1.5 is doable and not just aspirational
Johann Rockstrom has long argued for the planetary boundaries concepts, a set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. His research team has now developed several scenarios to explore different futures by integrating SDG goals. The models he explored were business as usual; faster growth; working harder, all of which were still failing on SDG goals and a safe operating space for humanity.
Their research then turned to transformative, disruptive future thinking outside the box and found 5 transformational policies for a prosperous and sustainable world,
- Rapid renewal energy growth (halving emissions every decade from 2020)
- Accelerated sustainable food chains (+1%/year better productivity
- New development models in the poorer countries (copying aspect of S-Korean/Chinese/Ethiopian successes)
- Active inequality reduction (ensuring 10% richest, less 40% of income)
- Investment in education to all, gender equality, health, family planning (improves wellbeing with reduced ecological footprint
If political and policy decision-makers push across all five, then we have a chance to meet our aspirational 1.5 degree goal. It’s now all about political will.
