What on Earth is an Earthshot?

You've probably heard of a 'Moonshot', but how about an 'Earthshot'? This year, Regen Melbourne is thrilled to (re)introduce our trio of wildly ambitious Earthshots – three interventions we believe will help us unlock systemic transformation across Greater Melbourne. Here, Nicole Barling-Luke explains why they're imperative to our work.

Regen Melbourne's work is anchored in place through three 'Earthshots' – Swimmable Birrarung, Nourished Neighbourhoods and 300,000 Streets. They are our ambition, research and collaborations in action.

We use the term Earthshot to illustrate the scale and radical ambition of the work. It's a declaration of intent to tackle complex social and ecological challenges. An Earthshot exists beyond any one sector or any one solution.

You can track the language back to 'moonshot' – the race to land humans on the moon in the 1960s. An Earthshot refocuses that scale and ambition back on our planet, with the aim to accelerate new ways of operating and create conditions for our city systems to thrive in balance.

At Regen Melbourne, we draw on Mariana Mazzucato's Mission Economy work, alongside the Vinnova Handbook by Dan Hill and The Good Shift by Ingrid Burkett.

Why do we need Earthshots?

Because the way we are doing things right now isn't getting us where we need to go fast enough. Greater Melbourne is bursting its ecological boundaries. Our consistent ranking as one of the most livable cities hides the reality that this livability is not evenly distributed. You can see this in the data of the City Portrait.

We need collectively-owned, long-term visions that set the intent for transformation at scale. We need spaces where different types of resources and partnerships can come together. And we need a theory of transformation and intervention strategy.

So, why a Swimmable river, 300,000 Streets and Nourished Neighbourhoods?

Our portfolio covers the major cultural and asset layers of what makes Greater Melbourne come to life: our waterways, streets and laneways, and food system. These layers contain the history, culture and deep connections of our place.

These Earthshots were not born overnight. The basis comes from a collective mandate, set over 2019-2020, when over 500 individuals came together to set a new vision for Greater Melbourne.

Earthshots architecture

As Alex Hannant and Ingrid Burkett write: "Mission-led approaches provide us with an architecture to conceptualise and orchestrate movements for intentional, systemic and structural change."

What role does Regen Melbourne play?

The team of system-ninja-convenors operate as the connective tissue between different parts of the system and economy, moving between three postures:

1. Field building: Building trusted relationships across multi-stakeholder environments.

2. Orchestrating: Collaborating with partners to navigate the complex web of factors and actors.

3. Catalysing: Driving projects, leveraging resources and partnerships for greater systemic impact.

Where to from here?

Together, these Earthshots add up to transformational change in our city. The impact of each is deeply connected to the City Portrait. While this remains uncertain, messy and unpredictable work, the Earthshots provide the necessary structure and ambition for us to move forward. It is time for much greater ambition, commensurate with the risks we face.