About Us

The Alternative Planetary Futures Institute (Ap-Fi), founded in the year 53 A.E (After Earthrise), conducts open access horizon scanning, foresight research, and advocacy centered on planetary consciousness. 

This is accomplished under the leadership of our world-class scientific council and by the contribution of a volunteer planetary creative council (groups of individuals and organizations) around the world that connect planetary views and futures research to help expand imagination about the possible futures and build preferred futures. 

What we do and support:

• Networking among authors, artists, researchers, educators and scholars to think together about the planetary futures.

• Designing, developing and using frameworks for the planetary identity, the technological progress, and the scientific worldview.

• Providing inclusive and participatory systems to measure positive planetary change.

• Collecting resources, books and media that primarily explore the planetary futures.

FAQ

Q: First of all, why is the preferred acronym "Ap-Fi" instead of "APFI"?

A: The better acronym for our think tank is "Ap-Fi" (pronounced like "Wi-Fi" or "Sci-Fi"), emphasizing its connection to modern technology and innovation.

Q: What policies and organizations does Ap-Fi target, and what advocacy tactics does it employ? 

A:  Ap-Fi focuses on persuading  foresight scholars/networks, the United Nations, world governments, and major stakeholders such as corporations about the importance of Planetary Consciousness. The Ap-Fi think tank primarily employs tactics such as providing educational resources, publicly available research, media engagement, and debates. 

Q: How does Ap-Fi involve participants in advocacy efforts? 

A:  Ap-Fi engages its audiences and participants through various means, including providing and offering educational resources and content on key policies, providing resources such as a curated library and free horizon scanning services, organizing media engagements, and facilitating debates. These activities aim to foster understanding and active participation in shaping a Planetary Consciousness and exploring a range of Alternatives to Globalization.

Q: What resources does  Ap-Fi utilize in its work? 

A:  Ap-Fi  has a dedicated scientific council composed of world-class experts in planetary and civilizational futures and foresight. These individuals contribute their expertise to the think tank's research and policy development. 

Q: Any suggestions for Academic Literature Sources on Planetary Consciousness?

A: You can begin your exploration from here:

Motti, Victor V. (2025). Planetary Foresight and Ethics: A Vision for Humanity’s Futures, USA: Washington, D.C., KDP

Q: What do you mean by "planetary consciousness."

A: Planetary consciousness can be understood in two complementary ways:

Being conscious of the planet.

This means developing a sustained awareness that we belong to Planet Earth—our biosphere, our web of life, our shared spaceship traveling through the cosmos. This requires both:

Internal transformation: Cultivating habits of thought and identity that place Earth at the center of rights, imagination and responsibility.

External action: Monitoring the planet’s health using satellites, geospatial tools, and big data analytics to understand how human activity—through the noosphere—shapes the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

The consciousness of the planet.

This is a more speculative but fascinating idea: the Earth as a super-organism might develop a form of intelligence. With the rapid expansion and integration of human and AI networks, a holistic planetary mind may be emerging.

Q: How does foresight play into this vision?

A: Foresight is about long-term thinking and anticipating radical change. The biggest picture imaginable is Earth as a unified system.

As humanity moves toward deeper space engagement by 2050s, two transformations are essential:

Inner: Adopting planetary consciousness as part of our value systems in the 2040s.

Outer: Building infrastructures—energy systems, data networks, governance—that align with planetary well-being.

This is not utopian speculation; it is a foresight imperative for survival and resilience.

Q: What is needed to go from balkanized nation-states to a true Terran identity?

A: Planetization—a concept we promote—does not mean erasing ethnic, linguistic, or national identities. It adds a new layer: planetary identity. You can celebrate your heritage while embracing your role as a Terran citizen.

Unlike globalization, which emphasizes open borders and unrestricted flows of goods, capital and labor, planetization is a mindset change that can thrive under diverse political systems. Steps include:

Adopting calendars based on Earth events—equinoxes, solstices, or Earthrise as Year Zero.

Creating rituals and traditions that honor planetary milestones.

Through the Alternative Planetary Futures Institute, we are developing initiatives and social innovation such as public Terran profiles to foster these cultural shifts.

Q: How does this conversation differ in secular spaces?

A: When people hear “consciousness,” they often think of spirituality or New Age movements. While some traditions align with planetary thinking, our approach is secular, ethical, and actionable.

We are not offering heaven; we are working to prevent a planetary hell. For secular contexts, planetary consciousness means:

Applying systems thinking to complex challenges.

Recognizing planetary boundaries as ethical imperatives.

Pursuing universal ethics, values and goals like those embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These frameworks already embody planetary consciousness in practice.

We are a US 501(c)(3) public charity; hence, for US taxpayers, the donation is tax-deductible. 

Charity ID: 87-2421576