What does a safe and just future look like?

08/05/2025

What does it mean to live in a safe and just world? And what could life in that world look like?

For 12,000 years, Earth has existed in a rare state of stability, the Holocene. It’s an epoch that made human civilization and its incredible development possible.

But the stability of the Holocene is now under threat. As human activity pushes key Earth systems closer to irreversible tipping points, the risks to both the planet and people are mounting.

In a new video from the Earth Commission, we lay out the science behind safe and just boundaries, a framework that builds on the idea of planetary boundaries but goes a step further.

Our safe and just space

A flagship study by the Earth Commission quantified Earth’s safe and just space. But what is it and how can we stay within it?

While planetary boundaries define the environmental limits that keep the Earth’s life-supporting system stable, safe and just boundaries also consider the human dimension: ensuring that all people, especially the most vulnerable, are protected from significant harm and have access to basic resources.

The film explores how justice and equity must be central to securing our future, and how we can navigate a path that protects Earth’s vital systems while also supporting human well-being.

Watch the full video here.

>> Learn more about Safe and Just Boundaries