Humanity has reached a juncture where we have to rethink our own progress. Rapid world development has put so much pressure on the planet in recent decades that we are in danger of triggering sudden changes in the global environment – changes that could prevent us from achieving the health and prosperity we all seek.
To avoid this, as we move forward economically and socially, we must do everything within our power to avoid crossing nine critical thresholds in Earth’s natural systems. We can do this by respecting planetary boundaries for nine environmental processes that determine the ability of Earth to support our world. This provides humanity with a »safe operating space« for human development as we protect the beauty and richness of nature and strive toward a world without poverty and injustice.
O
ur planet has no pristine places left. There are no hidden Edens tucked away in faraway lands. Every inch of Earth has been touched by our species as, generation after
generation, we’ve shaped our surroundings to meet our needs. But now we stand at a critical juncture. During the past half-century, the pace of our domination over nature has increased so rapidly it threatens to overwhelm the world as we know it. We now have a choice: Either we embark on a transformation
of our societies to alter this trend, or we continue on the current path toward a dead end for humanity. There is ample evidence that business as usual is no longer an option. As the dominant species on Earth we now have the opportunity and responsibility to mobi- lize all our abilities and powers to embark on a grand journey, a great transition to global sustainability, in which every phase of development takes in mind the needs of generations to come. This is the only way we can safeguard long-term prosperity. We must become planetary stewards of our own future.
Earth is still an amazing place, with pockets of extraordinary wealth in its rainforests and oceans. Vast expanses of ice at the poles contribute to regulate the planet’s climate and provide unique habitats for humans and other species. But all of these large ecosystems are increasingly stressed by climate change, chemical pollution, airborne aerosols, land and water degradation, nutrient overload, and the rapid loss of species and habitats – all at the hand of humans. Our task over the next 40 years will be to meet the needs of
a population expected to reach nine billion while staying within Earth’s »safe operating spaces defined by planetary boundaries.« If we can keep the »Earth system«1
safely within these planetary
boundaries—the operational conditions required to keep nature and the planet at large stable—we stand a good chance of providing future generations with a planet that can meet their needs and aspirations.