Ecological Transition: Hope from the Sustainability Sciences
Abstract
“Our house is burning, and we look the other way. Nature, mutilated and overexploited, can no longer recover, and we refuse to admit it.” This excerpt from Jacques Chirac’s speech at theFourthEarthSummitin 2002 remains strikingly relevant today. The final sentence of his speech—“The concept of sustainable development is a fundamental step forward, to which we must dedicate scientific and technological advances, while respecting the precautionary principle”—will serve as the guiding thread I invite you to explore with me in 2026 as part of the Sustainable Common Future Chair. We will demonstrate how “nature-based solutions” can serve as a source of inspiration, as well as concrete solutions, in the face of biodiversity collapse. These solutions fall within the realm of global ecology and are based on research into phytotechnologies that can protect, conserve, or even restore degraded and polluted ecosystems, with clear operational objectives implemented on the ground and at a large scale. These phytotechnologies include phytoremediation, phytosorption, and eco-responsible management to control the spread of invasive alien species.
A better understanding of the plant species studied revealed a common feature: they all possess an unusual mineral composition, which served as the starting point for a new concept—ecocatalysis. While ecocatalysis is the foundation of sustainable development, the bio-inspired use of these ecocatalysts has enabled the synthesis of molecules with significant social impact in the fields of fine chemistry, health, and well-being.
This field sets a standard—rarely matched—at the intersection of sustainable chemistry and eco-friendly solutions to protect biodiversity. This inaugural session, like the sessions that will follow, conveys a message of hope based on recent scientific research findings.