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Dear Planetary Steward, dear friend of the Global Commons Alliance,
The Global Commons Alliance is deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. From his 2015 encyclical calling for urgent action on climate change to protect the world’s most vulnerable, to last week’s final speech asking us to revive our trust in others “who are different from ourselves”, he has long envisioned a safe and just future for us all.
Voices like Pope Francis act as beacons of light in a society increasingly clouded by disinformation and distracting celebrity culture. Not only did he elevate the truth, he paved the way for new or previously unheard voices, enabling a chorus of actors for change.
We need this collective spirit more than ever to help normalize what many people already know: that we need urgent action to transform the way the economy works as we hurtle toward mid-century, smashing through global temperature limits and Earth system boundaries. This was brilliantly highlighted by Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO, Planetary Guardians and Virgin Unite in her TEDxBoston talk last month, in which she pointed to the Planetary Health Check, launched last year by Earth HQ, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Planetary Guardians.
This science can – and should – be a critical underpinning for policy making in a rapidly changing world. Next week elections take place in Canada followed closely by Australia. In a G20 survey we carried out last year with Earth4All and Ipsos UK, a majority of citizens in both countries showed overwhelming concern for the state of the planet – and many want action within the next decade. However these newly elected leaders act, it’s more important than ever for communities to continue to collaborate across sectors to protect their homes, livelihoods and lives.
The Science Based Targets Network is helping the corporate sector operationalize science-based targets for nature as a key mechanism for the Global Biodiversity Framework this year. The Accountability Accelerator too is excited to welcome the first companies into the new validation service for freshwater and land targets following its recent launch. Learn more about why companies should get their science-based targets for nature validated.
Systems Change Lab is tracking shifts across all sectors, with its newest data on the economic system launched last week. It includes insights on how to transform society’s way of understanding and guiding the global economy, including systematically integrating well-being, equity and sustainability goals into central economic planning.
As many core global conventions and institutions look to be eroded around the world, we have the opportunity to elevate voices, vote, and act on the principles of shared responsibility for the global commons. As Pope Francis powerfully urged us in his final speech: “May the principle of humanity never fail to be the hallmark of our daily actions.”
With all our best,
The Global Commons Alliance team
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