Design Impact Vol. 5: Regenerative Design: An Ecosystemic Approach to Transformative Development

Design Impact Vol. 5: Following the Sun: Design Futures at the Intersection of Health, Equity and Climate Change is a global virtual summit sponsored by the Harvard Graduate School of Design Alumni Council. Launching Thursday, September 23rd, the summit brings together an outstanding roster of global leaders to share their work and vision at the intersection of health, climate change and equity. This inspiring, two-day virtual summit transcends regional and national boundaries to unite our global community of practice, challenging us to use design as a tool for actionable, transformative change, and healing.

Session 4: Regenerative Design: An Ecosystemic Approach to Transformative Development

Regenerative Design: Natural Ecosystems and Integrative Approaches for Transformative Development explores policies and design strategies informed by natural ecosystems to remediate and heal our built environment. Our guests will explore how policymakers, designers and custodians of the land can work together to foster development that endorses a more harmonious inter-relational coexistence between humans and nature. The challenges posed by climate change and health pandemics have also brought about a renewed urgency to explore nature base solutions through integrative approaches. These delve deeply into local ecosystems, are driven by clean and renewable technologies and find guidance in nature and indigenous wisdom for a more holistic approach to development.

Session Leads:
​​​​Sameh Wahba, Global Director, World Bank Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice, Washington, D.C.
Jaya Kader, Founding Principal, KZ Architecture and Regen Design Lab, Miami and Costa Rica
Walter Meyer, co-founder of Local Office for Landscape and Urban Design, educator, community organizer. New York

Speakers:
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO & Chairperson, Global Environmental Facility
Sylvanie Burton, permanent minister of Tribal Affairs for the government of Dominica