{"id":30710,"date":"2022-11-10T09:17:04","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T16:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futureearth.org\/?p=30710"},"modified":"2023-08-31T14:12:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T20:12:33","slug":"global-distributive-justice-systemic-transformations-key-to-planetary-stability-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futureearth.org\/2022\/11\/10\/global-distributive-justice-systemic-transformations-key-to-planetary-stability-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Distributive Justice and Systemic Transformations Key to Planetary Stability, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Researchers find that achieving access to minimum resources and services for all whilst safeguarding the stability of the Earth system requires redistribution and societal transformations.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a new study published in the journal<\/span> Nature Sustainability<\/span><\/a>, an international team of scientists from the <\/span>Earth Commission<\/span><\/a>, convened by<\/span> Future Earth<\/span><\/a>, investigates the Earth system impacts of escaping poverty and achieving a dignified life for all. The research was inspired by discussions on potential trade-offs between achieving social and environmental goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This new research comes ahead of an associated Earth Commission report due out in early 2023 that will outline a range of \u2018Earth System Boundaries\u2019 (ESBs) to safeguard a stable and resilient planet and underpin the setting of science-based targets for businesses, cities and governments. The Earth Commission is the scientific cornerstone of the<\/span> Global Commons Alliance<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The authors conclude that redistributing resources and transforming society are key to ensuring universal access to basic needs while staying within Earth\u2019s limits. These transformations include redistribution and improvements to water, food, infrastructure and energy provisioning systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The study asked: what would be the additional pressures on the Earth system, in 2018, if adequate minimum access to food, water, energy and infrastructure was achieved? The authors looked beyond the international poverty line and instead defined \u2018just access\u2019 as minimum per capita requirements that would allow people to lead a dignified life and escape poverty. Their analysis showed an increase of pressures on the Earth\u2019s natural systems, raising greenhouse gas emissions by 26% whilst raising water and land use, and nutrient pollution by 2-5%.<\/span><\/p>\n

The analysis also showed that these pressures, arising from the poorest third of humanity achieving adequate resource access, equalled the pressures caused by the wealthiest 1-4%. It provides scientific evidence for concluding that in order to achieve societal and environmental goals, it is the wealthy (who appropriate the bulk of Earth\u2019s resources and ecosystems – not those escaping poverty) who need to undergo transformative change. The authors therefore link the \u2018Great Acceleration\u2019 of rapid increases in human-driven environmental impacts with a \u2018Great Inequality\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lead author, Crelis Rammelt, Environmental Geography and Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam and Earth Commission expert says; \u201cOur research is important because many people assume that meeting the needs of the poorest is possible without major redistributions and transformations in society.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe show that in 2018 \u2013 so with 2018 levels of inequalities, technologies and behaviors \u2013 providing dignified lives for the poor would have led to further crossing of Earth system boundaries, especially for climate.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, it is important to frame these potential impacts in the context of wider inequalities in resource use and environmental impacts today. It is the wealthy who appropriate the bulk of the Earth\u2019s resources, not the poor\u201d Rammelt continued.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wendy Broadgate, Global Hub Director (Sweden) for Future Earth says, \u201cIt is clear that we need to address inequalities and justice to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This research highlights the deep societal transformations needed to tackle overconsumption. This transformation is essential to secure fair access to the global commons for all, whilst ensuring the stability of the planet. This work is a key contribution to the Earth Commission\u2019s forthcoming report defining safe and just Earth system boundaries.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more from the authors on the Earth Commission website:<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Click Here” color=”pinkPublications” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fearthcommission.org%2Fnews%2Fearth-commission-news%2Fglobal-distributive-justice-and-systemic-transformations-key-to-planetary-stability-study-finds%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Read the full article in <\/span>Nature Sustainability <\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Access the full press release <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Researchers find that achieving access to minimum resources and services for all whilst safeguarding the stability of the Earth system […]<\/p>\n

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