IFI Policy Recommendation No.15

June 2022

Safeguarding the Global Commons forhuman prosperity and environmental
sustainability

グローバル・コモンズ・センター
東京⼤学未来ビジョン研究センター

Safeguarding the
Global Commons forhuman prosperity andenvironmental sustainability
May 2022

The Global Commons
Stewardship Framework
A discussion paper

Endorsements
The preservation and restoration of the Global
Commons on which our shared prosperity depends is
a monumental task - one which we can only achieve, if
businesses become a force for good and being a force
for good is good for business. While the ‘Race to Zero’on carbon emissions is well underway, it is difficult forbusiness leaders and other decisionmakers to grasp
the complex interconnections and tradeoffs between
different Global Commons, like the climate system
and land biosphere. The framework in this report
cuts through this complexity and provides a tangible,
science-based action agenda for decisionmakers tobring about the transformations required to preserve
our Global Commons.
Paul Polman, business leader, campaignerand co-author of “Net Positive"

The Global Commons are the foundation for ourcontinued prosperity on this planet. To preserve thehealth and resilience of these Earth systems, deeptransformations of our economic and social systems
are required. This framework builds on the scientificevidence and lessons from international progress on
decarbonization to outline four system transformations,alongside the action levers that can unlock the
economic, political and social change needed to achievesustainable development within planetary boundaries.
Nick Stern, Professor of Economics, Chair of
the Grantham Research Institute on Climate
Change and the Environment, London
School of Economics

The challenges of economic development, social
inclusion, and the health of Earth systems are intimately
linked, as are the sustainable development solutions.
Economic wellbeing and environmental sustainability
must not be in conflict. The Global Commons
Stewardship Framework recognizes this core truth andestablishes an action plan for a just and sustainabletransition that benefits all parts of society and helps toreduce inequalities both within and among nations.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Center
for Sustainable Development at Columbia
University

2

This report provides a compelling overview of the way
in which human activity, and resource consumption inparticular, are shaping the Global Commons. Spillover
impacts from consumption and trade are driven byrich countries, while much of the damage and mostvulnerable populations are concentrated in lessdeveloped regions. To avoid a global ‘tragedy of thecommons’, we need coordinated management acrosscountries, with a particular responsibility falling tohigh-income countries. The framework points toward
the transformations and actions stakeholders need totake to achieve this, including demand-side measuresthat can reduce environmental destruction without
undermining human wellbeing.
Izabella Teixeira, Co-Chair, UN International
Resource Panel

Companies are transitioning toward a zero-emissions
economy by setting science-based targets, reallocating
capital, driving innovation and investing in new businessmodels. This process has been accelerated by theParis Agreement and resulted in an impressive arrayof multistakeholder coalitions that are transforming
industries. While successful decarbonization is far fromassured, this report highlights that we need to learn
from these promising successes to develop effective
governance mechanisms to safeguard the Global
Commons on which our continued health, prosperity
and security depend.
Nigel Topping, High Level Champion for
Climate Action for COP26

Today, many business leaders understand theclear scientific evidence for potentially calamitousenvironmental risks. The art is however how link
the business goals and core competencies to it.
In other words: how to do well (business-wise/
financially) by doing good (for society). By outlining
system transformations as well as action levers, theframework described helps to translate the science
into concrete actions for business. The private
sector will be essential to financing and driving thesetransformations to preserve the health and resilienceof our Global Commons. Understanding the real costs
and opportunities for purpose-driven business models
should be near the top of board agendas.
Feike Sijbesma, former CEO Royal DSM,
co-chair Global Climate Adaptation Centers,
Board Philips and Unilever

Contents
Foreword

4

Acknowledgments

6

Key messages

7

A.

Summary for decision makers

8

A.1

Action items for governments

20

A.2

Action items for business and finance

22

A.3

Action items for civil society and multistakeholder coalitions

24

A.4

Action items for international organizations and financing institutions

26

B.

Safeguarding the Global Commons

28

B.1

Understanding the Global Commons

30

B.2

Goals for safeguarding the Global Commons

33

C.

The Global Commons Stewardship Framework

37

D.

Action levers for Global Commons stewardship

42

D.1

Set targets; align governance and institutions

44

D.1.1 Set clear targets and promote pathways as a method for problem

44					 solving		

D.1.2 Strengthen multistakeholder coalitions and social movements48

		

D.1.3 Make domestic governance and international cooperation fit for the 		49

			 Anthropocene		

D.1.4 Address illegal acts that harm the environment

53

Reset economics, finance and incentives53

		

D.2.1 Align fiscal policies with Global Commons stewardship54		D.2.2 Invest in safeguarding the Global Commons56

		

D.2.3 Align business and financial sector incentives with Global Commons

57

D.2

			 stewardship
D.3

Ensure inclusion and fairness to build consensus for change60		

D.3.1 Design transformations in fair, transparent and participatory ways61		

D.3.2 Value and champion Indigenous Peoples and local communities

64

Harness innovation, technologies and data

66

D.4.1 Focus national innovation systems and industrial strategies on Global

66

D.4
		

			

Commons stewardship		

D.4.2 Promote new progress measures and harness new data68		

D.4.3 Enhance the cybersphere72

E.

A call to action

73

E.1

Governments

74

E.2

Business and finance

74

E.3

Civil society organizations and multistakeholder coalitions

75

E.4

International organizations and financing institutions

75

Annex 1. Results of Global Commons Stewardship Index

77

References783

Foreword
The scientific evidence is now overwhelming:

Another casualty of the war in Ukraine could

we are on a collision course with the stable

be international cooperation to safeguard theand resilient Earth systems on which humanclimate system and other Global Commons.

wellbeing, prosperity and safety depend. On

Similarly, the global economic system hascurrent trends, the world is rapidly depletingshown itself to be highly fragile because of

the stability and resilience of interdependent

its dependence on fossil fuels, which are

Earth systems—our Global Commons. We

frequently sourced from totalitarian regimes.

need to transform our economic and social

It is impossible to tackle these challenges

systems to safeguard these Global Commons

without greater international cooperation—aor risk exceeding tipping points beyond

point that is reinforced every day by thewhich change may become self-reinforcing

ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The war must

and irreversible. And we need to make theseend quickly to end the human suffering inchanges urgently.

Ukraine. This is also essential to prevent
another food crisis and rebuild our capacity

It might seem far-fetched to advocate for a

for cooperative approaches to safeguard

stronger focus on the Global Commons at

the Global Commons. Countries needa time when the world’s attention is focusedsecurity from outside aggression and fromon the war in Ukraine and the terrible

the degradation of our critical Earth systems.

human suffering that is unfolding as a result.

