Picture

                  News Archive

Mar-Apr 2020
COVID-19
On the 4th March 2020 Catherine Allinson from FE Ltd and Gustavo Montes de Oca co-founded the Tisbury Neighbourhood Response to help mobilize and protect the local community of 2,500 people (25% >70) from the Covid-19 UK outbreak.  Using a whole system 'point of contact minimization' approach we had two aims (i) protecting those in need and (ii) heath service systems strengthening.  After a few intensive weeks and with the help of some incredible people from across the community,we:
  • Held an awareness public raising event 2 weeks prior to UK Government lockdown
  • Engaged the local and regional council to help oil the wheels & lead outreach
  • Established a free helpline with 24 staff, 7 days a week
  • Established a prescription delivery service with a team of DSB-checked drivers covering 20 villages and hamlets with 6,000 residents
  • Delivered over 500 prescriptions on behalf of Boots the Chemists in the first 3 weeks (stopped counting after that)
  • Engaged 250 volunteers who collected food, prescriptions, ran errands and helped on the phone
  • Established a Quick Response unit for emergency call outs (the community is >30 min from nearest hospital)
  • Established a 'Phone A Friend' call back service
  • A personalised food delivery service for those in need
  • Raised donation of $10,000 from PayPal (thanks @paypal) to help deck transaction charges for food procurement 
Lives were saved and the initiative will form the backbone of future emergency responses and build long term resilience thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of its members from across the community.   

Enhancing Access to GCF for Guyana’s Transition to Renewable Energy

Nov 2019 -Feb 2020

 Picture










​Good opportunities for domestic investment in utility scale renewable energy solutions across Guyana working with Global Green Growth Institute to support Government of Guyana in low-carbon transitions under the 2019-2020 Green Climate Fund Readiness Project. ​ Guyana Power and Light serves the majority of the population with 187,855 customers, of which 170,493 are residential, 16,515 commercial and 847 industrial. 556 gigawatt hours (GWh) was sold in 2017.  Satellite electricity companies serve the remainder of the country under National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited. Guyana does not yet have a deregulated energy system with GPL and NICIL owning generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure with most operations and maintenance services outsourced.  Average daily solar insolation is 4.1 to 5.5 kWh/m2; between 4.6 GW and 7.6 GW of technically viable hydro power potential; prognosis for wind looks favourable (assessments underway with results pending) and the climate makes conditions for biomass energy generation favourable.

Future Earth Ltd designed and developed a national sustainable financing mechanism, embedded in existing local structures, to initiate the utility scale renewable energy market to rapidly accelerate the implementation of co-financed projects to shrink carbon emissions in the power sector, the country’s largest contributor of GHGs.
 Interested?  Contact us for more information on renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicle and waste management ​projects and investment opportunities in the Caribbean
Picture
​

Feb 2020
Guyana
Designing targeted, appropriate, investment ready renewable energy programmes with GGGI for Government of Guyana has thrown up challenges for swift address such as whole grid interconnection studies; cross sector planning and dependencies, and a self-sustaining renewable energy/climate mitigation and adaptation investment plan. 
Future Earth advocates for taking a whole systems approach to designing low carbon futures as per the Green State Development Strategy accounting for transport, waste, water and importantly domestic financial cycling and welcomes future cross departmental consultation. 

Contact Future Earth Ltd to discuss the business and operational model developed in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders to embed sustainable financing ​of Guyana's green growth aims. 

