Post Carbon Institute (also known as Metafoundation) is a climate policy think tank based in Corvallis, Oregon. It aims to be an educational resource for climate research experts and organizations alike to help inform the transition into a post-conventional-fuel economy.

It argues in favor of “relocalization” which seeks to “revolutionize the way we eat, shop, work, and vacation” in “response to climate change and peak oil, which both threaten to transform agriculture around the world.” ¹ It considers itself to be a megaphone for sustainable development practitioners and theorists, and claims that it serves as a necessary network between experts in the climate change research world. It pursues its goal of an environmentalist economy by informing policymakers and organizations on the interrelated nature of the 21st century’s crises, which it claims are “ecological, economic, energy, and equity.” These factors combine into a “polycrisis” that it claims is threatening the underpinnings of modern civilization. ²

Post Carbon Institute was founded in 2003 by Julian Darley and since 2008 has been led by executive director Asher Miller. Miller was the former manager of its Relocalization Network program and was the founder of Climate Changers, a nonprofit educational organization that aimed to teach people how to decrease their carbon footprints. It has received funding from Christopher Reynolds Foundation, Cloud Mountain Foundation, Democracy Works, Schmidt Family Foundation, Tides Foundation, and V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation.

Background

Post Carbon Institute was founded in 2003 by Vancouver, Canada resident Julian Darley to address climate change with policies in the economy and in energy production. ³

Post Carbon Institute is the doing business as (DBA) name of Metafoundation. ⁴

Activities

In 2009, Post Carbon Institute founder Julian Darley was arguing in favor of relocalization, a movement that aimed to “revolutionize the way we eat, shop, work, and vacation” as a “response to climate change and peak oil, which both threaten to transform agriculture around the world.” ⁵ As of 2023, Post Carbon Institute was still promoting relocalization, including “relocalized neighborhoods” under its main attributes of what it considers to be a resilient community. ⁶

As of 2023, Post Carbon Institute defined its mission as one of leadership, where it aims to guide the transition to weather-dependent energy and a more equitable future by informing policymakers and organizations on the interrelated nature of the 21st century’s crises, which it claims are “ecological, economic, energy, and equity.” These factors combine into a polycrisis that it claims is threatening the underpinnings of modern civilization.” ⁷

Post Carbon Institute calls its awareness-building campaign “The Big Picture.” It advocates systems change and macro-level overhaul of the economy over small technical adjustments. This big picture is then broken down into focus areas. “The Great Unraveling” is its term for the era into which humanity is entering. Post Carbon Institute claims the unraveling is being caused by individuals’ actions. “Community Resilience” promotes the adoption of environmentalist infrastructure and practices. “The Energy Transition” attempts to visualize what a weather-dependent energy grid would look like. “Limits to Growth” promotes the “degrowth” concept under which humans must lower their consumption and living standards in the name of preventing environmental destruction. ⁸

Post Carbon Institute seeks to create human communities that can coexist with nature and protect animal life. It conducts awareness raising to reach this goal. It produces educational materials on systems thinking and energy and environmental issues, promotes relocalization and community resilience environmental transformation projects, and supports early adopters and others in the movement. ⁹

It considers itself to be a megaphone for sustainable development practitioners and theorists, and claims that it serves as a necessary network between experts in the climate change research world. ¹⁰

Related to its “Community Resilience” focus area is its project Resilience.org, a news and blogging site that covers climate politics and renewable energy or conservation initiatives around the world. It offers an online course called “Think Resilience” and hosts three podcasts: Holding the Fire, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, and Crazy Town. ¹¹ Resilience used to be called Energy Bulletin before Post Carbon Institute acquired it in 2009 and renamed it in 2012. It is co-edited by Simone Osborn and Kristen Sponsler and is moderated by Bart Anderson. ¹²

In October 2023, Post Carbon Institute held an event with author Timothee Parrique and activist Jamie Tyberg called “Degrowth for a New Generation,” where they discussed the transition away from the “ruinous growth paradigm” of mainstream society and how to get schools, corporations, and governments onboard with the degrowth agenda. ¹³

Financials

In 2021, Post Carbon Institute reported total revenue of $1,136,623, total expenses of $985,331, and net assets of $952,903. ¹⁴

Post Carbon Institute has received funding from the American Endowment Foundation, Avram Miller Foundation, Christopher Reynolds Foundation, Clementine Fund, Cloud Mountain Foundation, Conru Foundation, Democracy Works, DJR Trust, Fresh Sound Foundation, Furnessville Foundation, Hidden Leaf Foundation, Hoffman Brouse Foundation, Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future, Jan & David Blittersdorf Foundation, Lydia B. Stokes Foundation, Mycelium Foundation, Mary Angiola Foundation, Planetary Fund, Schmidt Family Foundation, Suwinski Family Foundation, Tides Foundation, V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, Whole Systems Foundation, and Yavanna Foundation. ¹⁵

The V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation gave Post Carbon Institute $350,000 in 2020 for a “conference related to cultural resilience and leadership under the condition of environmental breakdown.” ¹⁶

Leadership

Since 2008, Asher Miller has been the executive director of Post Carbon Institute. He was the former manager of its Relocalization Network program and was the founder of Climate Changers, a nonprofit educational organization that aimed to teach people how to decrease their carbon footprints. He was also a partnership director at Plugged In tech group and an international production coordinator for Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation. ¹⁷

As of 2023, Jason Bradford was the president of the board. He has been involved with Post Carbon Institute since 2004, when he joined as a fellow. Bradford is the author of The Future is Rural: Food System Adaptations to the Great Simplification and is co-host of the Crazy Town podcast. ¹⁸

1. Smith, Charlie. “Hello local, goodbye global: Relocalization movement gains momentum.” The Georgia Straight, July 22, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.straight.com/article-241535/hello-local-goodbye-global.
2. ^[1] “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
3. “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
4. “FAQs.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/faqs/.
5. Smith, Charlie. “Hello local, goodbye global: Relocalization movement gains momentum.” The Georgia Straight, July 22, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.straight.com/article-241535/hello-local-goodbye-global.
6. “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
7. “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
8. “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
9. “About Us.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/.
10. “FAQs.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/faqs/.
11. “Resilience.” Resilience.org. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.resilience.org/.
12. “FAQs.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/about-us/faqs/.
13. “Events.” Resilience. Accessed October 15, 2023. https://www.resilience.org/events/.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Post Carbon Institute. 2021. Lines 12, 18, 22.
15. “Result for “Post Carbon Institute.”” ProPublica. Accessed October 15, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?q=%22post+carbon+institute%22.
16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). V Kann Rasmussen Foundation. 2020. Part XV. 3 – Grants and Contributions.
17. “Our People.” Asher Miller. Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 12, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/our-people/asher-miller/.
18. “Jason Bradford.” Post Carbon Institute. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.postcarbon.org/our-people/jason-bradford/.