This will require new governance mechanisms

Countries are racing to increase their militaryfor Global Commons stewardship that canspending. Fissures in the international

facilitate effective collaboration toward thiscommunity and divisions between major

shared purpose.

powers are growing wider. The war threatens
to generate shortages and crises for the many

To succeed, we need a shared framework forcountries that depend on imports of energy,

action that can bring together stakeholders,food and fertilizer.

guide transformations and inform deft
diplomacy in support of security and theThese are precisely the types of dislocations

Global Commons. We need clarity on thethat the unchecked degradation of our Global

direction and levers of change at the local,

Commons will exacerbate. There is growing

national and global levels.

evidence that destabilized Global Commonsfunction as a threat multiplier: they amplify
displacement, migration and conflict. We
now need to realize that healthy and resilient
Earth systems—our Global Commons—
are at the heart of our health, security andprosperity, and work together to manage
them responsibly.

4Drawing on the latest science, we outline

This report has benefited froma framework for Global Commons

extensive consultations withstewardship organized around four system

stakeholders and experts fromtransformations:around the world. We are gratefulfor their advice and guidance.

•

decarbonization of energy, industry
and transport;•sustainable cities and communities;•

sustainable production andNaoko Ishi

consumption; and•sustainable food, forests, land, waterand oceans.

Ani Dasgupta

These transformations are feasible andcan chart a path toward a prosperous
future that promotes peace and prosperity.
Rich countries must take responsibility.

Guillaume Lafortune

The Global Commons StewardshipIndex, published by the United Nations
Sustainable Development Solutions
Network and Yale University, shows that

Jeremy Oppenheim

rich countries generate high negative
spillovers that drive adverse impacts
on Global Commons in less developed
countries. Now is the time for rich countries

Johan Rockström

to take the lead and work together with allcountries to develop equal and mutually
beneficial partnerships built on diplomacy,
investment and trade that value, preserve

Guido Schmidt-Trauband restore the Global Commons.

5

Acknowledgments
Published under the Center for Global Commons, this report is a joint effort between the
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, SYSTEMIQ and the United Nations Sustainable
Development Solutions Network.
Lead authors:
Naoko Ishi, Ani Dasgupta, Guillaume Lafortune, Jeremy Oppenheim, Johan Rockström,
Guido Schmidt-Traub, Felix Cornehl and Astrid von Preussen.
We would like to thank the following contributors who have shared their expertise andinsights:• Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme• Andrea Hindwood, Chief Scientist, UN Environment Programme• Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, 2010-2016• Daniel C. Esty, Professor, Yale Law School and Yale School of the Environment• David Nabarro, Special Envoy on COVID-19, World Health Organization• Diana Fox Carney, Senior Advisor, Eurasia Group• Diana Liverman, Director, School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona• Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO, United Nations Foundation• Feike Sijebesma, Alumni-CEO, Royal DSM• Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President, Sustainable Development Solutions Network• Juergen Voegele, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank
• Izabella Teixera, Co-chair, UN International Resource Panel• Jason Jabbour, Senior Program Coordinator, UN Environment Programme• Kelly Levin, Chief of Science, Data and Systems Change, Bezos Earth Fund
• Mari Pangestu, Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank
• Nick Stern, Chair, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment• Nigel Topping, High-Level Champion for Climate Action, COP26• Peter Bakker, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development• Partha Dasgupta, Leader, Dasgupta Review; Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge• Ravi Kanbur, Professor of World Affairs and Applied Economics, Cornell University• Simon Buckle, Head of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Water Division, Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development•

Youba Sokona, Special Advisor on Sustainable Development, South Center

Design and layout: Regency Creative		

Editorial support: Carolyn Boyle

While the contributions from reviewers are greatly appreciated, the views presented in this report are thoseof the authors alone.
Please cite as: Ishi, N., Dasgupta, A., Lafortune, G., Oppenheim, J., Rockström, J., Schmidt-Traub, G.,
Cornehl, F. and von Preussen, A. 2022. Safeguarding the Global Commons for human prosperity andenvironmental sustainability. The Global Commons Stewardship Framework. Center for Global Commons,
University of Tokyo, Japan.

6

Key messages
Science has made clear that in the age of the Anthropocene,

This report presents a comprehensive framework tohuman actions are undermining the stable and resilient Earthsafeguard the Global Commons organized around foursystems which are the very foundation of human development

systems to be transformed, with four common sets of action

and prosperity. We refer to these systems collectively as

levers to catalyze system transformation. While safeguarding

the “Global Commons.” The Global Commons comprise key

the Global Commons requires a comprehensive approachbiophysical systems with nine planetary boundaries, someand collaboration by diverse stakeholders, we also present anof which we are transgressing, putting our shared health andaction agenda that translates these levers for governments,

prosperity at risk.

business and finance, civil society and internationalorganizations.

Destabilized Global Commons function as a threat multiplier:an amplifier of displacement, migration and conflict. The Global

We hope this 4x4 matrix will help stakeholders take meaningful

Commons are central to current global disruptions, from theaction to safeguard the Global Commons by cutting throughzoonotic COVID-19 pandemic to the climate emergency andthe complexity. However, we recognize that the world is failing

biodiversity loss. Even Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrates

to take action at a scale and speed which are commensurate

the risks of not considering or valuing the resilience andwith the magnitude and urgency of the challenge. We lack ansustainability of energy, food and land use systems. We must

effective mechanism to govern the Global Commons; and as

now realize that healthy and resilient Earth systems—ouryet, it is not widely recognized that the health and stability of

Global Commons—are at the heart of our health, security and

the Global Commons are essential to our continued prosperity

prosperity, and work together to manage them responsibly.

and security. Time is not on our side.

The breach of the planetary boundaries and the destruction

The complementarity of intergovernmental mechanisms andof the Global Commons are deeply rooted in the prevailing

multistakeholder coalitions in the global fight against climate

economic system, which is based on linear production,change may be the most promising mechanism for effective

consumption and disposal patterns, without adequate pricing

governance of the Global Commons.

of externalities. The fundamental solution for humanity
to achieve sustainable development within the planetary
boundaries is thus to transform our current economic andEnsuring the health and resilience of the Global Commonssocial systems. This will involve four system transformations:is in the interests of all nations, but some countries bear a•decarbonizing our use of energy;

disproportionate responsibility. In other words, the prosperity•

adopting circular production and consumption;of rich countries is secured through the imposition of the•

making cities and communities more sustainable; andburden of unsustainable production on developing countries.

