Let the environment guide our development | Johan Rockstrom

Summary

The speaker discusses the unprecedented pressure humans exert on Earth's systems, highlighting the need for transformative change due to large planetary risks. They introduce the concept of 'planetary boundaries' to ensure a safe operating space for humanity, emphasizing the importance of innovation and global collaboration for sustainable development within these boundaries.

Takeaways

• 🌍 We live in a human-dominated era, causing significant pressure on Earth's systems.
• 🔬 Science has made us aware of the potential destabilization of Earth's ability to support human development.
• 🚀 Transformative change is necessary due to the scale of planetary risks, opening opportunities for innovation.
• 🌱 The Holocene epoch has been the only stable period suitable for human civilization, marked by significant environmental stability.
• 📈 The 'Great Acceleration' post-WWII has led to exponential growth in human impact on Earth's systems.
• 🌡️ Climate change is a pressing issue, with the goal to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius.
• 🌿 Ecosystem decline is alarming, with a sharp drop in functions and services like climate regulation.
• 😲 Surprises in nature, such as rapid ecosystem shifts, pose significant risks to human well-being.
• 🏔️ We may have entered the Anthropocene, where human activity is the main driver of planetary change.
• 🌐 The concept of 'planetary boundaries' is crucial for defining a safe operating space for humanity within the Earth's systems.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Holocene phase mentioned in the script?

The Holocene phase is significant because it is the only period in the Earth's history known to support human development as we know it. It is a remarkably stable period that allowed humans to abandon hunting and gathering patterns and develop agriculture, leading to the growth of human populations and civilizations.

What is meant by the 'quadruple squeeze' on Earth?

The 'quadruple squeeze' refers to four major pressures on the planet: population growth, climate change, ecosystem decline, and the element of surprise or nonlinearity in ecosystem behavior. These pressures are threatening the stability and resilience of the Earth's systems.

Why is the current situation described as a 'transformative change' opportunity?

The current situation is described as a 'transformative change' opportunity because the planetary risks are so large that business as usual is not an option. This crisis opens the window for innovation, new ideas, and new paradigms to address the challenges facing humanity and the planet.

What is the 'Anthropocene' and why is it considered a new geological era?

The 'Anthropocene' is considered a new geological era where humans are the predominant driver of change at a planetary level. It is characterized by the significant human impact on Earth's systems, such as climate change, deforestation, and species extinction, marking a departure from the relatively stable Holocene epoch.

What evidence is there that we may have entered the Anthropocene?

Evidence for the Anthropocene includes the 'hockey stick' pattern of accelerated change in carbon dioxide and other parameters such as nitrous oxide, methane, deforestation, overfishing, land degradation, and loss of species, all of which have shown a significant increase since the mid-20th century.

What are 'planetary boundaries' and why are they important?

Planetary boundaries are limits or thresholds for nine key Earth system processes that are critical to maintaining the safe operating space for humanity. They are important because they define a safe zone within which human activity can proceed without pushing the Earth into less hospitable states.

How many planetary boundaries have we already transgressed according to the script?

According to the script, we have already transgressed three planetary boundaries: the rate of biodiversity loss, nitrogen cycle perturbation, and climate change.

What does the script suggest is necessary for sustainable development?

The script suggests that for sustainable development, transformative change is necessary. This includes moving away from linear, command and control thinking towards a more flexible, adaptive approach that recognizes redundancy in social and environmental systems and invests in transformation and adaptation.

What is the concept of 'backcasting' mentioned in the script?

Backcasting is a concept mentioned in the script where instead of pushing towards an uncertain future, we define the desired future state (within the planetary boundaries) and then work backwards to identify the steps and innovations needed to get there.

What are some examples of successful transformative changes mentioned in the script?

Examples of successful transformative changes mentioned in the script include the agricultural revolution of zero tillage systems in Latin America, new governance strategies for the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and the transformation of wetlands into sustainable urban planning components in Sweden.

What is the challenge for feeding a world of nine billion people as mentioned in the script?

The challenge for feeding a world of nine billion people, as mentioned in the script, is to achieve a new green revolution where agriculture transitions from being a source of greenhouse gases to a sink, all while operating within the constraints of planetary boundaries to ensure sustainability.