The idea of a Global Aspiration to return within the carrying capacity of Earth was first introduced as the ‘UN Charter for Ecological Justice‘. The concept addresses the flaw in our Human Rights declaration which failed to recognise the need to operate within planetary boundaries. The idea featured in the UN Global Stocktake 2023 for the Paris climate agreement, and in an unpublished scientific paper which is available for download from this link on SSRN. The electronic petition is at this link in Change.org.
The Global Aspiration for Eco-equity would serve as a global peace treaty, inspiring global collaboration and mutual aid on a level never before achieved by humanity. The most powerful uniting factor is the recognition that if we care at all about our wellbeing, and that of our children, our children’s children, and all the lives to come, we shall empower and advise young adults not to venture into parenthood until there is a global ambition to return within the carrying capacity of Earth. Research published in 2026 estimates that a sustainable human population would be about 2.5 billion, if we can limit ourselves to a modest average consumption per capita.
Peacefully aspiring to return within the carrying-capacity of Earth, estimated at 2.5 billion, will require some profound socio-economic cultural changes:
1) Replacing oppression with place-based stewardship
2) Replacing growth economics with knowing when enough is enough
3) Replacing military supremacy with the provision of mutual security
4) Replacing nationalism with bio-regional identity
5) Replacing patriarchy with relational leadership
6) Replacing pronatalism with eco-aware family planning
7) Replacing democracy with Ubuntucracy
The book Beyond Profit describes the paradigm shift that is required to achieve a different mindset to the prevailing eco-destructive direction. Ideas like that offered by Consilium Dignitatis could provide a floor of basic provision for everyone. AI enhancements like the GADGET software can help us to identify whether governance measures will serve to protect the commons. Philosophical concepts like Afrobuntucracy can serve to steer us into a new direction.
Redrawing the aspirations in Maslow’s hierarchy can serve to inspire us into a wiser path.
Background
The idea of a Global Aspiration to return within the carrying capacity of Earth was first introduced as the UN Charter for Ecological Justice. It bridges the flaw in our Human Rights declaration which fails to recognise the need to operate within planetary boundaries. It featured in a submission to the UN Submission to Global Stocktake 2023 for the Paris climate agreement, and in an unpublished scientific paper which is available for download from this link on SSRN.