Jan 2020
​Guyana
Impressive turnout of domestic investors at our latest Green Climate Fund Private Sector Facility awareness raising event delivered under Guyana's first Readiness Project led by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) working with the Guyana Office of Climate Change and Department of Environment. Guyana is blessed with natural resources as well as O&G, so the choice of whether to exploit fossil fuel or renewable energy is now critical to meet the ambitions within its Green State Development Strategy and for sustainable prosperity.  
Need help understanding how GCF can finance your project?  Or in navigating the GCF process.  Want to submit a Concept Note, SAP or a Full Proposal?  Unclear on how to meet the GCF criteria for investment or accreditation?  Future Earth Ltd is happy to help, just contact us.
Future Earth led the private sector engagement strategy, communications and outreach to Guyana's top businesses and individuals to raise awareness of the Green Climate Fund's Private Sector Facility and opportunities for PPP investment into utility scale renewable energy portfolios progressed by GGGI.  We are also building local capacity and expertise and leading on the design and financing structure for two Concept Notes for presentation to GCF.  
Information, case studies, reports we developed for GGGI
Head of the Department for Environment, Ndibi Schwiers; outreach events were also attended by Janelle Christian, GCF Focal Point, Office of Climate Change

Nov 2019
​Sierra Leone
Success!  Feels good to end the year on a high for others.  EUR 1.2m from European Commission secured by Future Earth Ltd for AAD, DESAL, WOFHRAD and Trocaire for agro-ecological practices for economic diversification and gender empowerment in Sierra Leone.  Congratulations!

Sept 2019
​London​
FE Ltd joined green Crowd as Partner this year alongside some pioneering colleagues who are sourcing, building and financing late stage SMEs involved in renewable energy for productive uses.  It's a mountain to climb!




​

July 2019,
Sierra Leone
Such a pleasure to work in the  Northern District, Sierra Leone with Trócaire, AAD-SL, DESAL and WOFHRAD to strengthen the capacity of the local CSOs.  Working to support vulnerable women and youth to raise their standard of living through income diversification and progressive agro-ecological approaches.  By learning to map their economic and natural assets (with geo-satellite imagery) and developing local sustainability plans they're improving community natural resource management of the degraded forests and land.  Using simple irrigation techniques, installing/upgrading wells and improving hygiene practices will help combat water-borne diseases.  Crucial is their programme of work for educating women and girls on their rights and the gender justice laws which, in time, will help increase accountability at local and district level..  

June 2019
Ghana
Learning remit supporting SNV in drafting specific technical components of their latest EU Trust Fund proposal to improve skills and employment of youth, women and returnee migrants in the Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana.  Great work being done on incubation and acceleration of green SMEs and the greening of traditional organisations led by Philippe Baudez.  It's still hugely challenging in Ghana to attract local and diaspora funding for green SMEs as confirmed by greenCrowd's research.   

May 2019
​Iceland
Incredible journey MC-ing the 4th International Spirit of Humanity Forum in Reykjavik "Harmony in a World of Difference: Spiritual Resilience in Practice" kicked off by the Prime Minister of Iceland with superb contributions from Christiana Figuerres (Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), Bob Boisture (CEO Fetzer Insitute), Ken Gergen (CEO Taos Insitute), Andrew Lord Stone of Blackheath (former CEO of M&S), Imad Karam (UK Director, Initiatives of Change), Mike Hardy (Coventry University) and Ragnar Angeby among many other leaders.  It was a privilege to be on stage alongside such erudite and eminent people, who understand that change starts from within and that bringing core values into decision-making will improve our world.  Huge thanks to Johanna Vilhjalmsdottir (Director S0H) and Sister Jayanti (European Director of the Brahma Kumaris).

April, 2019
Just completed the first Direct and Digital Innovation Strategy for the International Team and wider organisation for Leonard Cheshire.   Advocated for systems modular approach with tailored support packages for tackling the disablers of employment for the vulnerable; incorporated robust data analytics and research to inform organisational strategy and marketing outputs; plus model to drive  private sector partnerships and impact investment for new digital tools for persons with disability worldwide.  Government-linked UK model could also be developed.  Great work already be led in  South Africa in the education sector and potential to increase digital competencies to get people into work in other geographies.
Could develop similar models for other INGOs targeting gender, economic inclusion, supply chain development. 

Feb, 2019
​Uganda
On track!  After 3 peaks climbed over 8 months, have led an >£4 mill global portfolio of economic inclusion and digital innovation programmes in x9 countries across Africa & Asia via 4 regional offices, >40 staff & delivery partners for Leonard Cheshire.  Digital Strategy next...

