Can We Restore the Biosphere?

This episode of the Climate Emergency Forum dives deep into one of the boldest questions facing humanity: Can we restore the biosphere? Host Herb Simmens welcomes Bru Pearce, founder of Envisionation, who brings a unique, systems-thinking perspective shaped by global experience in yachting, development, and environmental advocacy. Bru shares how his journey—from surviving Hurricane Ivan to meeting Gaia theorist Jim Lovelock—led him to a holistic understanding of Earth as a living, interconnected system, and to the conviction that large-scale restoration is both necessary and possible.

This video was recorded on June 4th, 2025, and published on June 29th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Bru outlines the Envisionation Biosphere Restoration Plan, which aims to reverse the loss of over half the planet’s living carbon by rebuilding ecosystems and reimagining global economics. He explains that restoring 550 billion tons of living carbon—lost through centuries of human activity—could draw down atmospheric CO₂ and stabilize climate, provided we shift to “empathy economics” and support legal frameworks like ecocide laws. By harnessing new technologies, precision agriculture, and global cooperation, Bru argues that humanity can not only feed a growing population on less land but also free up vast areas for rewilding and carbon drawdown.

The conversation, joined by climate scientist Paul Beckwith, explores practical pathways for biosphere restoration, from ocean nutrient cycling to digital Earth system modeling. Bru calls for public engagement, investment in innovative solutions like the Empathy Coin, and spreading hope—especially to younger generations facing climate anxiety. This episode is a call to action for viewers to rethink our relationship with nature, support ambitious restoration efforts, and help build a future where both people and the planet can thrive.

Links:

• Support Our Mission

• Envisionation

• India’s Cooling Challenge (CEF video)

• Water Restoration - Reduction of Aquatic Methane (RAM) - (CEF Video)

• Our Climate Strategy is Failing - What’s Next? (CEF Video)

• Gaia Hypothesis

• Ecocide: The 5th International Crime with Jojo Mehta

• World-Leading Ecocide Law Introduced in Scotland

Special Guest:

• Bru Pearce - is the founder of Envisionation and a global advocate for biosphere restoration. Drawing on a background in yachting, development, and systems thinking, he champions bold, holistic solutions to restore Earth’s living carbon and regenerate ecosystems. His work focuses on integrating legal, economic, and technological innovations—like empathy economics and digital assets—to drive large-scale environmental recovery and climate resilience

Regular Panelists:

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions