ABSTRACT
In the mid—1990s, the initiation of cross—sector partnerships between businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGO) on sustainable development issues was an innovative, even rebellious, act by the people involved. This chapter provides reflections from a protagonist and analyst of such partnerships since that time, in the context of the climate emergency. He suggests that as partnering has become widespread and developed a field of consultants, researchers and educators, so it has become far less innovative or rebellious. Given the predicament of rapid climate change, and the rise of protest movements like Extinction Rebellion, the author calls for a return to the rebellious spirit of the 1990s. This could lead to the creation of radical new forms of partnering to attempt Deep Adaptation to the possible breakdown of societies due to disruption from climate change.
