The Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) has the ambitious goal of providing open-source blueprints for all tools and machines needed to build a village, at a fraction of commercial costs. Since its 2007 inception, nearly one-third of these designs are complete, and the first houses have already been built using them.

This remarkable open-source, social production model is truly impressive. Learn more about its origins and growth directly from Founder Marcin Jakubowski in a live discussion.

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet their voices are often unheard in decision-making. Enhancing their participation and leadership is crucial for a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future, as highlighted by the Women4Climate initiative.

Clara Duchalet exemplifies this, having joined the C40 Women4Climate program to develop Vépluche, her circular economy startup valorizing organic waste.

Aspiring climate leaders are invited to join this session to learn how they can contribute.

By 2050, the global population will reach 10 billion. While individual actions often seem minor, collaborative change offers limitless potential. The Circular Economy Club (CEC) and WEAll Citizens exemplify this, having mobilized thousands of individuals and organizations.

They connect people to develop long-term solutions for local and global communities. This live discussion will explore how they achieve such significant impact.

Enacted in 2015, the European Circular Economy Package is a landmark piece of legislation. It has significantly accelerated the transition to a circular economy across Europe and globally.

This session will explore the package's origins, contents, and impacts. Join the discussion to understand its implications and consider potential next steps as the European Commission prepares for its new term this fall.

News media must end its complacency regarding climate change. Over 150 outlets, in partnership with Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, committed to a week of intensive reporting from September 16-23. Their focus was on how human actions are devastating our planet.

Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan shared her insights on this initiative. Explore CJR's full series here: CJR's Covering Climate Now.

News media is ending its complacency on climate change. Over 150 outlets, led by Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, committed to a week-long reporting initiative (September 16-23) highlighting humanity's devastating impact on the planet.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes shared his perspective as part of this effort. For the full series, visit CJR's website: cjr.org/covering_climate_now/

News media must actively address climate change. Over 150 outlets, including Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, dedicated a week (September 16-23) to reporting on humanity's devastating impact on the planet.

Veteran journalist Bill Moyers shared his perspective within this initiative. For the complete series, visit CJR's website.

Sea turtles frequently mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and ingesting them is often fatal. This plastic pollution poses a deadly threat to marine life.

To protect these creatures, we must #BreakFreeFromPlastic by significantly reducing plastic production. It's time for collective action.

Support Oceana's efforts and take the pledge here: https://bit.ly/2m4aMKe

Parrotfish species produce a mucus cocoon for protection against parasites while they sleep. This defensive barrier can take up to an hour to create for a single night's rest.

To learn more about parrotfish, explore Oceana's Marine Life encyclopedia: Oceana Marine Life Encyclopedia.

North Atlantic right whales, decimated by whaling until 1935, now face extinction. Only about 400 remain, with fewer than 100 breeding females, primarily threatened by commercial shipping and fishing.

To reverse this decline, these whales require protection from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. Key solutions include reducing vertical fishing lines and mandating slower ship speeds.

Music by Adam Lindquist: http://adamlindquist.com/

North Atlantic right whales, once decimated by whaling, now face extinction with only about 400 remaining, including fewer than 100 breeding females. Commercial shipping and fishing pose the primary threats.

To reverse this decline, urgent protection from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes is essential. Reducing vertical lines from fishing gear and mandating slower ship speeds are critical steps.

Music by Adam Lindquist: http://adamlindquist.com/

North Atlantic right whale populations first crashed due to whaling, banned in 1935. Now, the species faces extinction, primarily from commercial shipping and fishing threats.

With only about 400 whales remaining, including fewer than 100 breeding females, urgent protection is vital. Reducing vertical fishing lines and requiring ships to slow down are crucial steps to prevent entanglements and ship strikes, helping to reverse their decline.

Bio-based waste streams, including food waste and industrial by-products, present a global challenge. In Scotland, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) addresses this by connecting businesses with academics to transform these waste materials into valuable revenue streams.

IBioIC identifies this as a potential £900 million industry. They facilitate collaborations among their 130 Scottish members, exemplified by CuanTec, which developed a shellfish-derived shrink-wrap alternative.

Transitioning to a circular economy requires systemic change. Uruguay's experience shows that private sector will alone is insufficient; a robust policy framework, backed by strong government and public institutional support, is essential for this shift.

This live conversation will explore how to foster the necessary collaboration for national policy reform, secure funding for pioneering circular innovations, and effectively persuade policymakers and businesses about the circular economy's future.

Converting 20% of global disposable plastic packaging into reuse models presents a USD10 billion business opportunity. This benefits customers and is vital for eliminating plastic pollution. All stakeholders must collaborate to create new consumption, production, and distribution models, tackling the plastics waste crisis at its source.

This DIF session will delve into the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new book, 'Reuse: Rethinking packaging.' We will showcase diverse reuse models beyond traditional shopping bags, discuss their benefits, and feature conversations with three innovators implementing groundbreaking reuse solutions.

Technology like 3D printers and CNC routers enables localized mass production. Instead of shipping goods globally, blueprints can be transferred, allowing items to be produced locally using local materials. While this promise isn't new, it's not yet widespread. What will it take to significantly shift towards this local manufacturing model?

UK-based Open Desk is at the forefront of this movement. Discover insights from their years of experience designing workplace furniture, collaborating with a community of designers and makers, and integrating augmented reality into their work.

Join this live show to explore two innovative circular economy businesses. Sofa for Life offers a comfortable, modular sofa designed for easy transport and relocation. Omocom specializes in micro-insurance, crucial for peer-to-peer transactions within circular business models.

Discover the inspiration behind these ideas and how they were brought to life. Tune in to learn more!

Convincing colleagues and policymakers about new ideas, particularly environmental initiatives, without them feeling burdened is a common challenge. Luigi Acquaviva, working with Italian regional and city policymakers, has developed strategies to implement environmental concepts effectively.

Similarly, Cheryl McCulloch successfully engaged Glasgow businesses and policymakers on the circular economy in Scotland. Her team's "circular city scan" shifted perspectives towards collaborative new approaches. Join this conversation to learn from Luigi and Cheryl's valuable experiences.

Waste and pollution are direct results of design choices. This session will feature inspiring leaders who are already transforming the system through circular design principles.

Join Seetal Solanki (Ma-tt-er founder, author of *Why Materials Matter*), Kamonnart Ong (Moreloop co-founder, fashion designer), and RSA Student Design Award winners Maire Kane and Hannah Grogan, who developed a reusable medical device. These innovators are leading the way in sustainable design.

Be part of this essential transformation. Don't miss out.

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) proposes converting organic waste—from food, gardening, and even sewage—into biochar through baking. This toxic-free, multi-purpose material positively impacts the planet, leading Project Drawdown to rank it among the top 100 ideas for reversing climate change.

This session will explore the science and technology behind biochar, along with the IBI's strategies for communicating its benefits globally.