Disruptive Futures Institute
Nature & Climate Academy
DFI Nature & Climate Academy program with Lux Carbon Standard, Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica), Blumenau, Brazil. Photo LuxCS / GrupoVex
Futures Intelligence with Real-World Applications
As the Disruptive Futures Institute’s center for sustainable futures, the DFI Nature & Climate Academy offers personal and professional development courses focused on climate foresight, the energy transition, and decarbonization strategies.
We view the “Greenaissance” as an era of renewal, marked by significant innovation and investment opportunities, all aligned across fields with the common goal of achieving a sustainable energy transition. Our flagship program, available virtually in English and Portuguese, equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to lead in the Greenaissance.
Case Study: Climate Foresight and Transforming the Carbon Markets
Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) have emerged as a promising market-based mechanism for decarbonization. However, carbon credits don’t always translate to direct emissions reductions, highlighting the need for robust frameworks and oversight.
Using principles and frameworks such as the AAA Framework and the Four Drivers for Transformational Change, the Disruptive Futures Institute and Techistential are advising Lux Carbon Standard (LuxCS) to help spearhead a transformation of the voluntary carbon markets. Together, we are leveraging our combined expertise to create more effective systems to support the energy transition.
This case study is explored in detail in “Foresight Case Study — Climate Foresight: Transforming the Voluntary Carbon Markets”, published in the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Network Initiatives Library.
LuxCS, Brazil’s first domestic carbon credit certifier, is at the forefront of this transformation. As outlined in illuminem article, “A new bill in Brazil as a virtuous tipping point for the voluntary carbon markets?”, LuxCS has spent years developing pathways to enhance the VCM landscape, collaborating with both Techistential and the Disruptive Futures Institute.
Achieving sustainable futures requires humanity to address complex, systemic risks such as climate change. This calls for a deeper understanding of systems-level change — moving beyond surface-level point solutions to trigger beneficial tipping points, as presented in the Four Drivers for Transformational Change.
In addition to the application of our frameworks, this foresight project informs the Disruptive Futures Institute’s DFI Nature & Climate Academy education programs, practitioner research, and case studies, demonstrating how strategic foresight can be used to drive transformative change for impact.
Our Flagship Program
The Disruptive Futures Institute’s faculty possesses unique transdisciplinary expertise in the energy transition and sustainable futures. This includes experience in climate foresight, forest engineering and science, chemical engineering, and technology entrepreneurship. Our team also boasts climate scientists, risk and climate lawyers, policy experts, venture capitalists, and foresight strategists.
The Academy’s flagship certificate program comprises six core modules and two applied learning projects:
Sustainable Futures Program: Climate Foresight & Decarbonization Strategies
Module 1. Climate & Strategic Foresight for Transformative Change
Module 2. Anticipatory Leadership, Governance, Policy & Climate Regulation
Module 3. Responsible AI & Technology for Sustainable Value Creation
Module 4. Decarbonization Strategies: Renewing Energy & Transforming Industrial Systems
Module 5. Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience, Antifragility & Systems Innovation
Module 6. Climate Finance, Investment Strategies & Nature-Related Risk Management
The program includes two Action Learning Projects within our Applied Case Studies & Solution Labs:
Transforming Carbon Markets: Addressing the challenges and exploring climate solutions in voluntary and regulated carbon markets.
Decarbonization & Antifragility: Lessons from Brazil’s Amazon, Biomes, and Industries for the Energy Transition.
Flagship Program: Key Learning Outcomes
Develop the ability to think systemically when addressing climate challenges.
Integrate foresight, resilience, and long-term transformation in sustainability strategies.
Gain expertise in creating actionable decarbonization roadmaps, leveraging technological advancements to drive sustainable energy systems and industrial transformations.
Cultivate anticipatory leadership and governance to guide policy, regulation, and organizational strategies in response to evolving climate dynamics.
Explore the complexities of voluntary and regulated carbon markets, and gain expertise in nature-based solutions for enhancing climate resilience and antifragility.
Take a proactive, innovation-driven approach to solving climate-related challenges, utilizing frameworks for sustainability and nature risk management.
Build expertise in climate finance, investment strategies, and managing nature-related risks to drive sustainable value creation and responsible economic growth.
DFI Nature & Climate Academy Chapter in Brazil
Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica), Brazil. Photo GrupoVex
The DFI Nature & Climate Academy’s first international Chapter is located in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. This Blumenau Chapter is focused on adapting and scaling real-world solutions learned from Brazil’s ecosystems to other parts of the world. Through the Blumenau Chapter, the Disruptive Futures Institute is working with Lux Carbon Standard (LuxCS), Brazil’s first carbon credit certifier, to help spearhead a transformation of the carbon markets.
In partnership with LuxCS, the Disruptive Futures Institute is playing a key role in transforming Brazil’s carbon market to foster trust, accountability, conservation, and environmental integrity while democratizing market access for all stakeholders. By leveraging our combined expertise, we aim to create more effective systems to support the energy transition.