•

transforming food, land and ocean use systems.

These spillover effects are made strikingly clear by the Global
Commons Stewardship Index, discussed further in this report.
Developed countries thus have both the responsibility andBringing about these profound transformations will involve

the resources to lead the system transformations neededa set of action levers. Through a review of the literature andto safeguard the Global Commons. All countries must

expert consultations, we characterize these as:work together by developing equal and mutually beneficial•

advances in target setting, governance and institutions;partnerships built around diplomacy, investment and trade that•a reset of economics, finance and incentives;

value, preserve and restore the Global Commons.

•

inclusive and fair consensus building; and•harnessing innovation, technologies and data.

7

A

Summary for decision makers

It is now abundantly clear to all: ourWe are now in a new geological epoch

unsustainable resource use, linear

shaped by human degradation of criticalproduction and consumption patterns,

Earth systems—the Anthropocene.3 Overand destruction of nature are changing

the last 12,000 years, modern humans havethe climate and disturbing stable andenjoyed the Holocene: a uniquely stable

resilient Earth systems. We are witnessing

epoch that enabled the rise of the world’s

more frequent droughts and heatwaves;great civilizations. Since 1900, however, themore severe hurricanes and typhoons;world’s population has increased almost

accelerating sea level rise; major disturbances

fivefold and world gross product has risen

to agriculture; unprecedented coral bleaching;eightyfold.4 Humans are consuming ever-and the collapse of major fisheries. Humanity

larger shares of the world’s renewable andis now undermining all life on Earth. The sixth

non-renewable resources, and emitting

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

unsustainable volumes of waste and(IPCC) Assessment Report underlines

pollutants.

1

the urgency of achieving deep emission

8

reductions,2 but prevailing economic trends

As a result, humanity is at risk ofrisk putting the achievement of the UN

exceeding the scientifically estimatedSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) andsafe operating thresholds for people andthe objectives of the Paris Agreement out

the planet. Scientists have estimated theof reach.

carrying capacity of the Earth, or “planetaryFIGURE 1
Planetary boundaries
Beyond zone of uncertainty(high risk)
IT

Y

TI T

I ES
S

M

SY

EG
R

L EN

shades; and blue indicates where safe

diversity, defined as extinctions per million

GE

Biosphere integrity consists of genetic

HA N

margins have not yet been determined.

quantified)with increasing risks indicated by darker

AT
A E R MO S P H E R I COS(not OL LOADING
yet

where safe margins have been exceeded,

PERATING SP
ACE

E

are within safe margins; orange indicates

EO

LAND SYSTEM CGreen indicates where human activities(noquan t yet
tifie
d)

Boundary not yet quantified

F
SA

BI I

BIOS

PH

ER

E/

NT
EI

NOVE

ZON
IC O
ER N
P H T IO
OS LE
AT DEP

Below boundary(safe)NG E

TRWithin zone of uncertainty(increasing risk)

C HA

Increasing risk

CL

TE
IM A

species per year, and functional diversity.

HW
AT
E

ES

from Steffen et al. (2015),7 Nakicenovic etal. (2016),9 and Persson et al. (2022).

10

CA
TI

FR

nitrogen and phosphorous cycles. AdaptedON

Biogeochemical flows consist of the

P
RU

SE

N
B IO G

EOCHEMICAL FLOWS

OC

EA

D
CI
NA

IF

boundaries,”5, 6 which must be respected toaccount of inequalities. Rich countries, andpreserve critical Earth systems and ensure

the wealthy within each country, accounta safe operating space for humanity

for a disproportionate share of the resource(Figure 1). Several of these boundaries haveuse and pollution that are driving global

already been transgressed; some are within

environmental change (Figure 2). For thesea zone of uncertainty; and for others, we lackreasons, a global perspective is needed onadequate data. Under business as usual, many

these challenges; and strategies must be

planetary boundaries are projected to be

integrated across biophysical, technologicaltransgressed in the near future, which would

and social drivers of change.

Ithreaten human civilization and survival.

7

The framework presented in this report
A major course correction is needed toprovides a science-based foundation forprovide a safe and just corridor for people

decision makers that cuts through theand the planet. Clearly, the prevailing trends

complexity to provide comprehensive

are unsustainable. Transformations of key

measures for Global Commons

economic systems are needed to promotestewardship. The scale of the required

human prosperity and wellbeing for alltransformations of our economic, social

without breaching the planetary boundaries.

and geopolitical systems is daunting; theAs we discuss below, successful strategies

transformation is complex; and inertia andto stabilize the Earth system must also takevested interests in incumbent systems

94

prevent decisive action from being taken

action and advances in technology. This

simultaneously at all scales. The mission tocombination of intergovernmental andavoid transgressing dangerous tipping points

multistakeholder coalitions may present

in the Global Commons can succeed only by

the best possible option to govern thetriggering and accelerating change across

Global Commons. Meanwhile, investorssocio-technical, ecological and market/

and regulators are increasingly recognizing

economic systems.

previously hidden costs and risks ofunsustainable business practices. In

Tentative progress in the global fightresponse, they are shifting investments

against climate change provides someto enhance their resilience and seize thehope and lessons on more effective

multitrillion-dollar business opportunities ofmechanisms to govern the Global

contributing to the fulfillment of the SDGs andCommons. Despite the deficiencies

the transformation to a regenerative economy.

in official negotiation deals, COP26 in

In contrast to the potential costs of planetary

Glasgow revealed growing momentum

disruption—such as the estimated $22 trillion

in key transitions, which in turn provides

loss to the global economy from the COVID-19

both grounds for optimism and practicalpandemic—the investments required to seize

lessons to accelerate progress. The global

these opportunities are entirely manageable.

fight against climate change has shown

As governments, regulators, investors,

how intergovernmental mechanisms

customers and employees increasingly

complemented by multistakeholder

demand that businesses take responsibility,

coalitions can accelerate ambition,

laggards face existential risks.

