Redefining Sustainability for a Turbulent 21st Century. Tattered Cover, Denver, CO
Tattered Cover of Denver is hosting an evening to explore just how on Earth a sustainable economy is structured, and the path to restoring our economies to increase community resilience, social justice, and even productivity in a turbulent 21st century. This is my first public talk in Denver, and I’m excited to engage a new audience in the heart of the Colorado Economy. I’ll be sharing a few economic and ecological stories from Italy, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and the US in this intimate setting. One primeval lesson Earth offers is that times of great turbulence favor evolved models, not models adapted to the past. I hope to see you at Tattered Cover to discuss what such a model might look like in Colorado, the U.S. at large, and in your neck of the woods.
Location: Tattered Cover Book Store, 2526 E. Colfax, Ave., Denver, CO
Free and open to the public, unless you want to guarantee a spot. To reserve a spot, you can RSVP for $7.25 on eventbrite.
To RSVP for this event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/redefining-sustainability-for-a-turbulent-21st-century-tickets-1271210618179
Tattered Cover: https://www.tatteredcover.com/pages/event-calendar-page
Redefining Sustainability for a Turbulent 21st Century (Book Launch, 2nd Edition of Ecosystems as Models). Fort Collins, CO
Old Firehouse Books and the Poudre Library team up to host the Fort Collins launch of “Ecosystems as Models for Restoring our Economies (To a Sustainable State), 2nd Edition.” It’s an honor to have Anthem Press publish this 2nd edition and promoting it around the US and abroad. This evening I’ll be melding economic and ecological stories from around the globe, in a way that helps us understand how to restore our local and regional economies in a highly turbulent 21st century. One of nature’s most primeval lessons is that times of turbulence favor an evolved model, not those tailored to the past. We must redefine sustainability for this turbulent century, which requires a fundamentally different economic model to balance our most important social, environmental, and economic needs. The benefits of restoration hold great promise for communities, businesses, governments, and consumers.
Miriam of Old Firehouse Books will be leading a question and answer period, and I’ll be happy to sign copies of the book for those in attendance. Thanks to everyone that has helped get this book project to this stage.
Free and open to the public.
More information at: https://poudrelibraries.librarycalendar.com/events/month/2025/04
Restoring Natural Areas (National Webinar with Halfmoon Education)
Start time is 8:30am Central Standard Time.
This full-day ecological restoration seminar satisfies continuing education credits for architects, planners, engineers, and others. This practical and In-depth curriculum includes disturbance ecology and succession, revegetation planning, seed mix and plant palette development, soil surface protection and erosion control, bioengineering, integration of hydrology, soils, and vegetation in upland, riparian, and wetland systems, and a variety of other critical design, planning, and restoration project implementation elements. The the title is focused on Natural Areas, the course content is highly appropriate to a wide range of wildland, urban, and rural settings. Case studies from the Rocky Mountains will be shared, along with expert insights from three decades of experience in ecological restoration.
For more details, and to register, visit: https://halfmoonseminars.org/
50% Discount for New Users: If you are new to Halfmoon Education, they are offering a 50% discount on course fees for the first 10 people who register with the discount code. Please contact us via the “contact us” link on the footer of this page to request the discount code.
Keynote: Balancing Sustainability & Economic Growth (International Conference on Eco-Environmental Economic Accounting & its Policy Application)
It is an honor to provide a keynote address on Balancing Sustainability & Economic Growth for the 2025 International Conference on Eco-Environmental Economic Accounting & Its Policy Application. For more details, and to register, see the event website.
National Webinar (Redefining Sustainability for a Turbulent 21st Century)
This is a seminal webinar on the structure of a sustainable economy, and the practice of economic restoration. Thanks to Halfmoon Education for hosting this novel webinar for a wide range of professional audiences.
One primeval truism nature offers in that times of disturbance (turbulence) favor a new model, not a model tailored to some past condition. Policies and programs such as the “triple bottom line”, circularity, food & water security, job creation, renewable energy, and others are just as important now than ever. However, how must policies and programs shift to ensure our most important ecological, economic, and social goals are met amidst great national and global turbulence? What is the right economic model to build, and how do we set policies & programs to support it? This is the focus of John Giordanengo’s work with the Economic Restoration Institute, rooted in foundational principles in his book Ecosystems as Models for Restoring our Economies (to a sustainable state), 2nd Edition.
