Polycrisis refers to a complex scenario where crises in multiple systems become causally interlinked, synergistically undermining human prospects. Unlike isolated crises that impact a single domain—be it economic, environmental, or social—a polycrisis is characterized by a web of interconnected crises that amplify each other's effects. This field guide aims to address a significant gap in current understanding by focusing on the cross-systemic dimensions of polycrisis, which are often overlooked but are crucial for holistic crisis response.

The significance of understanding and mitigating the ongoing polycrisis lies in its pervasive and escalating potential to destabilize societies and ecosystems at a global scale. The unique contribution of this field guide is its focus on the cross-systemic aspects of these crises, filling a critical lacuna in current approaches.

Understanding a polycrisis requires a multidisciplinary approach that transcends traditional silos of expertise. It demands a systemic perspective that can grasp the causal interlinkages between different crises and anticipate their synergistic effects. This field guide serves as a platform for exploring these often-neglected cross-systemic dimensions.

Mitigating a polycrisis necessitates coordinated, adaptive strategies that can respond to a rapidly evolving landscape of threats. It calls for the engagement of a diverse array of stakeholders in crafting solutions that are as complex and interconnected as the problems they aim to solve. This field guide aims to be a resource for those looking to develop such strategies, with a particular focus on the cross-systemic aspects that are frequently overlooked.