Oct 2018
​Uganda
Monitoring trip to Adjumani and Moyo in northern Uganda on behalf of Leonard Cheshire to improve their #economicinclusion projects in this geography showed that collaboration with dedicated and determined local service providers is crucial to improve impact for beneficiaries, the country and outside investors.    Access to energy, water and transport still huge local issues but good news is that through collective action we can now resolve!

June 2018
Great to be on the Circular Economy and Wast panel at this years ICLEI Resilient Cities Conference, in Bonn.  Always a pleasure to be with this group of like-minded people.  Thank you for inviting me.

June 2018
​Europe
Cities across Europe like Bari and Peterborough came to London and Bristol for the Smart Sustainable Cities initiative Future Earth Ltd and partners pioneered on behalf of FCO to share ideas and best-practices on circular economy and how to make cities smarter and more sustainable.
​
Check out @CWilsonFCO European Director, FCO
"We're trying to promote and strengthen the links between European cities (45 here from all over the UK as well as Europe) looking to learn from each other... use digital technologies better... how they can combat climate change more effectively and it's something we really want to continue" 
@smartsustcities

June 2018
​London
World Environment Day is June 5th.  Looking forwards to Treading Lightly on the Earth this Sunday 3rd June, 2:00pm - 5:30pm at Global Co-operation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, Willesden Green, London. 
Honoured to be speaking alongside the amazing Sister Jayanti of the Brahma Kumaris and Dharmachari Sanghasiha from the London Buddhist Centre. 
​Intro video below and click here to reserve a place.

April 2018
​Europe
Check out the first of several short videos produced by @foreignnoffice at the 2019  
#SmartSustCities event which brought 120 people from >40 cities together to share ideas and best-practices on how to make cities smarter and more sustainable.​​
Great to have worked with @Ed_Synnott; @TheLunarWorks; @ICLEI_Europe and @resiliencebrokers to realize this project.  Thank you.

March 2018
​London
The second in the series of events saw the worst winter 'Beast from the East' storms in decades hit host city London but resilient and with planned contingency measures in place, Future Earth Ltd and partners delivered a superb programme for the >40 European City senior practitioners including a river boat cruise in the snow and visits to Future Cities Catapult.  
Caroline Wilson, FCO European Director (below), joined the evening reception to thank her team, meet attending European city representatives and evaluate the excellent feedback received first hand.
​Speakers who built capacity for European and UK cities alike included: Matthew Hudson, Head of Strategy TFL (above); Jennifer Daothong, London Legacy Development Corporation; Andrew Collinge, Assistant Director Intelligence & Analysis, GLA; Alex Gluhak - Head of Technology, Digital Catapult and many more from around the UK.
​In an incredible show of participation, over 80 presentations from European cities were shared across the two events, many of which can be seen in the case studies now available on the website http://SmartSustainableCities.uk  Slack and LinkedIn are other places to engage with the >120 participants from >50 cities.  Looking forward to scaling for 2019 and beyond - contact FE Ltd for more details. 

Feb 2018
​Bristol
Fantastic atmosphere and engagement by 30 senior EU City representatives for the Bristol Sustainable Cities workshop-tours in Bristol.  Walking, talking and plenty of opportunities for sharing made connecting and learning from each other possible. 
Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees leads Q&A discussion on the core values needed by leaders who shape city systems and the need for networks of cities for city level planning for sustainable transport, energy, housing and to create a sense of belonging.  
Looking forward to the Smart Cities event in London 1-2nd March 2018 with key note from Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer Greater London Authority among others.
Over 25 EU Cities gathered for the 2-day practical workshop tour from across Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Andorra. Slovakia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia and more making for excellent exchange with UK cities and biz.

2018, Bristol & London
Future Earth Ltd is leading the​ inaugural UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative  on 22nd - 23rd February in Bristol and 1st - 2nd March in London.
​
The initiative will act as a long-term opportunity to forge strong city-to-city connections focused on implementable smart and sustainable solutions and offer an ongoing platform for exchange of innovation, knowledge and experience.  

