Humans have used their knowledge to exploit ecosystems. In the Anthropocene, this trajectory leads us to reach, and even exceed, planetary boundaries.
The future of our civilization will depend on our ability to reverse this paradigm, in particular by creating the conditions for humans to reconnect with Earth, echoing Michel Serres’ natural contract.
Consequently, scientific research must serve to increase human understanding of natural resources and to design a resilient and responsible use of them for the benefit of all. The institute has several missions:
To question the problematic of natural capital, in the light of current agendas and frameworks on climate crisis, energy, biodiversity, or food security. This includes producing metrological tools for real-time assessment of resource flows at the regional level, in connection with the evolution of legal, normative and financial contexts and instruments.
To offer alternatives to the binary system of governance World Trade Organization/World Environment Organization based on the absolute necessity to integrate the economy and human activities in general into the cycles of the biosphere, in particular through the agricultural exception and the fertile concept of planetary health.
To explore new ways of reconnecting with non-humans, going beyond the limits of superficial bio-inspiration. In particular, it is a question of learning lessons about the resilience of living things, and identifying current and future societal declinations.
Co-constructing and transmitting local knowledge through the interweaving of arts and sciences and through formations adapted to the actors of the territory, to entrepreneurs, or to the general public.