FIGURE 2
Cumulative excess resource use of countries
by income group, 1970-2017

Upper-middle income
Lower-middle income

Since 1970, high-income countries (according
to the World Bank classification) have beencollectively responsible for 74% of cumulative
excess material use, and upper-middle

C U M U L AT I V E OV E R S H O OT (G t)High income

1200

900

600

300

income countries for 25% of cumulative
excess material use. Lower-middle income
countries and low-income countries havebeen collectively responsible for less than 1%.
Excess resource use for low-income countries
is close to zero and thus not visible in thisfigure. Adapted from Hickel et al. (2022).8

10

0
1970

1980

1990
YEAR

2000

2010

Staying within the planetary boundaries

The Global Commons Stewardshiprequires a global perspective on the

Framework we outline provides a powerful,preservation of five Global Commonsscience-based guide for decision makers

domains:

to understand what needs to be doneto safeguard the Global Commons and•the climate system;align actions with their preservation and•the ozone layer;

restoration. It is organized around four•

the land biosphere;

systems to be transformed, with four•

oceans; andcommon sets of action levers.

•

the cryosphere (i.e., polar ice sheetsand glaciers).

The following system transformations are
critical to safeguard the Global Commons:Each of these domains consists of numerous
biophysical Global Commons systems. For•

Decarbonized energy, industry andexample, the cryosphere is made up of thetransport: The decarbonization of power

following Global Commons systems:

generation, transmission, long-distancetransport, industrial heating and industry•

Arctic sea ice;through measures such as enhanced•

the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets;

efficiency, increased electrification, the•the Greenland Ice Sheet; andphaseout of fossil fuels, modal shifts•

inland glaciers.

and the development of new fuels andsolutions for hard-to-abate sectors—all

Several of these Global Commons systems

while ensuring universal access to clean

constitute “tipping elements”—that is, they notenergy.

only contribute to the regulation of the Earthsystem, but can also undergo major changes•

Sustainable cities and communities:

past dangerous tipping points. If they are

Including through access to compact andpushed too far (e.g,. through greenhouse gas

resilient urban design and transit-oriented(GHG) emissions, deforestation or pollution)

development, sustainable buildings,

and these tipping points are exceeded,heating and cooling of buildings andthis can lead to irreversible changes due

waste management.

to shifts in feedbacks (e.g., from buffering/cooling to self-amplifying/warming). Each•

Sustainable production and

Global Commons is a biophysical system

consumption: Including through circularthat affects the stability of the Earth systemproduct design, production systems andas a whole and can be preserved only

supply chains, sustainable material flows

through coordinated management acrossand shifting consumption patterns.

countries. The Global Commons are highlyinterdependent and must be secured through•Sustainable food, forests, land,

integrated strategies at the local, national,

water and oceans: Including throughregional and global levels.

protection, sustainable production and

11

FIGURE 3
The Global Commons Stewardship Framework
ACTION LEVERS
Set targets; aligngovernance andinstitutions

Reset economics,
finance andincentives

GLOBAL COMMONS DOMAINS

Ensure inclusionand fairness tobuild consensus
for change

Harness
innovation,technologies
and data

Aerosols, atmospheric composition &circulation, carbon cycle, monsoons

Ozone layer

Decarbonization of energy, industry and transport
SYSTEM TRANSFORMATIONSClimate system

Power generation, transmission, long-distance transport, industry and industrial
heating and cooling

Stratospheric ozone layer

Sustainable cities and communities

Land biosphere

Compact and resilient design and transit-oriented development, sustainable waste
management and buildings including heating and coolingAmazon & boreal forests, freshwater,
grassland/tundra, permafrost, soil carbon
sink

Sustainable production and consumption

OceansCircular product design, business models, production systems and supply chains,sustainable material flows and consumption patterns

Acidification, anoxia, biodiversity, coral
reefs, El Niño, methane hydrates, ocean
currents

Sustainable food, land, water and oceans

Ice sheets & glaciersProtection, sustainable management, restoration, sustainable diets, halting
overexploitation of species, reduced food loss and waste

Arctic sea ice, East & West Antarctic Ice
Sheets, Greenland Ice Sheet, inlandglaciers

For a detailed list of the transformations and their critical components, see Table 3.

management, restoration, sustainable

cooperation for the Anthropocene. The

healthy diets, reduced food loss andmost promising mechanism for effective

waste, halted overexploitation of species

governance of the Global Commonsand greater efficiencies in supply chains.

may be strong new multistakeholder
coalitions that complement improved

To activate these system transformations,intergovernmental and national

there are four common sets of action

mechanisms.

levers which governments, businesses
and other stakeholders can pursue.

•

Reset economics, finance andTogether with the system transformations,

incentives for the Global Commons by

these form the Global Commons Stewardshipputting a price on carbon and natural

Framework, which can motivate, guide

capital, aligning economic policies andand accelerate actions and international

regulations toward Global Commonscooperation among governments, civil society

stewardship, redefining government andand businesses to safeguard the Global

business accounting, and catalyzing

Commons and promote human wellbeing

private, public and blended finance.

worldwide:••

12

Ensure inclusion and fairness to build

Set targets and align governanceconsensus for change by developing

and institutions to provide a clear

strategies for just transitions, including

ambition and pathway for change,

participatory design, fair incomes andstrengthen multistakeholder coalitions

investment in health, education and socialand social movements, and reconfigure

safety nets to provide the foundation for

national governance and international

these transformations; and valuing and4

championing Indigenous Peoples andGlobal Commons.

Action Lever 1: Set targets; aligngovernance and institutions

Harness innovation, technologies and•local communities as stewards of the•

Set clear targets and promote

data to advance our understanding of

pathways as a method for problem

the Global Commons and accelerate

solving. This builds on the initial

the transformations to safeguard

success of the Paris Agreement and thethem, paying special attention to theemerging post-2020 global Biodiversity

governance of the cybersphere.

Framework. Targets should draw on
advanced system modeling to focus

In this report, we draw on a review of theattention on the task at hand andliterature on the enablers of climate action

serve as management tools. Sector

conducted by the World Resources Institutepathways—as promoted by the Energy(WRI), emerging lessons from energy

Transitions Commission (ETC) and thedecarbonization, major policy initiatives

Food and Land-Use Coalition (FOLU)—

such as the European Green Deal and acan demonstrate the feasibility of rapid

vast number of multistakeholder coalitions

progress, sharpen our understanding ofaround the world to identify practical steps

how to solve the challenges and mobilize

for catalyzing the action levers for Global

all stakeholders around a shared vision for

Commons stewardship. The specific actions

Global Commons stewardship that helps

that we encourage governments, businessensure a just transition.

11

and finance, civil society organizations andinternational organizations and financing•

Strengthen multistakeholder

institutions to take are outlined at the end of

coalitions and social movements

this section. However, none of these actors

to complement the actions of

can solve the challenges ahead in isolation;international bodies and government-close collaboration between all stakeholders

to-government cooperation byis essential and siloed approaches are likely

promoting problem solving, bottom-up

to fail.

experimentation, advocacy, coordinationand implementation support acrossstakeholder groups and domains ofexpertise.
•

Make domestic policies andinternational cooperation fit for
the Anthropocene. Countries needinstitutions and processes to ensure
science-based policymaking andmeasurement of progress, as well as
new ways to balance political priorities.

