"I think actually it's not that complex. Complexity is a racket for not wanting to act. Whole institutions try to generate complexity so everybody can become and maintain business as usual. It's not so complex because, in the end, there's just one planet Earth we live on. It's hard to get to Mars. That's that. And so how can we thrive within that planetary constraint? So I think the first thing is to say is this whole conundrum we live in is not your burden. So it's more helpful rather than saying, "This is my burden" to recognize the conundrums you are in as your context. That's just your game board. You're on that game board, and the question is what is helpful? The second point is what is helpful is solutions that are replicable, and physically replicable, are good for you because you're much more likely to succeed. With them, you're not running into competition. And it also helps others more than they want others to also take on these solutions because they're replicable are not in competition with you. So that's kind of the true meaning of win-win solutions. Solutions that are replicable are more stable. They make the system more stable. So that's kind of the two simple rules. Recognize it's your context. The second one is focus on replicable solutions, and the complexity just falls away."

Mathis Wackernagel is Co-founder and President of Global Footprint Network. He created the Ecological Footprint with Professor William Rees at the University of British Columbia as part of his Ph.D. in community and regional planning. Mathis also earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Mathis has worked on sustainability with governments, corporations and international NGOs on six continents and has lectured at more than 100 universities. Mathis has authored and contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, numerous articles, reports and various books on sustainability that focus on embracing resource limits and developing metrics for sustainability. Mathis’ awards include the 2018 World Sustainability Award, the 2015 IAIA Global Environment Award, being a 2014 ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Inductee, the 2013 Prix Nature Swisscanto, 2012 Blue Planet Prize, 2012 Binding Prize for Nature Conservation, the 2012 Kenneth E. Boulding Memorial Award of the International Society for Ecological Economics, the 2011 Zayed International Prize for the Environment (jointly awarded with UNEP). He was also selected as number 19 on the en(rich) list identifying the 100 top inspirational individuals whose contributions enrich paths to sustainable futures.

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