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Earth Commission · Global Commons Alliance · Earth HQ

Earth System Boundaries

Earth System Justice is a major emerging framework, addressing inequality and promoting intragenerational, intergenerational, and interspecies justice while ensuring Earth system stability. Emphasising the need to address historical and present injustices within planetary limits, it highlights the importance of meeting sustainable development goals. The Earth Commission report defines 'safe and just' Earth System Boundaries, guiding science-based targets for stakeholders addressing climate, biodiversity, and mass extinction threats to the planet's stability.

Earlier studies, like the 🌍🚧 Planetary Boundaries, explored the 'safe' thresholds of these processes. However, this research is unique in its integration of 'justice' into the scientific assessment using consistent units of measurement. This allowed the researchers to pinpoint thresholds beyond which humans could face significant harm due to planetary shifts. In some instances, these 'just' limits are more restrictive than the previously identified 'safe' limits. Furthermore, the Earth Commission has provided insights into the conditions necessary for individuals to obtain resources essential for a dignified existence.

Our large-format visualisations supported the presentation by Johan Rockström and Joyeeta Gupta at the World Economic Forum 2023, effectively conveying the significance of recognising and addressing, for the first time, both biophysical boundaries (safe) and human well-being and justice (just).

Rockström, J., Gupta, J., Qin, D. et al. Safe and just Earth system boundaries. Nature (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8