10 Billion Strong
Our Why
Why 10 Billion Strong?
By 2050, the world's population will reach 10 billion. This 25 percent increase in humans will greatly affect our ability to feed, power and preserve the planet. To truly be sustainable, we need to come up with creative solutions to this growing challenge and develop the next generation of leaders to see them through. 10 Billion Strong believes we can harness human ingenuity and spark the willpower to maintain a planet that works for all life.
Our population is not 10 billion yet, but it will be soon. In just over 30 years, the United Nations predicts that the world population will reach 10 billion. This 25% increase by 2050 will fundamentally change the resources available to sustain, feed, and power our planet.
10 Billion Strong is both pragmatic and optimistic. To truly be sustainable, we’re all going to have to change the way we live and develop creative solutions to building challenges. But we can also harness human ingenuity and willpower in order to maintain a planet that works for all life.
Theory of Change
We work for long-term sustainability through a portfolio of programs which create opportunities for young people across the world to learn, connect, and act on critical environmental issues.
Our short-term goals are to educate youth and to drive immediate impact in communities through sustainability-focused action and policy changes at the community level. By harnessing the power of networks and collective action to share information, ideas, support, and best practices can flow from community to community.
Our longer impact will be achieved by developing leaders who can champion sustainability efforts, no matter what career track they take or location they live in. By investing in youth, and creating lifelong support networks, our community will have sustained impact across all sectors, including business, government, labor, and nonprofit organizations.
Our Leadership Philosophy
At 10 Billion Strong, we have three core pillars that define our leadership philosophy. First, we believe that anyone can be a leader and that leadership isn’t a position, but rather a set of actions. Second, we believe that the best leaders are those that work to create other leaders. Finally, we believe that leadership is a life-long process of constant improvement and self-reflection.
10 Billion Strong Culture Manifesto
Collective Action - We believe that our work is amplified through collaboration with others and that with a shared vision, we can create change at scale.
Everyone a Leader - Our community supports all people to develop the belief and ability that leadership can be initiated by anyone, regardless of title or position. We also believe that everyone can and should teach and share.
Systems Practice - We know that understanding and leveraging systems is the key to effecting meaningful changes. We actively work to think "big picture" and find the most effective methods for impact.
Strength Through Diversity - Our shared challenges cannot be solved by a small group speaking and acting for the rest of the world. We value and insist on authentic inclusion, which acknowledges historical legacies of power and privilege, for a new vision of true collaboration.
Imagine the Potential - Too many environmental movements focus on doom and gloom, fire and floods. Instead, we seek to imagine a bright and bold future that is uplifting and inspiring.
Nothing for Us, Without Us - This simple statement carries a lot of weight. Embedded in it are the values of inclusion, humility, respect for local input, and authentic collaboration.