Eco-social contracts for sustainable and just futures

For changemakers, students, and everyone seeking hope, direction, and clarity during a time of global uncertainty, join us for the launch of a book that serves as both a call to action and a guide for transformation—encouraging readers to imagine and co-create sustainable and just futures.

At this event, you will hear from contributors of this ground breaking open-access volume presenting eco-social contracts as a bold and actionable vision for tackling the major, interconnected crises of our time—climate change, biodiversity loss, rising inequality, and the erosion of public trust and democratic legitimacy. At its core lies a crucial realisation that can no longer be ignored: the social contract has been broken for billions of people. Consequently, the bonds between people, the planet, and power need to be rewoven. Connecting theory and practice, the book offers essential insights into how regenerative, inclusive, and just futures can be co-created.

Meet our speakers and chair

Najma Mohamed works at the intersection of climate, nature, and social justice in development policy and practice focusing on ideas and solutions that address climate change, fight inequality, and restore nature. She has over two decades of experience in policies and innovations to support a just transition to green economies, championing solutions which embody systems thinking and which cross institutional and disciplinary boundaries. She is currently the Head of Nature-Based Solutions at UNEP WCMC and is a co-editor of Eco-Social Contracts for Sustainable and Just Futures.

Manisha Desai is the Executive Director of Center for Changing Systems of Power and the Empowerment Trust Endowed Professor of Global Citizenship at Stony Brook University. She is a senior research associate of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and a member of the Global Network for Research and Action for a new eco-social contract. Manisha is a co-editor of Eco-Social Contracts for Sustainable and Just Futures.

Ashfaq Khalfan is the Director of the Sustainability Regulation Observatory (SRO) and Distinguished Policy Fellow at LSE's Global School of Sustainability. He was previously Climate Justice Director at Oxfam America and Law and Policy Director at Amnesty International. The SRO critically analyses sustainability regulation and generates insights into more effective design that advances human rights, social justice and sustainability.

Mary Robinson was the first woman President of Ireland and a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; former Chair of The Elders; a passionate advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building, human dignity and climate justice.

George Kunnath is an associate professor (Education) and academic lead for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity programme. He is also a core team member of the Politics of Inequality Research programme at the International Inequalities Institute. His research examines the relationality of inequality, conflict and peacebuilding in the Global South, particularly focusing on the intersectionality of race, caste, class, gender and ethnicity.

More about this event

Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (@AFSEE_LSE) is a fellowship programme for activists, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners who believe inequality can be defeated. We are building a catalytic values-led global community of people who are committed to using collective leadership to work towards social and economic justice for all.

Launched in 2025, the Global School of Sustainability at LSE (GSoS) is the centre of social science expertise for sustainability impact at LSE. We work in partnerships across the LSE community and beyond to advance pioneering sustainability research and global policy engagement.

Join us on campus or register to watch the event online at LSE Live. LSE Live is the home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

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