Hello Friend,

There is a clock ticking for climate action, and as our guest Kumi Naidoo reminds us, it’s not the planet that needs saving – it’s us.

In the latest episode of Reimagining Government, we sit down with Kumi, lifelong activist and former head of Greenpeace and Amnesty International, to explore what decades of campaigning have taught him about courage, solidarity, and change.

Kumi challenges us to recognise that incremental action is no longer enough. To confront the climate crisis, we must move beyond “business as usual” and reimagine the very systems that have brought us here. Real transformation, he argues, depends on honesty about power and a willingness to share it differently so that new voices and ideas can lead the way forward. 

We discussed the intersection of climate and gender justice, and how men can play a vital role as allies in building a more sustainable and inclusive future. As Kumi reflects, the wisdom and leadership of women have too often been overlooked, even as they bear the greatest impacts of the climate emergency.

Yet despite the urgency of our moment, Kumi’s message is one of hope. Optimism, he reminds us, is not naive; it’s necessary. Choosing to believe in change is the first step towards making it real.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how courage, compassion, and imagination can reshape our world, listen to our conversation with Kumi. It's a reminder that even in times of crisis, hope can be a powerful form of action.

Best wishes,

Gabrielle Beran and Kandice Louis-Wilson 

Co-hosts of Reimagining Government Season 4 

🔗 Connect with Gabrielle on LinkedIn

🔗 Connect with Kandice on LinkedIn

What else we've been talking about

• 🎤 Join us at NovaGob conference in Barcelona: Don’t miss the panel “Engaging Citizens in Public Governance”, where CPI’s Javiera Godoy will share insights from CPI's Collective, a systems transformation lab bringing together practitioners, funders, and changemakers to think and act differently.
  
  

• 💡Explore systemic investing: Systemic investing applies systems thinking to purpose-driven capital, aligning investments with transformative visions, connecting funding across sectors, and grounding action in local contexts.
  
  

• 📖 How does change really happen?: The Good Shift’s new work-in-progress workbook explores the worldviews that shape how we approach change and invites deeper dialogue and collaboration on what real transformation takes.