13

FIGURE 4
Selected multistakeholder coalitions advancing elements of Global Commons stewardship
Decarbonization of energy, industry and transport

SYSTEM TRANSFORMATIONS• Energy Transitions Commission• International Transport Forum• Mission Possible Partnership• Oil and Gas Methane
Partnership 2.0• Sustainable Energy For All

Set targets;aligngovernance andinstitutions

Reseteconomics,
finance andincentives

Ensure inclusionand fairness tobuild consensus
for change

Harness
innovation,technologies
and data• Thematic
Research
Network on Dataand Statistics

Sustainable cities and communities• The Club of
Rome• Bended FinanceTaskforce• Business for
Inclusive Growth• C40 Cities• Global Alliance for Buildings
and Construction• Global Commons
Alliance• Green Climate
Fund• Science Based
Targets initiative• International
Sustainability
Standards Board• Coalition for
Human Rights in
Development
International• Global Resilient Cities Network• World Green Building Council• Zero Waste International Alliance

Sustainable production and consumption• Breaking the Plastic Wave
• Circular Economy Network• Consumer Goods Forum• Fashion Pact
• International Resource Panel• WBCSD• We Mean
Business
Coalition

Sustainable food, land, water and oceans• Business for Nature• Food and Land Use Coalition• Land and Carbon Lab• Task Force on
Climate-Related
Financial
Disclosures• WRI Land Carbon
Watch• Indigenous
Peoples’ Forumon Climate
Change• Taskforce on
Nature-related
Financial
Disclosures• Marine Stewardship Council• One Planet Business for
Biodiversity

Countries—particularly the richest
ones—must track and reduce negative
spillovers on other nations and theAction Lever 2: Reset economics,
finance and incentives

Global Commons. On the international
stage, countries should consider “Green

•

14

•

Align fiscal policies with Global

Deal diplomacy” that frames bilateral

Commons stewardship. This includes

and multilateral relationships under theaccounting for harm to the Global

overall objective of advancing sustainable

Commons through the adequate pricing

development, including by setting aof carbon and other pollutants; phasing

credible example and following up without and repurposing harmful subsidies;

diplomacy, trade policy, development

facilitating the strategic use of public

support and other external policies.12

procurement; and preventing base

There is a need for new international

erosion and profit shifting to ensure thatgovernance mechanisms for Global

countries have the fiscal means to invest

Commons stewardship.

in Global Commons stewardship.

Address illegal acts that harm the•Invest in safeguarding the Global

environment by upholding and enforcing

Commons. Each of the fourhigh legal standards domestically,transformations will require substantial

respecting other countries’ laws,

public and private investments. National

strengthening transparency in supply

development banks and multilateralchains and promoting efforts byfinancial institutions play a critical role

multistakeholder coalitions. This includes

in directing long-term capital, alongsideextending the scope of illegal activities toother public investment mechanisms,

ensure accountability and responsibility

such as publicly supported pension

for environmental harms.

funds. These institutions should ensure4

their portfolios meet sustainability impact

pandemic has pushed millions into

assessments and use blended financeextreme poverty. Many of the poorest

to leverage and help direct private

countries are particularly vulnerable toinvestments toward Global Commonsthe collapse of the Global Commons.

stewardship. Payments for ecosystem

As rich countries take responsibility

services can raise funds and create

for reducing their global environmental

markets for the regeneration of nature.

footprints, they should establish equaland mutually beneficial partnerships•

Align business and financial sector

that support countries in pursuing green,

incentives with Global Commons

resilient and inclusive development. In

stewardship. To mobilize private capitalembarking on transformations, countries

for the four system transformations,should draw on emerging lessons

countries and the international communityfrom energy decarbonization on how

must reform financial regulation andto engage workers, trade unions andbusiness accounting standards (including

other stakeholders in the design andobligations to measure, disclose

implementation of pathways that promoteand manage risks); broaden nationala just transition. Measures like transition

accounts to include natural capital;

funds and large-scale investments inand introduce metrics for sustainableeducation, skills and retraining can help

development that complement thereverse some of the regressive effects ofuse of gross domestic product (GDP)decarbonization policies. High ambitions

as a measure for a nation’s wellbeing.

and solidarity within and across countries

Corporate leaders need to recognize

must go hand in hand.

that private gain at public expense is nolonger acceptable and commit to net-•

Value and champion Indigenous

positive business strategies. Financial

Peoples and local communities as

institutions should shift their portfolios

stewards of the Global Commons.

and develop instruments to raise funds for

These are at the heart of managing criticaltransformations based on science-based,

habitats, particularly in the land and ocean

externally verifiable decarbonization

biospheres. Valuing Indigenous Peoples

targets and other sustainability goals.

and local communities means recognizing
and upholding their substantive rights(e.g., to their land) as well as their

Action Lever 3: Ensure inclusion andfairness to build consensus for change

procedural rights (e.g., to free, prior andinformed consent; to information; tojustice). Businesses and governments•

Design transformations in fair,should not only respect these rights, buttransparent and participatory ways.

actively seek to consult and integrate the

Globalization has brought prosperity toskills and expertise of Indigenous Peoples

billions of people; but many still cannot

while ensuring inclusive and equitable

meet basic needs and the COVID-19

decision making for the benefit of the local
and Global Commons.
15

oceans) at various scales, from corporate

Action Lever 4: Harness innovation,technologies and dataand global to local, but can now be closed
at modest cost; and real-time data portals
and artificial intelligence can drive data•

impact.

Focus national innovation systems andindustrial strategies to align them withthe technology needs of the four system•

Enhance the cybersphere by promoting

transformations and harness them forshared and transparent management ofprosperity—for example, by launching

the Internet and other digital technologies

innovation challenges to identify

as critical levers for Global Commonspromising technology-based solutions for

stewardship.

