Earth Commission
Earth Commission: Science
Science is our foundation. The Global Commons Alliance is guided by the Earth Commission – a global team of leading natural and social scientists and a series of expert working groups pioneering a first of its kind scientific framework. This framework, which combines Earth system science with social science, will define safe and just boundaries for people and the planet so we can avoid crossing irreversible tipping points, and attain a stable and resilient planet for humanity to thrive.
This new science is helping inform the development of science-based targets for nature that companies and cities can adopt. The Earth Commission is hosted by Future Earth, the world’s largest network of sustainability scientists, in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), and supported by a large number of scientific institutions.
“This year’s fires, the rapidly warming Arctic, dying coral reefs, and unprecedented heat waves and floods across the world, are the clearest signals yet that human activities are pushing the planet further and further from the stable state we have enjoyed for 10,000 years.” Prof. Johan Rockström
Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Co-Chair of the Earth Commission
“The UN Sustainable Development Goals are largely aspirational. The Commission’s analysis will identify practical science-based targets that help realize these aspirations and deliver on Agenda 2030 to leave no one behind.” Prof. Joyeeta Gupta
Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam, Co-Chair of the Earth Commission
“To combat climate change, nations have agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees. What we lack are comparable objectives for other key environmental components. The Earth Commission will fill this critical gap.” Prof. Dahe Qin
Director of the Academic Committee of Chinese Academy of Science, Co-Chair of the Earth Commission