES.
• CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION.

Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation refers to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions produced by combustion of fossil fuels by transitioning to cleaner energy sources and thrivable practices. It aims to lower emissions across sectors like energy, transportation, and industry while enhancing carbon absorption, for example through storage in agricultural lands and forests.

Additional resources:

• HOW WILL DECARBONISATION TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE?

Deforestation

The practices or processes that refer to the conversion of forest lands for non-forest uses (often commercial purposes). Deforestation is a major contributing factor to the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Additional resources:

• DEFORESTATION: FORESTS FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING.

Desalination

The process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to make it suitable for human consumption, irrigation, and other uses. Typically, the process involves methods, like reverse osmosis, to purify water and address water scarcity in arid regions. However, this process produces toxic chemicals harmful to the environment.

Additional resources:

• WATER MANAGEMENT: IS DESALINATION THE ANSWER?

Eco-Districts

A cooperative urban area that focuses on regenerative growth at the neighbourhood level. The community integrates thrivable and thrivable design, renewable energy, waste reduction, and community-driven development to create resilient, environmentally friendly neighbourhoods.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: HOW TO CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a self-sustaining or thriving system that supports living organisms, such as a community of plants, animals and microbes, interacting with each other and their physical environment, including non-living components like energy sources, weather and soil. These interactions create a complex network that maintains balance within natural environments, sustaining life.

Additional resources:

• DID YOU KNOW? SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS: SELF-SUSTAINING, ADAPTING AND THRIVING.
• THRIVABLE ECOSYSTEMS: SELF-SUSTAINING, ADAPTING AND THRIVING.

Electrochemical

The term Electrochemical refers to processes where electrical currentsinteract with chemicals to produce energy or reactions, such as in batteries and fuel cells.

Additional resources:

• ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES: A SOLUTION FOR ENERGY WASTAGE?
• ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES: THE KEY TO TRANSITION.

THRIVE Framework – Entity Model

There are two boundaries: a social floor, (where too few resources are provided for an entity to survive) and an environmental ceiling. If we take more resources than we can replenish we steal from future generations (Schaltegger et al., 2012; UNEP 2017; Evans et al., 2017).

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice means that all communities, regardless of income, race, or location, are treated fairly when it comes to environmental policies, laws and regulations. It also addresses injustice when poor or marginalised communities are harmed by hazardous waste, resource extraction or other land uses from which they do not benefit.

Additional resources:

• ANTHROPOCENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Equitable Healthcare

Equitable healthcare is a system that ensures all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background, geographic location, or other factors, have equal access to high-quality healthcare. It aims to eliminate disparities and ensure the fair and just provision of resources.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: UNIVERSAL AND EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL? | FEATURING DR. SATISH JEEVANNAVAR

Fairtrade

Fairtrade represents a global trading partnership that ensures ethical and thrivable practices throughout a product’s life cycle. Fair Trade certifications and labels on products represent safe and decent working conditions, gender equality, fair wages, and environmental protection, while promoting thrivable livelihoods and community development.

Additional resources:

• COFFEE: EXPLOITATION AND INJUSTICE IN YOUR MORNING CUP.
• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CLOSING THE GAP IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.

Fast Fashion

A business model in the clothing industry where garments are produced rapidly and sold at low prices, often mimicking the latest trends. This encourages consumers to buy and discard clothes at an alarming rate leading to waste, overconsumption, and environmental degradation.

Additional resources:

• THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FAST FASHION

THRIVE Framework – Finite Resources

Considering our planet is a closed system, there is a limited amount of matter it has to offer. Finite resources are non-renewable natural resources present on Earth (Rockstrom et al., 2009; Steffen et al. 2015; Raworth 2012).

Additional resources:

• Earth Overshoot Day.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are energy sources formed over millions of years from the remains of buried plants, animals and organic materials that are transformed under heat and pressure into crude oil, natural gas, or coal. These fuels are non-renewable and are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions causing global warming.

Additional resources:

• FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

Geothermal Energy

It is a thermal energy derived from heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface. Tapping into natural reservoirs of steam and hot water, it provides a clean and consistent renewable energy source for electricity and heating.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: EMPOWERING WOMEN & COMMUNITIES.

Governance

The process of governing people, places, or organisations.

