“The future of living in self-reliant neighborhoods with access and agency to critical life support systems of food, water, energy and circular resource flows, presents the best case for humanity to live in balance within nature and not separate from it. Localized regenerative resiliency provides the circumstances for long-term residency in healthy, happy and peaceful communities for generations to come”
James Ehrlich – 2020
James Ehrlich, the founder and innovative thinker that designed “ReGen Villages”, is an American Researcher and Lecturer at Stanford University and entrepreneur in the areas of technology, media technology and clean-tech.
As part of the ecovillage movement, “ReGen Villages” proposes a sustainable solution for housing based on a multi ‘cultural, generational and social’ approach inspired in nature’s logic of interconnectivity. Through an original software, it creates a framework for regenerative resiliency at the neighborhood scale, following the logic of interconnectivity hidden in nature.
James saw that the vulnerability and fragility of our systems, notably big cities, became problematic. Massive disasters such as the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, made him acknowledge the urgent need of awareness: catastrophes like this and Covid-19 itself, make one think of the importance of global health and the need of pursuing a more conscious, logically connected, and healthy life.
Ehrlich’s experience in working with interconnected local farms in California was source of inspiration.
Moved by their sustainable and self-sufficient way of living, and also inspired on the works of Dr. Suzanne 1
W. Simard on mycelial network , Ehrlich conceived a software for modelling human settlements in a resilient and sustainable way. By this, communities could somehow imitate the symbiotic behavior of nature within land-use planning to build meaningful local ecosystems of cooperative farming and living.
But “who wants to leave a big city that has everything?” asked James. His answer: cities have not been delivering on their promises in terms of costs, quality of life, and safety. They’re a very fragile environment. Covid-19 is a wake-up call. It is high time to think on “global health” and connection among all species and nature. Once again, humanity witnesses the urgent need of having Peace with the Earth. It isn’t an anti-city proposal, but an “alternative to face the environmental crisis we’re living”.
By this, “ReGen Villages” contributes transversally to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To see more, please check the section CLIMATE ACTION in http://www.regenvillages.com/
Surely another inspiring story worth highlighting that fosters sustainable development through alternative solutions to global problems.
Therefore, the NCP pursues to highlight some of its most noteworthy contributions:
02. zero hunger
- 02.1
It can help increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small scale food producers through the intelligent farm planning ran by ReGen Villages software.
- 02.2
One of its basis is to develop sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that protect ecosystems and build resiliency of communities.
06. clean water & sanitation
- 06.1
It promotes universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
- 06.3
To improve water quality since all process in ReGen Villages are nature based.
- 06.4
It addresses water scarcity through water use efficiency, sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater.
- 06.6
To protect and restore water related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes, if a ReGen Village is built near these ecosystems.
07. affordable & clean energy
- 07.1
To ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
- 07.2
To increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- 07.3
To increase the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency through its technology.
09. industry, innovation & infrastructure
- 09.1
ReGen Villages develops quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure through its housing proposals at the communitarian scale.
11. sustainable cities & communities
- 11.3
Its software planning fosters inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
- 11.7
For the members of the communities that will be ran by ReGen Villages, there will be universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces since the built ecosystem will be in complete harmony with nature.
13. climate action
- 13.1
ReGen Villages strengthens resilience and adaptive capacity of communities to climate related hazards and natural disasters.
- 13.3
Through its alternative way of living, the project promotes education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning at the scale of ReGen Villages. The whole idea is to build resiliency.
Members
Emilie Gaillard
General Coordinator of the Chair
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