This webinar evaluates common sustainability programs and policies of the past, and draws from systems thinking (across economic and ecological systems) to identify three governing components of sustainable economies—diversity, energy, and trade. The identification of our economy’s foundational components, and the dynamic relationships between them, has been sorely missing in economics and in governance since the birth of capitalism. The webinar presents not only novel perspectives on the structure of a sustainable economy, but traditional and nontraditional measures of economic productivity, the role of economic succession in stimulating diversity and productivity, “structural” economic shifts necessary to achieve energy neutrality & meet carbon targets, an ecological explanation of the wealth gap, and the natural geography of a sustainable economy.
This webinar provides concepts and a lexicon needed for policymakers and program managers to speak knowledgably across ecological and economic disciplines to forge a common understanding of the economic benefits of sustainable economies. A policy and program toolbox (filled with case studies from several states and other countries) is provided. Economic restoration doesn’t simply buffer our communities and nations from turbulence, but economic restoration generates additional revenue, stimulates job growth, provides opportunities for new business growth, and can increase productivity of key industries; while restoring and protecting the ecological and social systems we rely upon.
Webinar concepts include the seven forms of economic diversity that stimulate resilience and productivity, the challenges and opportunities of an energy neutral economy, the benefits of a balanced trade triangle, an ecological explanation of the wealth gap, new forms of quantifying economic productivity, and an ecological explanation of the wealth gap (and how to naturally shrink it). The workshop ends with an outline of economic restoration, the process that needs to occur to achieve our most important economic, ecological, and social goals. Case studies from the U.S., Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and Italy will be provided. This includes a variety of sustainable manufacturing solutions, novel means to achieving energy and carbon neutrality, food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture, and more.
The technology necessary to restore our economies to a sustainable state, and the public will to forge such a transformation, may be greater today than any time in history. To guide the public’s attention and resources toward building a sustainable economy, the structure of a sustainable economy must first be understood, and a restoration path must be clearly visible.
For additional information, and to register for this webinar, please visit www.halfmooneducation.org
Foundational Components of Sustainable Economies (resilience, productivity, and wealth distribution as informed by ecological systems)
Together with Andrea Saenz-Arroyo of Chiaps, I am honored to present a systems science seminar in Mexico City for the Center for Complexity Science (Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad). The Mexican Academy of Sciences, in alliance with C3-UNAM, convenes the CITA (Science, Innovation, Technology and Academia) meeting, a free monthly event open to the public to discuss current issues in scientific development.
Each session will feature a speaker and a panel, moderated by Julia Tagüeña, to debate the different aspects of the topic, made up of specialists from different disciplines and a person from the area of science communication.
This is free and open to the public.
More information online at: https://www.c3.unam.mx/
International Recycling Meet 2025 (Virtual)
I am honored to be a keynote speaker at the 2025 International Recycling Meet, to discuss “Three decades of melding ecology with economics to inform the creation of a highly effective recycling industry.” For more information, and to register for the 2025 International Recycling Meet, visit: https://recycling.interlinkevents.com/
The Wild World of Biological and Economic Diversity (Ashland, OR)
I look forward to spending an evening at Bloomsbury Books, a wonderful local bookstore in Ashland, Oregon.
The wild world of biological and economic diversity, an intimate discussion and book signing with John Giordanengo, author of Ecosystems as Models for Restoring our Economies (To a Sustainable State). This is a deep dive into seven aspects of diversity that are responsible for resilient and productive economies, fulfilling the needs of a diverse human population, and sustaining life on Earth.
Free and open to the public. More information: https://bloomsburyashland.com/events/
How to Grow Resilient & Productive Economies that Work for 96% of Humanity (Siskiyou County)
As national economic policy and politics continues to fail our communities, real change must be forged by cities and counties working collaboratively to restore our economies to a sustainable state. This talk integrates practice and research in business, economics, and conservation to outline three critical components that must be managed to restore the Siskiyou economy to a productive, stable, and sustainable state: business diversity, regional energy, and domestic trade. Giordanengo (jor-da-nayn-go) presents a fresh perspective on the structure of an economy that balances economic, environmental, and social benefits while producing new business opportunities. The role of economic succession in stimulating productivity, an ecological explanation of the wealth gap, and the natural geography of a sustainable economy will be covered together with other key insights. More importantly, this talk presents a variety of policies from around the U.S. that are available to stimulate a strong and sustainable Siskiyou economy.