Additional resources:

• DESPERATION: THE WORLD’S MOST OVERPOPULATED CITIES.
• CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT.
• SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING: THE RISE OF ESG.
• OVERVIEW OF THE SEAFOOD STEWARDSHIP INDEX.
• ESG VS SUSTAINABILITY: THE FACTS.
• SUSTAINABLE REWARDS FOR GREEN FINANCE.
• THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN ACHIEVING A GREEN ECONOMY.

Green Building

Buildings or infrastructures designed to minimise environmental impact by using eco-friendly materials, construction practices, and energy-efficient systems. Green buildings improve the thrivability of the environment in which they are located throughout their lifecycle.

Additional resources:

• SUSTAINABLE CITIES NEED SMART CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
• THE LIVING BUILDINGS CHALLENGE: DRIVING SUSTAINABLE CITIES.
• ECO BUILDING: CONCRETE WAYS TO CEMENT NET-ZERO GOALS.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a term that describes how the natural gases in the Earth’s atmosphere allow infrared radiation to warm the Earth’s surface, preventing heat from escaping the Earth’s atmosphere. This is contributing to climate change.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are atmospheric gases that absorb heat from the sun and trap it, warming the Earth (The Greenhouse effect). Key examples include carbon dioxide, methane, N2O, CFCs and ozone, primarily emitted through industrial activities, deforestation, and agriculture. These gases contribute to climate change by adding to the natural warming, leading to a phenomenon known as ‘Global Warming’.

Additional resources:

• RADICAL WAYS TO ADDRESS THE GHG EMISSIONS CHALLENGE THROUGH CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
• GREENHOUSE GASES. IS IT JUST A LOT OF HOT AIR?

Global Warming

The ongoing global average increase in temperature around the Earth’s surface.

Additional resources:

• GLOBAL WARMING: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO WE STOP IT.

The Great Reset

The WEF describes The Great Reset as “a commitment to jointly and urgently build the foundations of our economic and social system for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future” (2020). The Great Reset has been the subject of conspiracy theories. Additionally, creating a thrivable future with a resilient economy involves changing how we work as people, as places, and as businesses.

Additional resources:

• THE GREAT RESET: WHAT DOES OUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

Greenwashing

A deceptive practice of claiming environmental friendliness to attract consumers while they may be harmful to the environment. These marketing tactics can undermine genuine thrivability efforts and erode public trust, while projecting a green image.

Additional resources:

• HOW TO SPOT AND STOP GREENWASHING
• ECO-FRIENDLY LABELS: WHAT’S REALLY IN THE PACKAGE?

THRIVE Framework – Integral Thinking

Integral thinking extends beyond traditional linear problem-solving methods. It’s about combining multi-capital and reporting beyond the triple bottom line. This approach integrates multiple aspects, allowing organisations striving to “do good to do well”, to better understand the wide-ranging implications of their actions. Integral thinking acknowledges that tensions often need resolution and that a seemingly good idea might have unintended negative consequences. It offers an interconnected approach to measure the social, economic, and environmental impacts of any group, product, or service (Eccles et al. 2018; IIRC 2013; Elkington 1997).

Natural Capital

Refers to the planet’s stock of natural resources —including land, air, water, and all living and non-living things essential to the thrivability of life and the economy. Like financial or human capital, natural capital is vital for long-term prosperity, underpinning ecosystems and providing essential services to humanity.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE FRAMEWORK: THE MULTICAPITAL APPROACH

Natural Resources

These are materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment (and are valuable for the economy), such as coal, gas, oil, wind, forests, fertile land and water. They can be renewable or non-renewable, depending on their ability to replenish over time.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE FRAMEWORK: FINITE RESOURCES

Net Negative

Net Negative describes a system, or activity with an overall detrimental impact, where the negative effects, such as environmental damage or resource depletion, outweigh any positive contributions. It is also referred to as net loss. We currently operate in a Net Negative state, where human activities cause more harm than regeneration.

Additional resources:

• BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY: UNIVERSAL RIGHTS TO THRIVABILITY

Net Positive

A system, or activity is considered Net Positive when its positive impacts on the environment outweigh its negative effects. A net positive strategy goes beyond traditional thrivability efforts and actively enhances areas like carbon sequestration or biodiversity. Net positive means that a business must give back more than it takes away from the community.

Additional resources:

• WHAT IS THRIVABILITY?

