Regenerative Futures: Reflections from our Symposium

In his keynote, Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber urged participants “to repair, not to despair”. He reminded us reminding that the construction sector — described by Carsten Schneider, Federal Minister for the Environment, as “a sleeping giant of climate policy” — holds the crucial key to a climate-positive future.

Across lectures, panels, and workshops, experts examined the social, political, and cultural dimensions of regenerative building. Discussions spanned bioregional perspectives, enabling policy frameworks, material research, and local practices.

The symposium revealed that regeneration is both a technical and cultural project — linking environmental responsibility with aesthetics, equity, and long-term resilience. It highlightied that real transformation requires collaboration across all boundaries.

“True regeneration means aligning how we build with how nature sustains life — from the ground up.”

Prof. Andrea Klinge, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

“To transform cities, we must work across boundaries — of disciplines, governance, and imagination.”

Irene Garcia, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance

Our report documents the discussions in full, presenting regional transformation roadmaps for Bhutan, Indonesia, South Africa, and Germany. It reflects on lessons learned throughout the ReBuilt project, from research and demonstration to systemic and cultural change.

The Regenerative Futures Symposium was supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Endergy and Built by Nature Germany.

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