Free and open to the public, thanks to Friends of Yreka Library, a 501C3 Nonprofit
Where: Yreka Library, 719 4th St., Yreka, CA.
More info: Please call (530) 841-4175 or yrekalibrary@gmail.com or find us on Facebook
Economic Restoration and Climate for SOCAN (Medford, OR)
I am eager to return to the west coast for a unique and controversial talk on the implications of economic restoration on climate change, jobs, watershed health, and biodiversity conservation. This talk is hosted by Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) in Medford, Oregon. Attendance is open to the public and free. More information at: https://socan.eco/events/month/2025-02/
Redefining Sustainability for a Turbulent 21st Century. (Madison, WI)
I am honored to be invited back to the Weston Roundtable Lecture series at the University of Madison, WI. These events are co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Office of Sustainability.
Free and open to the public. More information at: https://sage.nelson.wisc.edu/weston-roundtable/
Event Description
Following the 1970s great recession, the blossoming of global market capitalism was led by the United States, which remains a dominant superpower. Modern approaches to sustainability were rooted in this globalization era, without questioning the root causes of chronic social and environmental challenges faced by a growing number of nations and communities across the Earth. The 21st century is predicted by economists and politicians to be highly turbulent, a condition that will not favor sustainability and conservation paradigms of the past.
Drawing from three decades of research and practice in business, economics, ecology, and conservation, John H. Giordanengo (jor-da-nayn-go) takes a cross-cutting approach to evaluate three foundational (governing) components of ecosystems and economies—diversity, energy, and trade. The identification of our economy’s foundational components, and the dynamic relationships between them, has lacked attention from economists, sustainability advocates, politicians, and academic programs since the birth of capitalism. This talk presents not only fresh perspectives on the structure of a sustainable economy, but traditional and nontraditional measures of economic productivity, the role of economic succession in stimulating diversity and productivity, an ecological explanation of the wealth gap, and the natural geography of a sustainable economy.
Other concepts will include the role of diversity in conferring resilience and productivity to an economy, and the challenges and opportunities of an energy neutral economy. In closing, this lecture outlines a path for economic restoration, as informed by our collective knowledge of ecological restoration. Case studies from the U.S., Ecuador, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and Italy are covered. A new definition of sustainability will be provided, reflecting the notion that a sustainable economy cannot be attained with just half the population (just environmental and social advocates), and that periods of disturbance favor evolved models, not those of the past.
Colorado Native Plant Society Monthly Seminar (Boulder, CO)
It will be a pleasure to reconnect with my botany peers in Colorado to share “How 30 years of restoration, conservation, and business experience might inform the future of ecological restoration projects and their economic value.”
Event open to the public, live, and free at the Boulder Rural Fire Department. More info at: https://conps.org/home-2/events/event-calendar-2/#!event/2025/2/5/february-boulder-chapter-meeting
Sustainability in Progress (Pikes Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future)
I am pleased to give this free webinar for the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future, helping to reshape our understanding of the economic foundations of environmental and social sustainability programs. The focus of this talk will be on the restorative potential of a region’s agricultural, recycling, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, as informed by the resource distribution, diversity, and energy-efficiency strategies of earth’s most resilient ecosystems. This is open to the general public. Full event information and registration information available at https://peakallianceco.org/event/sustainability-in-progress-3/
or paste this zoom link into your webs browser to register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuc--vqj0uG9DCLX0N-3Bo4oyOLJu62nQa
Working Watersheds of Siskiyou County (integrating economic and ecological goals for a resilient and productive future)
When pondering our economic needs and our environmental conservation needs, the first reaction most of us have is conflict. That the two needs are fundamentally incompatible. Three decades of work and research in restoration, economics, and conservation by entrepreneur, author, and international speaker John Giordanengo reveal a different reality. The structure of earth’s ecosystems provides a robust model for attaining a resilient and productive economy, which in turn is critical to maintaining the health of the very ecosystems our survival depends upon. As Siskiyou County embarks on the development of Plan 2050 (a general plan to guide its future), this is an opportune time to rethink just how we can attain a productive and resilient economic future, while protecting the natural resources throughout our watersheds. Reliable supply chains, secure energy and water resources, increases in farmland fertility, job creation and wage growth, greater self-reliance, and a litany of other benefits stem from the restoration of working watersheds such as the Shasta, Scott, and upper Sacramento River watersheds.
This talk presents three foundational components governing sustainabl eeconomies—diversity, energy, and trade. The management of these components has far-reaching implications for the health of our social, ecological, and economic systems, including the root causes of economic productivity, the natural geography of humans, and the six big benefits of ecological and economic diversity. Multiple benefits stem from sustainable forestry and other extractive industries in a watershed, including water quality, water security, food security, energy security, reduced wildfire risks, and abundant other social and environmental benefits. Considering such benefits, it is in our best interest to mange our ecological and economic systems not as separate systems, but as one shared system with synergistic goals.
This event is Sponsored by Friends of Yreka Library, a 501C3 Nonprofit, and is free and open to the public.
EVENT LOCATION: Yreka Library, 719 4TH St, Yreka, California.
MORE INFORMATION: For more info. please call (530) 841-4175, send us a note at yrekalibrary@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.
Ecosystems as Models for A Sustainable Manitou Springs
Discover how the symbiotic relationship between our environment and economic development can lead to a more sustainable future with national speaker and Colorado author, John Giordanengo, who spent the last three decades in the trenches of conservation, restoration ecology, and small-business ownership. That work led to his recent book, Ecosystems as Models for Restoring Our Economies, which was a finalist in the 2023 Colorado Book Awards. With his wealth of experience, Giordanengo will share insights on aligning environmental values with economic goals and bridging the gap between the inherent value of our environment and economic development in Manitou Springs.
Where: Memorial Hall, 606 Manitou Ave.
When: March 14th, 6 p.m.
Entrance: FREE
RSVP: Event is limited to 200 people. Please RSVP via the Facebook event.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/950969029766240
Ecosystems as models for regional food security
John of Economic Restoration has been invited to provide the keynote address for Pueblo’s Sun, Soil, Water, Ag Summit on Feb 24, 2024. This talk will focus on the lessons of complex ecosystems, and their implication for restoring degraded agricultural systems to a productive state…generating food in the process.
The Roots and Building of a Sustainable Puebloan Economy
This event explored the roots of a sustainable regional economy, with a focus on the agricultural, manufacturing, and energy context of Pueblo County, Colorado. Farmers, permaculture experts, water experts, energy experts, and business members shared a room together for a highly engaging evening. Thanks to Alan Ward for inviting Economic Restoration to Pueblo for this event, and facilitating interviews with DiSanti Farms, Native Lumber, Mike Bartolo, and others. Pueblo, CO. November 29, 2023. sponsored by the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, CSU-Pueblo, Palmer Land Conservancy, and the City of Pueblo.
Lessons From Ecological Restoration—implications for economic restoration
This seminar by Economic Restoration engaged the CSU student chapter of the Society of Ecological Restoration. Decades of research and practice in ecological restoration have shed important light on the process of economic restoration. This includes the process of ecological succession, which shows that peak productivity occurs when some disturbance is allowed to liberate resources and provide opportunity for species (and businesses) that would otherwise be suppressed by others (e.g., a dense forest of one species of tree, or a community dominated by one large manufacturer). Absent disturbance, succession proceeds in a manner that productivity declines, alongside diversity. In the process, resources are controlled by fewer and fewer species (or businesses). This may be an ecological equivalent of the wealth gap occurring in the US and other highly developed nations around the globe.
Ecological Restoration Training for Crew Leaders
Economic Restoration was honored to provide the Master Instructor role for this ecological restoration training in Greeley, CO. Mentoring instructors from AloTerra Restoration Services and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, we worked together to deliver a two-day curriculum for ecological restoration, including a range of technical and leadership skills. Modules included teaching to different learning styles, conflict management, understanding team dynamics models, keys to effective communication, seeding, soil amendments, willow cuttings and bioengineering basics, and erosion control.