Global Commons stewardship.
The Global Commons Stewardship•

Promote trackers and measure

Framework, and its core thinking andprogress, fill data gaps and make

implementation, are supported by several

data useful for Global Commons

instruments, such as modeling, measuring andstewardship. To strengthen

tracking systems change. Together, we callaccountability and mobilize attention,

this entire body of work the Global Commons

stakeholders should focus initially on

Stewardship Initiative (GCSI).

making direct and indirect impacts

16transparent (e.g., using the Global

All components of the GCSI—the GCS

Commons Stewardship (GCS) Index);

Index, the PIK/Earth Commission modelingmonitoring the progress of system

exercise and the results of the Systems

transformations (e.g., through the

Change Lab—herald the same message: theSystems Change Lab); and supporting

speed and scale of progress on system

national policy action trackers (e.g.,transformation are grossly insufficient for

drawing on lessons from the Climate

us to achieve sustainable development

Action Tracker (CAT) for the energy

within the planetary boundaries. We

transformation). Major data gaps still

urgently need to accelerate this process

exist (e.g., on chemical pollutants/

through the action levers outlined in thisnovel entities, biodiversity, aerosols andframework.

Other components of the Global Commons Stewardship Initiative
In addition to the Global Commons Stewardship Framework, the GCSI is pursuing the following
initiatives (each work is also presented in a separate document):•

The GCS Index—compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network(SDSN), the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and the Center for Global
Commons at the University of Tokyo—assesses both domestic impacts on the Global
Commons and the wider impacts of trade and consumption (so-called “international
spillovers”).13 Rich countries generate the largest share of international spillovers. Even if
the domestic impacts of these countries look reasonable, once international spillovers areincluded, it becomes clear that their footprint is unsustainable. Trade is an important sourceof income and prosperity; but unsustainable production of food and manufactured goods isdriving environmental degradation such as deforestation, rising GHG emissions and otheradverse effects. In absolute terms, G20 countries bear a special responsibility to accelerate
the transformation toward sustainable consumption and production systems, and therefore
to reform the governance of the Global Commons. The next iteration of the Index will improve
both the quality and the granularity of the data; and the GCSI will assess practices andpolicies that could effectively mitigate spillovers and assure Global Commons stewardship.
We will use these insights to propose concrete steps to expand effective governance.

•

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Earth Commission
are undertaking interdisciplinary modeling of transformation pathways that will allow
humanity to stay within planetary boundaries and achieve the SDGs by 2030, 2050 andbeyond. While existing modeling and resulting pathways largely focus on achieving a given
climate stabilization target, this work will capture the interactions across the four systemtransformations and two Global Commons domains: the climate system and the land
biosphere. The goal is to determine the level of system transformation which is needed tomaximize wellbeing within the planetary boundaries.

•

The Systems Change Lab, sponsored by WRI and the Bezos Earth Fund, tracks
progress in implementing system transformations, as well as enablers of change. Its
State of Climate Action 2021 report assesses progress toward the transformational change
needed to limit warming to 1.5°C, which is aligned with many of the system transformations
identified here.11 The report reveals that the transitions required to avoid the worst climate
impacts are not happening fast enough. Of the 40 indicators assessed, none is on track
to reach the 2030 targets. Change is heading in the right direction at a promising but
insufficient speed for eight; and in the right direction but well below the required pace for 17.
The remaining transformations are either stalled, heading in the wrong direction or lacking
data. The report also identifies underlying conditions that enable change: supportive
policies, innovations, strong institutions, leadership and shifts in social norms. For example,
annual increases in finance for climate action must accelerate thirteenfold to meet theestimated need in 2030.

17

From the Paris Effect to the Spirit of
Glasgow
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is both achallenge to and an opportunity forthe notion of peaceful international
collaboration. Putin’s “might-is-right”
military invasion, founded on baselesspropaganda, aims to deal a death blow to an
already weakened rules-based international
order. At the same time, it has resulted in
unprecedented unity and resolve acrossmuch of the world. It could yet provide alesson for the ability of countries to work
together in the pursuit of shared interests.
Given the recent escalation of the Ukraine
situation, we now need to realize that healthy
and resilient Earth systems—our Global
Commons—are at the heart of our health,security and prosperity, and work together
to manage them responsibly. To this end, weneed a robust new governing mechanism.
The present moment offers
unprecedented opportunities to advance
Global Commons stewardship. In thefive years since the Paris Agreement was
adopted, countries and regions accounting
for more than 50% of global GDP have put
net-zero targets in place;14 although moreis needed to keep global warming within
1.5°C, such as credible pathways to net zerothat include ambitious near-term targets
for 2030. These initiatives are also creating
the conditions for companies to follow suit.
Clear long-term goals, innovation and public
support for emerging technologies (e.g.,renewable feed-in tariffs) have enabled much
faster technological progress than anticipatedby most analysts—what we call the “Paris
Effect.”14 Renewable energy is now cheaper
than fossil fuel-based power in most markets;electric vehicles are replacing the internal
combustion engine; hydrogen aircraft are indevelopment; and industries are organizing
18

around decarbonization. As climate change
increasingly becomes a lived reality, publicawareness of the need for mitigation andadaptation is at an all-time high.
Even if the pieces are falling into place forthe decarbonization of energy systems,
much greater efforts are needed to achieve
the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Global emissions continue to rise andnational ambitions—albeit growing—remain
insufficient.15 The clear message from
COP26 in Glasgow was the need to movefrom talk to action. While the governmentto-government negotiations produced only
modest results, what was truly remarkableabout the gathering was the array of otherforces aligning with the need for deep
decarbonization. For instance, the Glasgow
Financial Alliance for Net Zero united existing
initiatives and over 450 financial firms across
45 countries responsible for assets of morethan $130 trillion to drive science-based
decarbonization in finance and the real
economy. Many events brought into sharp
focus the pathways to deep decarbonization
country by country, sector by sector andeven company by company. Fulfilling this“Spirit of Glasgow” will require creativity andcourage from policymakers and businessleaders, backed by strong advocacy fromcitizens and youth, to take on vested intereststhat are beholden to polluting technologies.
Safeguarding the Global Commons requires
transformations of our entire economic
system, which must be pursued with the same
vigor.
The challenges to development, inequality
and the health of critical Earth systems
are intimately linked; and the same is trueof their solutions. All countries must strive
to meet the needs of their populations whilestaying within the planetary boundaries.
Development and sustainability must not bein conflict. The SDGs rightly include socialdevelopment alongside environmental
sustainability. Without social inclusion andhuman wellbeing, it will be impossible forsocieties to undertake and sustain thetransformations needed to stay within
the planetary boundaries. This need for
new, equitable solutions also has a strong
international dimension, as spillover
impacts are driven by international trade. To
succeed, we require clear paths toward ajust transition that benefits all parts of society
and helps reduce inequalities both globallyand nationally. Demand-side measures thateliminate unnecessary resource use can play
an important role in reducing pressures on the
Global Commons, while helping to improvebasic wellbeing for all.
International cooperation can mobilize
countries around shared approaches tosafeguarding the Global Commons. For
example, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has been
instrumental in brokering a global agreement
to reform taxation and has proposed aharmonized assessment framework forcarbon pricing.
New multistakeholder coalitions—involving business, civil society
organizations, consumers and investors—
are building powerful movements thatcomplement multilateral cooperation.
These can help break the impasses thatsometimes paralyze multilateral mechanisms.
In particular, civil society organizations candrive increased accountability, effective
communication and stakeholder engagement.
We need more of this mobilization; and weneed to amplify the voices of youth to focus
minds and spur us to try harder to tackle thechallenges ahead.

