Uccrn Education Rockström’s work emphasizes the self-regulating nature of the Earth, which maintains its stability but could shift to an undesirable state if critical thresholds are breached. He highlights the critical need to understand and define the “desired state” of our planet to sustain modern civilization. He uses the metaphor of “stability cups” to illustrate how ecosystems—and the Earth as a whole—can exist in multiple stable states. However, human actions risk pushing the planet beyond its current stability, potentially triggering catastrophic shifts. To guide sustainable development, identifying and maintaining Earth’s optimal state is one of the most pressing challenges for science today.
Sustainability environment: what is Earth’s desired state for sustainability?
Johan Rockström, a renowned Swedish ecologist and Earth system scientist, is globally recognized for his pioneering work on sustainability and planetary boundaries. Ranked among the most cited researchers worldwide by Clarivate Analytics. He is the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam.
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