Earth planet will only be able to sustain basic living standards for all in the future only if economic systems and technologies are dramatically transformed and critical resources are more fairly used, managed and shared, a new report warns.
Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the report emphasizes that critical resources must be managed and shared more fairly to avoid ecological collapse. The report is co-authored by over sixty leading natural and social scientists from the Earth Commission, led by the UvA‘s Joyeeta Gupta, as well as Prof. Xuemei Bai and Prof. Diana Liverman.
SHRINKING SAFE AND JUST SPACE
Building on last year’s research on “Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries” published in Nature, the new paper identifies a framework called the Safe and Just Space. This space minimizes harm to both humans and nature while ensuring that everyone has access to essential resources. However, projections to 2050 show that this space is shrinking due to inequalityand overconsumption unless urgent action is taken.
The report finds that the current imbalance in how freshwater, nutrients, and other critical Earth resources are accessed and used by a minority is placing unprecedented pressure on Earth’s systems.
INEQUALITY AS A DRIVER OF ECOLOGICAL DECLINE
According to the report, overconsumption by a small portion of the population is one of the primary causes of the planet’s destabilization. Addressing inequality, rather than overburdening Earth systems with excessive use of resources, is seen as a way to prevent further ecological harm.
Joyeeta Gupta underscores the gravity of the situation: “We’re beginning to realize the damage that inequality is doing to the Earth. The longer we continue to widen the gap between those who have too much and those who don’t have enough, the more extreme the consequences for all, as the systems which underpin our way of life, markets, and economies begin to collapse.”
A LIFE FREE FROM POVERTY
The Earth System Boundaries represent the “ceiling”—the limits above which Earth’s systems cannot remain stable. In contrast, the Safe and Just Space is described as the “foundation”—the minimum resources people need to live a life free from poverty.
Between the ceiling and the foundation, there are opportunities to reshape how we live on the planet, ensuring that both people and nature thrive. This space presents a roadmap for a sustainable future.
THREE KEY AREAS FOR CHANGE
To reach this safe space, the report calls for transformation in three key areas:
- Economic Transformation:
Economies need new policies and funding mechanisms that address inequality while easing the burden on the environment. Wealth must be redistributed, and business models need to shift towards sustainability. - Fair Resource Management:
The way resources are accessed and used should be more efficient, ensuring that basic needs are met for all. Excess consumption, particularly in wealthy communities, must be reduced to create space for others. - Sustainable Technologies:
Investing in sustainable and affordable technologies will help society reduce its resource use and reopen the Safe and Just Space for future generations.
TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW
Gupta stresses that, while the situation is dire, solutions still exist: “It remains possible for all humans to escape poverty and be safe from harm caused by Earth system change. However, the planet’s ability to provide and protect is being stretched past its limits.”
The report urges global action and cooperation to rethink consumption patterns and implement systemic changes before the window for safeguarding a livable future closes.