Net Zero

Net Zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by human activity, and the amount removed over a specific period, achieving carbon neutrality. This involves reducing GHG emissions and implementing strategies like carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation) to absorb excess gases, while using metrics like global warming potential.

Additional resources:

• NET ZERO EMISSIONS: CAN MARKET-BASED INSTRUMENTS SAVE US?
• ECO BUILDING: CONCRETE WAYS TO CEMENT NET-ZERO GOALS.

Net-Zero Water

The Net-zero water strategy involves a structure or community using only the water that naturally falls on the property.

Additional resources:

• NET-ZERO WATER BUILDINGS: HOW THEY CAN SAVE WATER?

Non-Government Organisation (NGO)

It is an organisation that is separate from any governing body. NGOs are often run by volunteers and charities.

Additional resources:

• What is an NGO?

Ocean Governance

Ocean Governance involves making laws and policies to ensure the world’s oceans are adequately protected and kept thrivable. It is global and multi-institutional, including governments, public and private companies, along with NGOs and conservation societies.

Additional resources:

• CAN WE SAVE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF?
• STOPPING OVERFISHING IN THE HIGH SEAS: 30% BY 2030
• RETHINKING OUR GLOBAL OCEAN.

Off-Grid

Being off-grid refers to adopting a lifestyle or system that is not connected to public utilities such as electricity, water, or sewage systems. It often involves using renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience.

Additional resources:

• LIVING OFF-GRID.

Operational Carbon

The quantity of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions released during the operational or active phase of a building’s lifespan.

Additional resources:

• THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF CREATING GREEN CITIES.
• THE LIVING BUILDINGS CHALLENGE: DRIVING SUSTAINABLE CITIES.

Organic

Refers to food produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers, and without genetic modification. It focuses on natural farming practices that support biodiversity, soil health, and thrivability.

Additional resources:

• SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: A BETTER WAY TO FEED THE WORLD?

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted in December 2015 during COP21, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its primary goal is to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while striving for 1.5°C, to mitigate risks and protect future generations.

Additional resources:

• IS THE PARIS AGREEMENT WORKING?

Poaching

The illegal practice of hunting, fishing, capturing, or harvesting of animals, plants, or natural resources, often from forbidden areas or during restricted seasons. Poaching poses a significant threat to endangered species, disrupts ecosystems, and contributes to biodiversity loss.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: WILDLIFE PROTECTION AROUND THE WORLD | DID YOU KNOW?
• WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING: HOW IT AFFECTS COVID19 AND OTHER ZOONOTIC DISEASES

Rain-Water Harvesting

The process of collecting and storing rainwater from the roof of houses and buildings. This water can be used for household use, irrigation, or industrial purposes, to help conserve freshwater resources.

Additional resources:

• Net-Zero Water Buildings: How They Can Save Water

Recycling

The practice of gathering and repurposing waste materials is called recycling.

Additional resources:

• RECYCLING SOLAR PANELS: THE NEXT GREAT CHALLENGE.
• RECYCLING HUMAN WASTE: SUSTAINABLE SEWAGE.
• THE SECRET TO READING RECYCLING LABELS ON PACKAGING.

Remanufacturing

The rebuilding of a product to restore it to its original manufactured specifications using reused, repaired, and new parts. This practice helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and supports sustainability by giving products a second life.

Additional resources:

• YOUTUBE: TOWARDS CIRCULAR ECONOMY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN EUROPE | SIMONE GRASSO

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy is any form of energy derived from natural resources, such as sunlight, wind, and hydropower, that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Unlike fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy sources are clean, thrivable, and provide a climate-friendly solution by producing little to no emissions.

Additional resources:

• BREAKEVEN RENEWABLE ENERGY.
• WHAT IS WIND ENERGY? ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
• THE INTERMITTENCY OF RENEWABLES: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS.
• IS SOLAR PV THE ENERGY OF THE FUTURE?

THRIVE Framework – Science-Based Targets

Science-based targets are targets informed by the sciences, such as the IPCC “Paris Agreement”; an international treaty on climate change that is legally binding. 196 countries and territories agreed in 2015 to address the climate crisis through the implementation of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SBTi 2018).

Social Equity

Social equity promotes inclusivity and fairness, fostering a society where all individuals can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. It ensures marginalised and disadvantaged communities have equal access to education, healthcare, jobs, and decision-making.

