Vidal, Diogo GuedesAlves, Fátima2026-02-112026-02-112024-06-03Vidal, D. G., & Alves, F. (2024). Voices of the absent: The agency of Nature and Future in climate regeneration. PLOS Climate, 3(6), e0000420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000420http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/21247This paper contends that conventional participatory approaches are increasingly insufficient to address the complexity of the climate crisis and advocates for expanding climate deliberation to include, in addition to marginalized groups, representatives of Nature and Future Generations. It asserts that recognizing these “absent” stakeholders necessitates a departure from anthropocentric governance, facilitated by legal and ethical innovations such as Rights of Nature frameworks and intergenerational equity. Drawing on insights from the EU H2020 Phoenix project and its proposed Territorial Commissions for Co-Design, the analysis demonstrates that while actors may express willingness in principle, they frequently lack practical mechanisms for selection and representation. For Nature, obstacles encompass the lack of legal personhood, challenges in communication and representation, and conflicts between ecological integrity and economic interests. For Future Generations, impediments include short-term political horizons, limited voice and representation, and the difficulty of equitably balancing present and future needs. The paper advances a flexible, context-sensitive model that integrates institutional reform with sociocultural transformation, including adaptive communication strategies and the incorporation of local, traditional, and ancestral knowledge. It concludes that regenerative climate governance relies on ongoing reflection, culturally responsive decision-making spaces, and sustained collaborative action that accommodates historically excluded interests.engjournal article10.1371/journal.pclm.0000420