Companies must also play an importantrole in safeguarding the planetary
boundaries, as their long-term successdepends on the health of people andthe planet. Contributing to the fulfillmentof the SDGs and the transformation to aregenerative economy is a multitrillion-dollar
business opportunity. Every major company
should commit itself to science-based targets.
There simply is no longer social license forcompanies that do not combine the profit
motive with active participation in realizing
the system transformations toward Global
Commons stewardship.
Education fulfills multiple critical roles inenabling and sustaining the transformation
to a global economy that operates within
the safe and just corridor. Universal accessto education provides a necessary foundation
for scientific understanding and innovation.
Universities and research organizations havea special responsibility in training the next
generation of leaders and promoting practicalproblem solving for sustainable development.
The time is now to bring humanity’s impact
on the Earth in line with the planetary
boundaries. We are conscious of thecatastrophic costs that inaction will incur
for all people on this planet. We also knowhow painfully slow and difficult international
cooperation can be—particularly when major
powers compete for global leadership.
But having studied the issues carefully, we areconvinced of the feasibility of rapid progressin securing the Global Commons. Thisrequires a step change in action across all
stakeholders and all sectors of the economy.
We are inspired by the Paris Effect and theadvances that have occurred in recent years.
When we put our minds to the four systemtransformations, human ingenuity andcooperation will prevail. There can be no more
bystanders; so we call on everyone to join thefight for a better future.
19

A.1

Action items for governments
Disclaimer: Governments, businesses
and international or civil society
organizations cannot solve the challenge
of Global Commons stewardship in
isolation. Close collaboration between
stakeholders at all levels is essential andsiloed approaches are likely to fail. We
therefore call on all actors to join forcesand engage in effective multistakeholder
coalitions.

Set targets; aligngovernance and institutions
•

•

20

Commit to targets andpathways: Translate strategies
into concrete national goals
for both the medium andlong term (e.g., 2030 and2050) across the four systemtransformations. These targets
should then be translated
into action through long-term
pathways.
Align policymaking
processes and ensure
oversight: Integrate
policymaking across key
ministries and agencies inorder to operationalize thetransformations. For example,
food and biodiversity strategies
should be integrated tosecure the Global Commons.
Legislatures and judiciaries
play important roles in ensuring
oversight and accountability.
Countries may also establish
independent statutory advisory
bodies, such as the Climate
Change Committee in the UK.

•

Address international
spillovers: Routinely
incorporate international
spillovers into policymaking
processes (e.g., statistics,
cost-benefit evaluations, trade
agreements).

•

Conduct Global Commons
diplomacy: Implement Global
Commons stewardshipas a central framework for21st century diplomacy thatconsiders cooperation onclean technologies, financing,shared management oftransboundary resources, an
end to environmental crime andmuch more.

•

Strengthen governance for
Global Commons: Strengthen
existing institutions andestablish new international
governance mechanisms (e.g.,international legal frameworks)
to manage important issuesof Global Commons use andpreservation, and provide
legitimate venues to mediate
potential areas of conflict.
These should recognize therisks of unilateral action ininterfering with the Global
Commons, and emphasize theglobal interest in preserving
and restoring the healthyfunctioning of these critical
Earth systems.

Reset economics andfinance•

Consider inclusive wealthmeasures: Expand national
accounting frameworks toinclude natural capital using the
UN System of EnvironmentalEconomic Accounting andconsider new indicators ofhuman wellbeing, such as
the OECD’s Better Life Index
or New Zealand’s Living
Standards Framework.

•

Restructure fiscal incentives:
Apply the social costs of natural
capital degradation (e.g.,through carbon and resource
taxes and the repurposingof harmful subsidies), andpromote payments forecosystem services. To
ensure a healthy tax base,governments should support
international efforts to curbbase erosion and profit shifting.
•••

Align investment: Alignpublic procurement andall investments by public
institutions (e.g., national
investment banks, official
development assistance (ODA),
publicly supported pension
funds) with Global Commonsstewardship in order toaccelerate technological shifts
and build new markets for clean
technologies.

Strengthen social inclusionand equity

Harness innovation,technologies and data•

Design transformations
in fair, transparent andparticipatory ways: Ensure
legitimacy (e.g., throughparticipatory and transparent
decision-making processes)
and fair distribution of costand benefits (e.g., through justtransition funds). This must bepart of the ex ante strategicplanning to ensure buy-in andmaintain progress.

•

Promote mission-oriented
innovation: Develop evidencebased, mission-oriented
innovation and industrial
strategies to provide thelong-term funding anddirection needed to facilitate
innovation and its deployment
at scale (e.g., throughinnovation challenges, realworld laboratories, research
networks).

•

Protect, value and engage
Indigenous Peoples andlocal communities: Promote
inclusive and equitable decision
making for the benefit of local
and Global Commons. Not
only can these groups provide
important knowledge; they canalso play a key role in managing
natural systems responsibly.
The starting point must be torecognize and uphold theirsubstantive rights (e.g., to theirland) and procedural rights(e.g., to free, prior and informed
consent; to information; tojustice).
Engage in international
cooperation: ODA is critical topromoting Global Commonsstewardship and ensuringthat less developed countries
escape extreme poverty
by 2030.16 In addition toincreasing the level of financial
and technical assistance,
harnessing the full potential
of ODA will require clear
standards and measurements.

•

Innovate through educationon the Global Commons:
Universal access to education
provides a necessary
foundation for innovation.
Promoting scientific literacy,
including an understandingof environmental challenges,
can create consensus foraction and safeguard against
misinformation.

•

Harness new data foraccountability: Harness
the power of new datatechnologies, such as
remote sensing, to increaseaccountability and improve ourunderstanding of the state of
the Global Commons.

•

Ensure a safe cybersphere:
Combat cybercrime andfake news by strengthening
international mechanisms ofcooperation and accountability
for technology companies.

