The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element is a platform for systems transformation. It helps people and initiatives find each other, learn together and reconnect their work to a larger field of change. This includes nurturing insight, collaboration and community across differences, geographies and generations.
The initiative aims to open the space of possibilities to experiment with unconventional responses, potentially contributing to new ecological civilisations—where humans live in harmony with each other and with all life.
The 50 Percent: Youth changing systems
The 50 Percent, the Club of Rome’s flagship youth engagement initiative, empowers young changemakers to tackle the world’s most complex challenges through systems thinking and compelling storytelling, with the aim of systems change. It equips youth with practical tools and opportunities to understand how interconnected elements shape the world, including the Young Person’s Guide to System Change and the Storytelling Fellowship.
By fostering global solidarity and collaboration among young leaders, it is building a worldwide community united in purpose, currently growing through new hubs in Kenya, Argentina and the Philippines. The initiative provides actionable strategies for reimagining and redesigning systems, transforming how the next generation approaches everything from climate action to social equity.
Planetary Peace
In the Anthropocene, human activity has become the dominant force shaping Earth’s ecosystems, while wars and conflicts continue to undermine global stability. At this critical juncture, the Club of Rome has launched an initiative to explore peace through a broader, more holistic lens. The emerging concept of Planetary Peace is envisioned as a unifying framework for resilience, justice and sustainability at all levels of society.
Two papers – Enduring Peace in the Anthropocene and Planetary Peace for Human Security – have already been published through the initiative. Momentum is also building through collaborations with partners such as the Elders for Peace, the World Academy of Art and Science and Kyung Hee University.
No Limits to Hope
No Limits to Hope is an initiative launched by The Fifth Element and the WEEC Network to inspire educators, learners and citizens to pursue a global shift in learning paradigms to address humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Building on the legacy of the 1979 report to the Club of Rome, No Limits to Learning, this project seeks to bridge the “human gap” between knowledge and action and re-examine humanity’s quest for meaning and a good life. The project will produce publications, hold conferences and webinars, publish articles to catalyse cultural change, facilitate transformative learning, and create new knowledge.
Education for Hope
By 2070, segments of the southern hemisphere of the planet Earth will have 30-100% more population than today. This change will require a strong educational transformation if it is to be peaceful.
As a response to this problem, members of the Club of Rome have launched Education for Hope to re-centre education as a force for dignity, community and planetary regeneration. It represents a shared commitment to rebuild the moral, ecological and spiritual fabric of education and invites educators, students and institutions to form learning communities that live The Fifth Element through dialogue, service and reflection.
Transforming climate action
The Club of Rome champions transformative action on the climate crisis through several partnerships and initiatives. Members have led calls for reform to the COP process through an open letter signed by global experts, followed up with constructive dialogue with the UN system and COP presidency. The Club of Rome has also joined the mission of COPx, a global movement enabling people everywhere to solve the climate crisis by implementing the known solutions in their own communities in their own way.
Reframing research and innovation in the 21st century
The Fifth Element is exploring research and innovation through a systems lens to transform the global research and innovation funding agenda to better align with regenerative, inclusive and locally rooted knowledge systems.
This work includes an initiative with the Earth–Humanity Coalition, developed under the umbrella of the UNESCO Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development. This collaboration is laying the groundwork for shared agendas and pilot projects that connect research institutions, funders and frontline communities. It also encompasses the BRIDGES Coalition for Sustainability Sciences supported by UNESCO, which explores how the role of research can be reframed to better align with society and nature.
Regenerative enterprises
What conditions are needed to make regenerative organisations viable and widespread? Today’s business frameworks are still shaped by outdated paradigms focused on short-term profit, destructive competition and unsustainable growth. If “sustainable development” is to be achieved, regeneration must become the standard.
The Fifth Element is collaborating with partners including InTent for Change, the Weidenfeld-Hoffman Trust, GIFT.ed and Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique to explore how to mainstream regenerative business practices and develop tools and education to support their growth.
Intergenerational leadership for innovation and sustainability
The New Generational Contract, hosted by The Club of Rome and the St. Gallen Symposium, brings together young leaders, academics and experts from different fields to develop innovative approaches for the world’s most pressing challenges. Its work includes a collaboration with the UN Youth Office making the business case for meaningful youth involvement in decision-making, How Intergenerational Leadership Unlocks Innovation and Sustainability in Business.
The Climate Impact Fellowship Initiative, in partnership with the Taillories Network of Engaged Universities and Sparks Impact Fellowship, offer pathways for African university students to serve as climate-mainstreaming advisors in diverse organisations, providing young people with multidisciplinary training.
