Session Description
Traditional project-focused IA and SEA processes cannot adequately address breached planetary boundaries, compound nonlinear risks and irreversible tipping points. Systems-based, forward-looking IA evaluating alternative mitigation and regeneration plans offers unique value to GCA partners including the Climate Governance Commission, Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance, Systems Change Lab, Earth Commission, alongside NGFS and reinsurance leaders. Integrating systems foresight, cumulative impact analysis, backcasting, scenario modelling and cross-disciplinary expertise supports decision-makers in identifying robust long-term environmental, social and financial options.
This paper session advances outputs from the IAIA 2026 session exploring how IA and SEA practitioners support Global Commons Alliance (GCA) partners. There, 38 delegates formed five cross-cutting Research & Outreach (R/O) workgroups to outline collaboration pathways with over 30 GCA-affiliated institutions covering finance, insurance, earth governance, AI analytics, futures studies and youth engagement.
It invites submissions from IA/SEA practitioners, IAIA leadership and existing R/O panel members to progress assessments of Planetary Recovery mitigation and regeneration alternatives. Such evaluations break silos separating impact assessment, planetary science and global risk governance.
Within “Fit for Future” systems-thinking and planetary recovery work, session papers will raise awareness that IAIA’s mission extends beyond compliance mitigation. IA delivers distinctive value through anticipatory evaluation of ecological, social and economic restoration alternatives.
Session Summary
This session is seeking papers and case studies to support the Global Commons Alliance and other planetary recovery institutions in applying systems-thinking IA to assess mitigation/regeneration plan alternatives and co-develop actionable plans to minimize planetary environmental, social and financial risks and uncertainty.
Additional Information
This workshop complements the Fit for Future Initiative and related IAIA discussions on Global Commons Alliance partner initiatives. 3F is proposing a stream called “Systems and strategic thinking for planetary recovery.” To maximize cross-participation and avoid duplication, please schedule it so it does not overlap with other sessions proposed for this stream.
Session Chair
Jing WU
Nankai University
China