#37 Alan AtKisson: Tipping Point Moment of Sustainable Development

Alan AtKisson has been working professionally in sustainable development since 1988 and has been recognized internationally as a pioneering innovator and thought leader in the field. He currently serves as Assistant Director-General of Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, where he leads the Department of Partnership and Innovation. Alan is a musician and an author whose books include bestseller Believing Cassandra: How to be an Optimist in a Pessimist’s World.

Alan addresses the question of “What Could Possibly Go Right?” with insights including:

• That sustainability concepts and the sustainable development sector are moving from cutting edge to mainstream.
• That the recent increase in digital meetings has made sector conversations more accessible and inclusive. “We both arrived through the same digital fibers, into the same digital space, speaking to each other on the same terms.” 
• That the “entire financial system is at this tipping point moment of really embracing a sustainable development perspective, where the most influential leaders in the world are making public statements about diversity, environment and climate change.”
• That there’s power in long-term institutional change, driven by good people who work in government bureaucracies.

Resources

• Sustainable Seattle
• Book - “Believing Cassandra: How to be an optimist in a pessimist’s world” by Alan AtKisson
• Song - “Dead Planet Blues” by Alan AtKisson
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

Connect with Alan AtKisson
Website // Twitter

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Complete Show Notes