AT DAVOS, A CALL FOR ACTION DRIVEN BY SCIENCE
24/01/2025
As politicians and executives gathered this week at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, members of the Earth Commission took a stand for science.
Speaking from the mountainside to the valley below in Davos, Switzerland, they called for swift action informed by science to safeguard people and the planet.
“Questioning climate science today is like questioning gravity,” the Commission’s co-chair Johan Rockström said, warning that climate change is accelerating faster than expected as the Earth’s resilience declines. “The problem is that the foundation of understanding climate science that we’re standing on is actually underestimating risk and underestimating the pace of change.”
At “Science to Action: The Road to Davos 2030,” a panel discussion on the role of science in decision-making, several members of the Earth Commission stressed the importance of using the latest research on safe and just boundaries to guide actions that protect people, ecosystems, and the planet’s stability.
Wendy Broadgate, executive director of the Earth Commission, pointed to the devastation caused by exceeding global temperature thresholds and emphasized the role of science in shaping effective decisions. She spoke about the importance of science-based frameworks to guide cities and businesses toward resilience while involving affected communities.
“We can’t solve political, social, or economic problems without a stable and resilient planet. But too often, short-term priorities overshadow the bigger planetary risks we face,” Broadgate said at the event hosted by the Arctic Basecamp.
Weaving together natural and social science to define the boundaries for a safe and just planet is a central part of the Commission’s mission. By identifying these critical thresholds and how humanity can live within them, the Commission aims to guide policymakers, businesses, and communities toward transformative changes that ensure long-term resilience and equity in the face of a rapidly changing world.
During the event Commissioner Joyeeta Gupta, a professor of environment and development at the University of Amsterdam, explained the Commission’s concept of safe and just boundaries that were first quantified in 2023. She called on wealthier nations to lead efforts to transform energy and food systems, addressing global inequities and preventing harm before critical tipping points are crossed.
“If you look at our safe boundaries, they’re good to make sure that the planet does not destabilise,” Gupta said. “But you need just boundaries to ensure you protect people and nature long before the safe boundaries and tipping elements have been crossed.”
