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Regenerative—The New Sustainable?

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  • Leah V. Gibbons

    (Sustainable and Regenerative Living Department, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA
    Regenerative Living Institute, Mebane, NC 27302, USA
    Regenerative Living Institute, Fairfield, IA 52556, USA)

Abstract

Over time, sustainability paradigms have evolved from meeting human needs throughout time to improving human wellbeing and the viability of ecological systems. Regenerative sustainability (RS), the next wave of sustainability, includes and transcends these goals, aiming for thriving living systems in which whole-system health and wellbeing increase continually. A key difference between sustainability paradigms is the thinking underlying them, with regenerative sustainability based on a holistic worldview and paradigm, integrating recent understandings from science and practice, different ways of knowing, and inner and outer dimensions of sustainability necessary for systemic transformation. RS, practiced through regenerative development and design for over 50 years, aligns human consciousness and actions with living systems principles. When this alignment occurs, sustainable development goals are elevated to become regenerative development goals, with living systems principles and characteristics guiding the development of regenerative indicators and strategies made specific to a place through transformational co-creative processes. We should aim for regenerative sustainability because it offers holistic approaches based on how thriving living systems function, addresses the root causes of (un)sustainability, and is inherently more inspiring and motivational. Advancing regenerative sustainability will require fundamental shifts supported by more awareness and education, theoretical and practical development, leadership, empowering communities, and integrating spirituality.

Suggested Citation

  • Leah V. Gibbons, 2020. "Regenerative—The New Sustainable?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5483-:d:381447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Henrique Sala Benites & Paul Osmond & Deo Prasad, 2022. "A Future-Proof Built Environment through Regenerative and Circular Lenses—Delphi Approach for Criteria Selection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-33, December.
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    6. Yuan Sun & Zhu Wang & Yuan Zheng, 2022. "Environmental Adaptations for Achieving Sustainable Regeneration: A Conceptual Design Analysis on Built Heritage Fujian Tulous," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Marie Davidová & Kateřina Zímová, 2021. "COLreg: The Tokenised Cross-Species Multicentred Regenerative Region Co-Creation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    8. Kiriaki M. Keramitsoglou & Panagiotis Koudoumakis & Sofia Akrivopoulou & Rodope Papaevaggelou & Angelos L. Protopapas, 2023. "Biodiversity as an Outstanding Universal Value for Integrated Management of Natural and Cultural Heritage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-35, May.
    9. Aleksandra Nowysz & Łukasz Mazur & Magdalena Daria Vaverková & Eugeniusz Koda & Jan Winkler, 2022. "Urban Agriculture as an Alternative Source of Food and Water Security in Today’s Sustainable Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Filipe Moreira Alves & Rui Santos & Gil Penha-Lopes, 2022. "Revisiting the Missing Link: An Ecological Theory of Money for a Regenerative Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    11. Vicente Carrasco & Jorge P. Arenas & Pablo Huijse & Diego Espejo & Victor Vargas & Rhoddy Viveros-Muñoz & Victor Poblete & Matthieu Vernier & Enrique Suárez, 2023. "Application of Deep Learning to Enforce Environmental Noise Regulation in an Urban Setting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Ethan Gordon & Federico Davila & Chris Riedy, 2022. "Transforming landscapes and mindscapes through regenerative agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 809-826, June.
    13. Jane Toner & Cheryl Desha & Kimberley Reis & Dominique Hes & Samantha Hayes, 2023. "Integrating Ecological Knowledge into Regenerative Design: A Rapid Practice Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-29, September.
    14. Camille Page & Bradd Witt, 2022. "A Leap of Faith: Regenerative Agriculture as a Contested Worldview Rather Than as a Practice Change Issue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    15. Anja Bless & Federico Davila & Roel Plant, 2023. "A genealogy of sustainable agriculture narratives: implications for the transformative potential of regenerative agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(4), pages 1379-1397, December.
    16. Francesco Alberti, 2023. "Regenerative Streets: Pathways towards the Post-Automobile City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, June.
    17. Sara Moggi & Paul Pierce & Nicole Bernardi, 2022. "From sustainability to thrivability: A novel framework for entrepreneurial ecosystems," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 829-853, June.
    18. Potrč, Sanja & Nemet, Andreja & Čuček, Lidija & Varbanov, Petar Sabev & Kravanja, Zdravko, 2022. "Synthesis of a regenerative energy system – beyond carbon emissions neutrality," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    19. Markus F. Peschl & Alexander Kaiser & Birgit Fordinal, 2023. "Enabling the Phronetically Enacted Self: A Path toward Spiritual Knowledge Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-19, September.
    20. L. Boronyak & B. Jacobs & A. Wallach & J. McManus & S. Stone & S. Stevenson & B. Smuts & H. Zaranek, 2022. "Pathways towards coexistence with large carnivores in production systems," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 47-64, March.
    21. Andrea Majlingova, 2025. "From Sustainability to Regeneration: A Systems Approach to Mountain Forestscape Restoration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-19, April.
    22. Ane Kirstine Aare & Anna Umantseva & Laura Brandt Sørensen, 2025. "Creating dialogues as a quiet revolution: exploring care with women in regenerative farming," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(1), pages 271-288, March.

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