"I love this term biophilia, because it's this, in a sense, it's a love of nature in a word, isn't it? And I had this beautiful description recently of what it actually means to love something or to love someone. In very plain terms, it means to include that person or that thing's interests as one's own." Jojo Mehta, Co-founder, Stop Ecocide International.
For me Biophilic Design has the potential to heal more than just physical and mental health of people, it has the potential to help heal our earth too. If we implemented Biophilic Design in cities for instance, we can help mitigate climate change, even just by planting more trees which is a Biophilic Design solution, we increase tree canopy cover, increase biodiversity, mitigate flooding. There are many more, from creating Blue cities with cleaner rivers and waterways to planting on roofs and sides of buildings helping reduce the need to switch on air conditioning units in the summer and heating in the winter, which in turn reduces energy consumption. Also, as interior designers we specify more natural materials, reducing plastic, are more considerate of what textiles are made of and originate from.
With our global temperature reaching a danger point, we need to do all we can as designers, architects, fit out managers and anyone who works in the built environment at any point.
Today we have got the amazing Jojo Mehta with us on the podcast. Jojo is CEO and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International (SEI), the hub of the global movement to create a new international crime of ecocide to protect the Earth from the worst acts of environmental damage, a movement that is gaining significant political traction. She co-founded SEI with the visionary lawyer, Polly Higgins, who died in 2019, having devoted the final decade of her life to the cause.
We explore and put into context just WHY we need to do more as designers, seize every opportunity we can to create better environments, not just for people, but for planet too and also how Biophilic Design is an essential part of the solution.
Jojo Mehta is the CEO and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, the organization working to create a new international crime of "ecocide" to protect the environment from severe damage. The goal of ecocide law is to hold companies and governments accountable for the worst acts of environmental destruction, similar to how genocide and war crimes are treated as international crimes.
Jojo explains that ecocide law aims to shift the mindset around the environment, moving away from the perception of nature as an infinite resource to be exploited, towards a more holistic, interconnected view. By making severe environmental damage a crime, it would force decision-makers to consider the consequences of their actions on the natural world.
She sees ecocide law as a crucial tool to complement initiatives like biophilic design, which seeks to reconnect people with nature through the built environment.
Designers, architects, and others in the built environment sector have a vital role to play, not just in implementing biophilic principles, but in advocating for the legal frameworks that can drive systemic change.
Individuals can get involved by raising awareness of ecocide law in their personal and professional networks, encouraging its inclusion in policy discussions and industry publications. Jojo emphasizes the importance of building a broad conversation around the need for such legislation, as politicians are more likely to act when there is clear public support.
Ultimately, Jojo envisions a world where people and nature are deeply interconnected, with decisions made with the wellbeing of the natural world in mind.
She believes that by aligning our laws and cultural attitudes with this biophilic worldview, we can begin to heal the damage done and create a more sustainable future.
To support the movement and find out more visit:
International Petition: https://www.stopecocide.earth/become
ECD Petition: https://action.wemove.eu/sign/2024-05-national-laws-ecocide-youmove-petition-EN
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