Closing the Sustainability Gap
The modern idea of sustainability is only just over 20 years old, but in that time it has spread all around our planet and been adopted by all types of societies, from the aboriginal corners of the third world to the cutting edge laboratories of the information age.

Unfortunately the advanced thinking and technologies of sustainability are not, in general, reaching the many decision makers in business and government who could be applying sustainability thinking today, and who are philosophically inclined to do so. We call this the  Sustainability Application Gap. Closing this gap through education is a direct action that can be taken right now to speed the transition to a sustainable future.

Our European base is right at the centre of the new Europe. Decision makers in business and government, university students, and educators from all across Europe will come here for short, hands-on immersion courses on how to apply sustainability thinking. After they leave, our researchers and librarians will remain available to support their efforts.

We will achieve these goals by providing Sustainability Education. For the first time in history the majority of humans live in cities. People are becoming detached from contact with nature just as stresses on the environment are increasing exponentially around the world. It is essential for the future health of the planet and its people that all children be raised to experience the vitality of the natural world and to learn the essential impulse of stewardship.

Over the last 20 years our sister organization, in the United States, the Telluride Institute, has developed a pedagogy for environmental stewardship that today is taught to all the schools of the San Miguel River Watershed.

The Centre for the Future will promote the broader application of these curriccula, adapting them as necessary to other environments.

The Future of Money
There are simple but effective actions that governments can carry out now to move sustainability forward. Small but critical adjustments in a nation’s tax code can reward sustainable behavior and penalize non-sustainable. Business behavior will change overnight as a result. The Centre for the Future will research and promote progressive and sustainable tax policy.

Many countries have barter or “gray market” economies - supporting what today we call complementary currencies - that are more efficient and cost-effective than their primary economies, and have historically been a major component of sustainable economy in less developed areas. The Centre for the Future will promote the maintenance and reintroductions of complementary currencies.

How are we different?
Many organizations promote sustainability that is only about environmental preservation. The Centre believes that sustainability represents a major cultural revolution involving the arts, science and technology, economics, business practices, politics and education. We also have a strong sense of urgency. The world’s population is expanding, and therefore increasingly precious resources are being wasted every day. The goals we have described are aimed at helping to change this, rapidly.

Centre promotion and lectures on Sustainability in Japan: July of 2008
Director Sascha Stipsits promoted the Centre for the Future's ideas and goals in lectures and presented the Centre for the futures at Kyoritsu University, Bunkyo University and Tamagawa University, as well as at more than 7 classes in the departments of International Relations and International Communicaiton. As a result we have been approached by the departments regarding possible future cooperations in Slavonice for the coming years.