UK cities will showcase how they have achieved implementable goals together with their academic and private sector partners, and for EU cities to highlight their aims and objectives in similar areas.  The initiative will ​ bring together practitioners, experts and policy makers and facilitate city to city dialogue about tangible solutions with project-ready partners.  

Participants will​ share their challenges and successes across 2 events across 
4 thematic areas respectively: 
​Sustainable​  
  • transport
  • energy efficiency in buildings
  • smart grids and renewable energy
  • circular economy
Smart 
  • data management/data driven economy
  • common ticketing systems
  • e-mobility
  • Internet of Things
Detailed information ​is available on the Smart Sustainable Cities website with a selection of case studies from attending cities.​

Dec 2017
Proud to have won the UK FCO tender to deliver the new FCO Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative with partners ICLEI-Europe, Tynos Consulting with The Lunar Works and Resilience Brokers Ltd.
The initiative will comprise of two 2-day workshop tours in Bristol and London in early 2018 and will act as a long-term opportunity to forge strong city-to-city connections focused on implementable smart and sustainable solutions; an ongoing platform for exchange of innovation, knowledge and experience. 
 30 EU and 14 UK cities are anticipated to attend.  The initiative is practitioner focused. Watch this space for more details.  

Nov 2017
Round up from COP23 - Lord Nick Stern, Grantham Inst.,  1) Achievement of the SDGs, Paris and Sendai agenda are inextricably intertwined however, 2) the urgency and scale of action required is as yet underestimated, and positively 3) the global economy will grow 18-22% in the next 20 years mainly as a result of infrastructure development in Asia. 
It is our duty to see that happen in a sustainable manner and to "insure resilience" (though the insurance sector is offering few solutions to tackling slow onset effects like desertification or sea level rise and remains primarily focused on infrastructure.  Perhaps the Loss and Damage San Fran court cases against x5 major oil companies will set a precedent? (Reuters: CGC17-561370 and RG17-875889) 

Solar will play the largest role in decarbonisation (now down to $1.7/Kwh in Mexico) which is challenging outside the energy sector.  Retrofit, transport and circular economy resource reuse all play a large role. 
Still urgently required are: 1) Political leadership for investment and (energy) network policies; 2) Innovation and cooperation (sharing) across businesses and governments; 3) Derisking capital markets and bringing down the cost of capital.  Indeed, technical progress could see the price of carbon rise to $15/ton in the EU by 2020 - is your business taking account of this?  Why not ask CDP for help in measuring and managing this risk.

Archie Young, Head of International Climate Change Negotiations, UNFCCC - summarized the proceedings as positive working progress on:  a) The Rulebook to refine frameworks needed to support for NDC achievement and resulting penalties if NDCs are not achieved (yes, this will apply at company level so great to see strong private sector presence at COP23 this year).  The foot is on the pedal, by 2020 the (renewable) fuel will be surging through the global motor, so watch out for your pre-2020 commitments!

Plus:  COP23 highlighted the appalling record rich nations failing to honour their commitments by raising  only $10.3bn raised against the 2009 pledged $100bn annually for climate finance and thereby loosing trust and credibility... but at least coal is out of date for x19 countries; aforestation, agriculture, gender and indigenous people were given spotlights; and innovative industries who rethink their modus operandi will win.  Cities are now talking the talk alongside officials via the Talanoa Dialogue and The Bank GFDRR connecting cities to investors for infrastructure builds.  Needless to say, China and India are storming ahead, which is important as they are home to nearly 40% of global population. 

Sept 2017
Privileged to be invited to the Rockerfeller Bellagio Centre for the 3rd time with Peter Head, this time as an independent expert alongside leading individuals and organisations who pushing the boundaries of what is possible and achievable for a better planet.   
​It was wonderful being able to bring in and bring together colleagues at The Ecological Sequestration Trust with ICLEI, IFRC, SDSN Youth and SDG Academy, GEO, UCCRN, Burning2Learn, ICES-Foundation and many others into a truly collaborative space for shared vision on ways to achieve better outcomes for resilient cities.  The learning is powerful, conversations run deep and the natural setting inspirational.   Thank you Laura Lee, Joyce Coffee, Ruth Deakin Crick, Ed Synott, Andrea Bassi for amazing contributions.  
​The trilogy to date:
Fantastic to have met invitee Rockefeller Fellow Ali Mufuruki of Infotech, Tanzania and seen From the Ashes by Radical Media and Katherine Oliver, Bloomberg Philianthropies. ​

July-Oct 2017
Great to be back at The Ecological Sequestration Trust with @peterheadCBE helping the team to move forward by framing, developing and delivering the detailed 5-year Resilience Brokers program plan. 
We crafted the initial city selection criteria; brought in and brought together key partners into a truly collaborative way of working, and seeded interest in cities keen to become global leaders, the first in the world to adopt whole city integrated planning tools for resilience and project investment risk reduction.   
The shared vision is outlined in Roadmap 2030 a practical guide for nations, cities, private, academic and community sectors with 16 cross cutting themes addressing risk and resilience and which Future Earth Ltd co-authored in 2016. 

June 2017
Netherlands
Lovely to attend the World Urban Campaign Urban Thinkers Campus @TUDelft with Rachel Keeton facilitating a great round table discussion on Adaptive Planning for African New Towns with excellent insight from DK Osseo Asare and others.  
​
The Urban Thinkers Campus is an initiative of UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign, conceived as an open space for critical exchange between stakeholders to promote sustainable and inclusive urbanization. It is also envisaged as a platform to advocate enlightened planning and design of our cities and propose urban solutions for different contexts of development. 

June 2017,
​London
Future Earth Ltd worked with the excellent Pyxera Global based in Washington DC, to implement their first UK Service Corps program for JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) targeting the poorest, marginalized communities of East London.    We developed the Scope of Works for JPMC, hand held their employees during their placements and helped build ongoing collaboration between the two sectors.
The Service Corps is a skills-based volunteer program placing high-performing employees into local NGOs, where their financial and other skills are put to use for the benefit of the recipient charity.  

March 2017
​London
Green bonds are rapidly unlocking a source of capital for re/financing, and a way to mobilize private capital such that governments can reduce debt, and banks free up capital to invest in other assets/projects.  This is great news for municipalities which are able to issue bonds and need to invest in low-carbon services and infrastructure to meet the demands of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.  Future Earth is learning all about green bonds whilst writing for Sean Kidney at Climate Bonds Initiative.  To find out more contact us!

Jan 2017
​Denmark
Great work with Luise Noring and 39 (!) partners on the Copenhagen Business School I-FORGE EUR 14 mill Horizon 2020 proposal, which looked at urban agriculture in the EU and China and how to  expose and solve issues of urban population growth, land pressure, which underpin food insecurity, food safety and detrimental resource use.  
Sincere thanks to: TU Delft; Kopenhagen Uni; Uni of Groningen; Free Uni of Berlin; Technical Uni of Denmark; Institute of Advanced Architecture Catalunya; Technical Uni of Sweden; ​University of Lorraine; Nanjing Agricultural Uni; Uni of Peking; Beijing Normal Uni; Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry; Tongje Uni all the demonstration projects and many, many more for their excellent contributions to the proposal.  The collaboration was terrific.  

Sept 2016
​Swansea
Future Earth Ltd., is delighted to announce that the inaugural Daphne Coates Fieldwork Grant which we sponsor, has been awarded to Nyasha Turuza at Swansea University for her "An Investigation of the Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Zimbabwe."  The Masters level award was presented by Prof. Jim Rose, External Examiner.