Additional resources:

• ACHIEVING THE SDGS: LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND

Solar Energy

Refers to the power harnessed from sunlight, capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. This renewable energy source is essential for reducing carbon emissions and supporting a thrivable future.

Additional resources:

• IS SOLAR PV THE ENERGY OF THE FUTURE?

THRIVE Framework – Strong Sustainability

Strong sustainability ensures that natural resources are understood as finite. In other words, resources can’t be exchanged for money (Upward & Jones 2016).

Sustainability

It is the practice of meeting present needs without permanently depleting or damaging natural resources, ensuring that future generations can meet their own needs. While temporary environmental impacts may occur, sustainability focuses on allowing natural systems to break-even achieving a ‘net zero’ state. It prioritises conservation, minimising long-term negative effects, and maintaining ecosystems at a capacity that ensures their future potential.

Sustainable Agriculture

Science-based farming practices that optimise yield meeting current agricultural needs while preserving resources for future generations. Sustainable Agriculture means making the agricultural system more resilient to droughts, floods and other climate change impacts, maintaining soil health, conserving water, and reducing the use of harmful chemicals, while promoting biodiversity and reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is the economic progress that meets present needs without diminishing the capacity of the eco-systems to meet the needs of the future generations. It aims to balance growth, social equity, and environmental preservation for long-term well-being.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE FRAMEWORK: THE SYSTEMIC HOLISTIC MODEL

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals adopted by United Nations, that aim to address critical challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation, thereby creating a thrivable future for all living organisms on Earth, while encouraging global cooperation.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE FRAMEWORK: THE SYSTEMIC HOLISTIC MODEL
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE “SDGS”: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY HELP?
• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The THRIVE Platform

The THRIVE Platform is a unique, first-of-a-kind world-class online modelling platform aimed at informing and guiding humanity towards thrivability. It achieves this by providing context-based performance measures linked to strategy, e.g. business models as informed by the sciences. Using big data analytics and advanced machine learning techniques, it utilises sense-making algorithms to assess performance within norms, relative to thresholds and allocation of available resources.

Additional resources:

• THRIVE PLATFORM WALKTHROUGH.
• THRIVE PLATFORM.

The THRIVE Project

The THRIVE Project is a for-impact social enterprise whose mission is to ensure the long-term well-being and ‘thrivability’ of all humanity. Our vision is a world beyond sustainability, where all life forms live in harmony. Included are the THRIVE Platform, the 12 THRIVE Framework Foundational Focus Factors, and education through publications, blogs, and various kinds of videos. The project is run by volunteers from all around the world and involves partnerships with other sustainable entities.

Additional resources:

• ABOUT THRIVE.
• MEET THE THRIVE PROJECT.

Thrivability

It is the ability to enhance the regenerative power of an ecosystem beyond sustainability or mere survival. Thrivability strives to improve the quality of life by sharing available resources in a more equitable manner for both present and future generations. Going beyond simply maintaining balance, it means that our actions actively improve the regenerative capacity of ecosystems, such as greening deserts or improving the biodiversity of rivers for both present and future generations to come.

Additional resources:

• DID YOU KNOW? THE MEANING OF THRIVABILITY.
• WHAT IS THRIVABILITY?
• CONSUMERISM, SUSTAINABILITY AND THRIVABILITY.
• THE TRAJECTORY TOWARDS THRIVABILITY.

Water Scarcity

Water scarcity happens when there are insufficient freshwater resources to meet the demand of a region. It can be due to lack of natural water availability, inadequate supply infrastructure, unaffordable water costs, or overpopulation. It highlights the urgent need for efficient water management and equitable distribution to support thriving ecosystems and communities.

Additional resources:

• SOLUTIONS FOR DROUGHT: MANAGING WATER SCARCITY.
• CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION.
• WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS: HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?

Water Security

Having sustained access to an affordable supply of water, avoiding shortages to meet the needs of drinking, sanitation, and hygiene for people, while maintaining productive economies in agriculture, industry, and energy.

Additional resources:

• TIPS TO SAVE WATER.
• 15 TIPS AND TRICKS TO SAVE WATER AT HOME.

World Economic Forum (WEF)

The World Economic Forum is the International Organisation for Public-Private Cooperation (WEF, n.d.) It is a global institution comprising both public and private enterprises across the globe.

Additional resources:

• WEF: Our Mission
• THE GREAT RESET: WHAT DOES OUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE?