We urgently need a transition to a society that puts people at the heart of decision-making while staying within the planetary boundaries. In response to this, the Forum for Caring Societies has emerged as a space for reconsidering the interaction between human caring, environmental protection and economic progress around the world.
But what exactly does the Forum do? Where did it come from, and who takes part in it? What are its objectives and plans for the future? Let’s explore these questions and more.
What is the new Forum for Caring Societies?
The Forum for Caring Societies is a global platform for practitioners who are working at the interface of care, environment, economy and society. It is designed as a light, collaborative, non-institutionalised or bureaucratic space, supporting learning, innovation and creativity of members.
The Forum aims to contribute in the following ways:
- Internal strengthening – nurturing connections, understandings, narratives, mutual support, ideas
- Widening the network and community of members – introducing and engaging green and human care communities
- Developing concepts and innovations, advocating towards and testing in the outside world
It operates with ‘care centred’ ways of working that is rooted in collaboration, based on shared commitment of members and enabling genuine engagement by diverse membership.
Where the Forum came from
The interconnected context of multiple planetary and care crises, a rapidly advancing populist right, and the dominance of “tech bro” culture are collectively undermining universal values such as care, empathy, and the wellbeing of humans and non-humans alike.
Initially launched in 2021, through the Economies that Dare to Care report, the Forum responds to this context, while specifically seeking to address a set of realities:
- There are diverse efforts and actors working on care, the environment and the economy, but there is a lack of space to explore, learn, build together.
- We often focus on what is called ‘new’, while failing to invest in indigenous knowledge and practices that prioritise care and wellbeing.
- Siloed struggles and approaches: limited connection of care value or narrative as thread through green, feminist and social justice movements.
Against this background, the Forum aims to promote an understanding and embrace of the concept of ‘green care economies’, encourage practical changes based on evidence of what works, and foster the growth of an active and visible global community that connects across silos.
How does it sit among global actors?
One of the forum’s initial steps was a context and landscape analysis aimed at identifying the organisations and networks working on green and care-related issues. As a result of this analysis, a total of 233 actors were identified. Building on this mapping, the Forum focuses on a niche that is not sufficiently covered by other organisations, with a strong emphasis on adding value and avoiding duplication. In this context, the Forum works in partnership with clusters, networks, and movements operating at the intersection of care, the environment, the economy, and society. At the same time, the Forum remains open to any institution or individual working on these issues, fostering an inclusive and collaborative space. Moreover, the Forum for Caring Societies is currently in the process of becoming a member of the Global Alliance for Care, further strengthening its international positioning and partnerships.
In the plans: following a collective learning agenda
Forum members are actively engaged in defining and promoting the concept of green caring economies and societies. To maximise our collective resources, the Forum focuses on making targeted, relevant and timely contributions to address co-created learning questions. Current learning questions include:
- How can indigenous knowledge, practices, perspectives, including what is care for natural resources and the planet, be elevated in systems change and ‘new’ economy thinking?
- Who are the actors working across the eco caring economies and societies nexus? How can we play a part in brokering dialogue and building mutual understanding across existing silos?
- What would a green, caring phase-out of fossil fuels look like? How can we learn from coal mining communities in transition? What insights does an eco-care lens offer at the intersection of climate and health?
- What does it mean to move towards eco-friendly and caring masculinities?
- What does it look like to consider the full life cycle of care, care of people and planet, and care by the planet too? Clean cooking is presented as care and climate friendly, is it though?
- How can we work with ‘new’ economic frameworks to communicate, define and promote the concept of green caring economies and societies?
Follow, support or join us!
To become a member, contact Eric Barberà Mas on e.barberamas@hotorcool.org.
For more information on the Forum, see our website Forum for Caring Societies.
For regular updates, follow us on LinkedIn:
Connect with us at the Forum for Caring Societies every last Wednesday of the month. We look forward to welcoming you into the conversation!