Sept 2016
Accra
Mission accomplished - from zero contacts to one step below the President!  Future Earth is very pleased with the level of engagement and facilitation of relationships achieved over the past 18 months working in Ghana with @Ecosequestrust  and through the introductions by @CitiesAlliance to deliver the prototype resilience.io integrated resource flow model to Accra.  Find out what we achieved on the dedicated Accra project web page. Our client now has significant support from Ministers, the Senior Executive at NDPC, private, academic and community leadership.   Next step for Future Earth, is to secure funding to scale up of the model across the country and to all sectors.

Summer 2016
Since the spring,  Future Earth Ltd has been helping the MLGRD in Ghana towards its and Ghana's first application to the Green Climate Fund (GCF)  Learning to navigate the GCF landscape and help the country move towards self-sustaining low carbon development is the goal and the journey has been valuable. Future Earth is happy to share learnings from the experience and repeat for other organisations and countries.

July 2016
London 
Proof and evidence are vital for good decision making, whether for innovative resilience project or personal ratings for future work. Future Earth Ltd is delighted to have been awarded an A by Department for International Development (DfID) for its work with The Ecological Sequestration Trust on the Future Cities Africa pilot Nov 2014 - June 2016.
​​
The task: was to develop a prototype open source urban/rural decision making model that would aid decision makers to design integrated city-wide policies, plans and interventions. The model would enable planners and others to “test” future investment and resource management strategies and to anticipate changes in population, consumption and urbanisation patterns. The model would be “simple” and “functional” for city authorities in Africa.

We quote: significant progress has been made in four broad areas, technical model development, data collection, engagement and implementation.



​Future Earth's role: was to lead strategic communications and engagement and to facilitate the creation of the enabling environment for such an innovative and technological solution to improving resilience in Accra, Ghana.  Over 450 connections were made including those who are members of the GAMA Technical Group illustrated below and June update.

June 2016
Accra, Ghana
Creating the enabling environment for transformational innovation with sufficient speed and scale in order to meet the SDGs is not easy, so we are very pleased at the resounding success of the Future Earth Ltd., 18-month engagement strategy, which came to life in Accra with over 20 high level meetings at NDPC, 5x Ministries, GIIF, FCO British Embassy, Ghana Chamber of Commerce etc. all as a result of remote engagement by members of the team in collaboration with, Imperial College London and the Institute for Integrated Economics Research who contributed to 7 expert webinars and an expanding body of WASH integrated systems experts in Accra.  A thank you goes directly to Cities Alliance for the important introductions.  

A final event opened by Robert Ansah, aide to the Mayor of Accra, saw lively interactive discussion initiated by key note speaker, Hon. Dep. Minister Emmanuel Agyekum with the amassed 65 high level stakeholders and multiple multi-lateral funders.  Words following the visit has sealed the deal on the continued development of the resilience.io model and associated Urban Development and Investment Fund for Future Earth's client The Ecological Sequestration Trust.  ​We are naturally delighted for you and look forward to the next collaboration.
For more information go to http://resilience.io

March 2016 Prague, Czech Republic
  1. World Urban Campaign – excellent zero draft of The City We Need, a largely social common framework for action and precursor to the New Urban Agenda upon which financiers and implementers can now build.  Interesting to see independent strides being made by WUC partners at the Prague meeting.   Wide ranging institutions being expertly steered by Genie Birch, University of Pennsylvania and pro-active approaches from all members striving for tangible, meaningful outcomes through its two initiatives, Urban Thinkers and the General Assembly of Partners.
  2. UN HABITAT III Business as usual at the European meeting where scheduling precluded attendance at more than a handful of side events.  Good parallel conversations with Billy Cobbett, of Cities Alliance on furthering the urban agenda through their expansive selection of tools for municipalities, and policy implications by Rolf Alter, OECD and his panel colleagues (list).

