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Earth’s life support systems are in danger but there’s a way to reverse this trend

Watch the Earth Commission symposium on “Earth System Boundaries for a Just World on a Safe Planet” as it was live at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on 31 May 2023.



Join us for the online broadcast premiere on June 9th, showcasing the results of this new science and how it will inform the next generation of sustainability targets, regulation and global decision-making for people and the planet. This science symposium was hosted and produced by Future Earth, the world’s biggest network of sustainability scientists.



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Future Earth, scientific authors and experts from the Earth Commission welcomed academic and stakeholder colleagues to a symposium on ‘Earth Systems Boundaries for a Just World on a Safe Planet’ at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm last week. The event presented a newly defined set of Earth system boundaries that can inform science-based-targets for governments, cities and businesses toward supporting a safe and just future where humans and nature can thrive.
“The new work extends and synthesizes the Planetary Boundaries framework and doughnut economics, at the heart of which lies environmental justice, and the sustainable development goals,” said Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature, the renowned scientific journal, who published the work.
The Earth system boundaries cover climate, biodiversity, water, natural ecosystems, land use and the effect of fertilizers and aerosols, and show that human activities have pushed seven of these boundaries beyond their “safe and just limit” into risk zones that threaten planetary and human health.
But there are bright spots. This is science for real world application.
The Earth Systems Boundaries revealed, will underpin the setting of new science-based targets for businesses, cities and governments to address the climate emergency, biodiversity decline, water shortages, ecosystem damage from fertiliser overuse in some parts of the world coupled with lack of access elsewhere, and health damage from air pollution. In a time of increasing scrutiny and expectations, the resilience and success of businesses, cities and governments will depend on their ability to accurately measure and improve their impact on people and planet - and target opportunities within the finite limits of the planet. There is a way to reverse the negative trends. The broadcast ended with the release of the First Major Study Quantifying the Earth System Boundaries, which you can read in full here! We Don’t Have Time will be proudly restreaming the entire broadcast via We Don’t Have Time Play on June 9th, so you can enjoy all the scientific presentations, dialogue with experts, and Q&As with the audience as if you were there live. Read more information about the rebroadcast here and register your attendance - it isn’t one you’re going to want to miss:

  • Chris Ndungu

    11 w

    It is high time we take part in reversing the trend!

    • U.r.M.s

      46 w

      Nice

      6
      • Munene Mugambi

        47 w

        It's a responsibility for us all to reverse engineer the trend that puts us at extinction risk

        8
        • Sarah Chabane

          47 w

          Looking forward to this broadcast!

          16
          Welcome, let's solve the climate crisis together
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