​March 2016 Rockefeller Bellagio Centre, Italy
Once again kindly invited to participate in a thought leadership piece led by The Ecological Sequestration Trust and UN SDSN at the stunning Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre, Lake Como in the company of colleagues from OECD, Gov of Ghana, AfDB, UNDP, UN HABITAT, PWC, GEO, UCLG, EIB and various academic institutions in order to create a Roadmap to 2030 for municipalities, national governments, communities and the private sector for collaborative action in order to reach the SDG targets.  The action oriented outcome document provides a route for each sector to access national and international finance through using new data and collaborate using modelling tools to better plan and implement municipal infrastructure and service delivery for the spiralling urban populations in cities worldwide.
​
Read and contribute to the document here: ​http://ecosequestrust.org/roadmap2030

resilience.io WASH GAMA Technical Group, Ghana
So pleased to now report that 20 attendees attended the latest resilience.io WASH GAMA Technical Group meeting - the 6th in the bi-monthly series led by Chairman Sampson Madana under the Cities Alliance Future Cities Africa project.  Real engagement and ownership of the local instance of the resilience.io model is being demonstrated now with guest speakers Eric K Afornorpe, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development explaining the technical details of the model, and how useful it is as a tool for the private sector by Dr George Rockson, Director Research, Innovation and Development at Zoomlion.  Contact us if you would like to join the What's App group and join the next meeting.

January 2016, Accra, Ghana
Another great week progressing the DfID Future Cities Africa programme with Cities Alliance and engaging MLGRD, AMA, TMA, NDPC in integrated systems approaches to city planning.   Fantastic turn out at the Future Earth led GAMA Technical Group bi-monthly January meeting, where the work progress was shared and outputs refined into case studies for better understanding by a non-technical audience.  Excitement is clearly building as more and more local people begin to see how this prototype will help them to better plan their city and give the evidence base required to attract private sector investment into urban sustainable infrastructure and service delivery.  

January 2016, Accra, Ghana
Superb week with Catholic Relief Services Ghana working with Luellen Kazan, West Africa Regional Business Development Advisor the Country Program staff to to deliver capacity building training on private sector collaboration through shared value projects, impact investing at scale and social enterprise models.  Impressive integrated approach taken by CRS; one of the few organisations really tackling the 'bottom of the pyramid' in Ghana and 'leaving no one behind'. 

Dec 2015, Africa Rizing
In the news: interview with Eunice Onwona from Africa Rizing on why Future Earth is partnering with the Ecological Sequestration Trust to connect some of the most vulnerable communities in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area with risk data, sustainable low carbon innovations, resource management practices and experienced policy makers through a resilience ‘Community Cockpit’.  Read the full article.

November 2015, Ghana
Excellent week progressing strategic relationships in GAMA supporting the development of entire WASH sector modelling work by Institute for Integrated Economics Research, and discussing ways to secure finance for city-scale resilience initiatives with AR!SE partners and municipal leads at Water Aid's World Toilet Day.

Nov 2015, Tamale, Ghana
Insightful work in Tamale and Accra, Ghana, presenting and co-facilitating NRM workshop with Luellen Kazan, Regional Technical Advisor for Strategic Growth and Business Development at Catholic Relief Service and its Northern Ghana implementation partners. 

November 2015, London
Great to be representing The Ecological Sequestration Trust at the AGM and launch of the UNISDR ARISE initiative, in support of the 7 targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: the first four aim for substantial reductions in global disaster mortality, the number of people affected, economic losses, and damage to critical infrastructure. The remaining three seek an increase in the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020, strengthened international cooperation for developing countries, and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments.

Sept 2015, NY
Future Earth's Ginger Boyd facilitates and deepens our global connections with Catherine Cunningham, Founder & CEO of Eikosphere and Guido Traub of the UNSDSN and Peter Head of The Ecological Sequestration Trust at the The Sustainability Conference in New York in the run up to the global launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sept 2015, Accra/London
Future Earth's Rachael Kemp introduces the third Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Technical Group webinar with colleagues from the Institute for Integrated Economics Research, Rembrandt Koppelaar and TEST.  The webinars engages technical experts in Ghana as part of the DfID Future Cities Africa programme to ensure the integrated systems model resilience.io is fit for purpose in country.

Sept 2015, Geneva
Future Earth's Catherine Allinson presents to nation states at the UNISDR, Geneva with @ecosequestrust Stephen Passmore and Peter Head, introducing collaborative integrated solutions to delivering the SDGs and Sendai Framework

July 2015, London
Landmark signing today at the Mongolian Embassy for Future Earth's main client The Ecological Sequestration Trust  with Mayor Bat-Uul in the presence of Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg.  http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=15211
This is the fruition of 18 months work by Future Earth to secure Mongolia as the demonstration region for an innovative systems platform called "resilience.io" being developed at Imperial College London to aid public and private sector decision making for post-2015 SDG investments.  Our next job is to establish the enabling environment for project implementation and dissemination.
Catherine Allinson, Director at FE with Mayor Bat-Uul of Ulaanbaatar and Peter Head, CBE of The Ecological Sequestration Trust

June 2015, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
SUCCESS! Final trip in the series - planned, managed and run by Future Earth to secure a significant 3-year contract for The Ecological Sequestration Trust with the City of Ulaanbaatar.   
The trip was made more successful by inviting GEODAN, the Institute for Integrated Economics Research and the International Center for Earth Simulation to join the collaborative presentation on integrated systems tools to deliver resilient city planning.  
Future Earth's newest recruit, Shine Dagva, asssists IIER, Geodan, ICES and TEST prior to our facilitated main and technical workshops with the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, British Ambassador and 3 government ministries represented among other key stakeholders.

March 2015, Accra, Ghana
FE delivered our new "collaborative decision-making methodology" for Cities Alliance, Future Cities Africa program on behalf of The Ecological Sequestration Trust.  The specially developed Future Earth sector selection methodology was a resounding success with both quantitative and qualitative selection indicators fulfilled beyond expectation. If you'd like to see how we did it click on the doc to the right.

February 2015, Bellagio, Italy
Future Earth manages and participates in the high level conference supported by the Rockefeller Foundation at the Bellagio Conference Centre, with global finance experts from IFC, World Bank, EIB, Meridiam, DFID, Universities of Peking and Ghana plus Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities and UCLG.  We produced this report "Smart ways to mobilise more efficient and effective long-term investment in city regions"  with strong recommends on the structures required for new funding models for city development to support the SDGs.


February 2015, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
After our first success, Future Earth secured funding again from the  FCO British Embassy Mongolia to enable The Ecological Sequestration Trust to return for another 6-month project with consultants INUA.  Another superb workshop and multiple meetings with Government Ministries, the City of UB Mayor's Office and banks to progress the project.  Mongolia remains an impressive beautiful country eager to resolve its urban resource issues.

November 2014, London
Future Earth's Catherine Allinson executive produced "Soil to Sky", a vision film with production company Digifish for The Ecological Sequestration Trust and International Centre for Earth Simulation.  Sit back and watch our beautiful and inspiring 9 min:

June 2014, Dorset, UK
Future Earth developed relationships, organised and facilitated a landmark workshop in Dorset, UK where we produced a feasibility study report on resilience.io on behalf of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Mouchel, the Local Nature Partnership and Bournemouth University.  Sustainability practitioners said they had never before been convened together in one place and through this work felt empowered.

March 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Future Earth travels to Mongolia to deliver the "Finding a resilient development path for Mongolia" workshop for The Ecological Sequestration Trust and Foreign and Commonwealth Office British Embassy Mongolia.  Good cross-sector representation and leadership by the Ministry of the Environment and Green Development and Ministry of Economic Development.  We donated our fantastic picture of Terelj to Minister Oyun for charity.

March 2014 London
Future Earth completes the 8 country, 14-month, 20 stage "Advancing Integration of DRR, Environment and Climate change" project supported by the Australian Government's AusAID/DFAT.  Find the full publication series on the Overseas Development Institute website. 

December 2013 London
Future Earth produced a shor,t intro to preparedness for Overseas Development Institute (ODI) to accompany the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Disaster Risk Reduction reports
Contact us or follow us on twitter at @futureearthnow