Direct blended finance:
Implement structures andstrategies to mobilize cofinancing for the investmentsthat activate the four systemtransformations, such as
streamlining regulatory
restrictions, building pipelinesof bankable projects andmainstreaming and scaling
blended finance instruments.
Reform the financial system:
Improve financial standards
and regulation to direct capital
markets away from financing
activities that undermine
environmental, social andgovernance objectives (e.g.,
EU Taxonomy, Taskforce on
Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD), Taskforce
on Nature-related Financial
Disclosures (TNFD), prudential
and business accounting
standards).

•

21

A.2

Action items for business and finance
Disclaimer: Governments, businesses
and international or civil society
organizations cannot solve the challenge
of Global Commons stewardship in
isolation. Close collaboration between
stakeholders at all levels is essential andsiloed approaches are likely to fail. We
therefore call on all actors to join forcesand engage in effective multistakeholder
coalitions.

Set targets; aligngovernance and institutions•

Advocate for and drive

value, by recognizing andinternalizing their impacts ondiverse stakeholders and overtime. Take a lead in aligninginternal and external reportingand strategic decisionmaking processes to takeaccountability for direct andindirect impacts of operations(e.g., TCFD, TNFD, International
Sustainability Standards Board(ISSB), European Taxonomy),
and transition to more resilient
and regenerative businessmodels.

system transformations:
Participate actively in driving
the system transformations•

Set science-based targets:

instead of lobbying to

Embrace Global Commons

maintain the status quo.

stewardship and set science-

Helping policymakers design

based targets across entire

policies that effectively

supply chains.

achieve desired behaviors
and outcomes can avoid the•Turn targets into action:

costs of bad regulation andDevelop detailed net-zero GHG

uncertainty. Participation in

strategies that specify themultistakeholder coalitions

business model transformation

can drive system change

to be undertaken, capital

within countries and acrosscommitments and otherkey industries—for example,

investments planned to support

by solving common challenges

the transformation, as welland overcoming first-moveras metrics, interim targets

disadvantages.

and reporting plans. Identify
material contributions to thefour system transformations.
The World Business Council

Reset economics andfinancefor Sustainable Development’s(WBCSD) Vision 2050 details
nine transformation pathways
which provide business leaderswith further details on key
transitions and action areas.
22•

Reinvent models of value
creation: Transition to netpositive business models
that generate long-termvalue, rather than extract•

Mobilize finance: Financial
institutions should not only
direct their portfolios to green
activities, but also create
instruments that mobilize
investment in science-basedtransition paths for polluting
industries (e.g., transition
bonds).

and local communities that are
directly or indirectly affected bytheir operations, and promote
inclusive and equitable decision
making for the benefit of local
and Global Commons.

Strengthen social inclusionand equity••

Proactively work toward ajust transition: Participate
in proactive conversations toensure that consideration is
given to the sectors, regions
and workers that are negatively
affected by transformations.
Their interests should besafeguarded in creating justtransition strategies—for
example, by providing security,
training and investment to
mitigate negative impacts andshare gains.
Respect Indigenous Peoples
and local communities: Firms
should recognize and upholdthe substantive rights (e.g., totheir land) and procedural rights(e.g., to free, prior and informed
consent; to information; tojustice) of Indigenous Peoples
and local communities. They
should protect, value andengage Indigenous Peoples

combine this with internal
data and make it publicly
available to highlight and prove
environmental, social andgovernance impacts.
•

Drive data collaboration:
Engage in international,
sectoral and multistakeholder
coalitions to improve theavailability, quality and use ofdata and novel governanceapproaches to bolster Global
Commons stewardship andresponsible governance of thecybersphere.

•

Strengthen the cybersphere:
Collaborate through legitimized
international efforts, including
novel governance mechanisms,
to counter and minimize
detrimental impacts of thecybersphere that may be a
byproduct of current operations(e.g., cybercrime, fake news).

Harness innovation,technologies and data••

Align innovation: Focus on
innovation and investment inareas that advance the four
sector transformations—
including through publicprivate partnerships,
innovation challenges andmultistakeholder coalitions—torapidly test, refine and scale
solutions.
Take accountability: Invest
in initiatives to generate
and integrate data on
the Global Commons toensure transparency andaccountability across supply
chains by providing early
demand for solutions; and

23

A.3

Action items for civil society andmultistakeholder coalitions
Disclaimer: Governments, businesses
and international or civil society
organizations cannot solve the challenge
of Global Commons stewardship in
isolation. Close collaboration between
stakeholders at all levels is essential andsiloed approaches are likely to fail. We
therefore call on all actors to join forcesand engage in effective multistakeholder
coalitions.

Contribute to shaping the

Set targets; aligngovernance and institutions•

Advocate for Global

misinformation.

Strengthen social inclusionand equity

Build consensus for action:•

public discourse and debunking•

Make targets relevant andand drive accountability:

participation of criticaltangible to sectors, regions andAdvocate for the needstakeholders: Provide a voice

businesses. Broker consensus

to set targets and taketo all relevant stakeholders—views (e.g., on sector

ambitious action to preserve

particularly those frequently

transformations) and concrete

the Global Commons at

excluded, such as the young

demands for other actors

the international, national,

and future generations,(e.g., enabling conditions to beregional and local scales. Civil

Indigenous Peoples, local

provided by government).

communities and the poor.

society plays a critical rolein ensuring accountability•

Promote inclusive and•Monitor greenwashing:

and transparency among

equitable decision making

Maintain vigilance and exert

governments and business.

and the upholding of groups’

pressure to prevent and expose

substantive rights (e.g., to theirgreenwashing by business andland) and procedural rights

governments.

(e.g., to free, prior and informed

Educate and mobilize: Usescience-based arguments
and evocative narratives to24

Ensure the legitimate

Commons stewardshipconsent).
•

Support inclusive wealthmake the significance of theapproaches: Advocate,

Global Commons and theirdevelop and pilot approaches

responsible stewardship

Play a role in advocating forthat extend key measures ofaccessible to the public andand developing just transition

accounting for progress with

relevant stakeholder groups.

strategies—for example,

natural and social wellbeing.

by mediating stakeholder•

Work toward a just transition:

discussions and making
proposals.
•or the Global Commons as

Harness innovation,technologies and dataa framework for teaching,research and problem solving,

Advance humanwhich can break down
Drive innovation: Fund criticalacademic silos and guideadvancing human development

innovations that help advance

practical research.

through the SDGs—

the four system transformations

including universal accessto secure Global Commons

to social services and basic

stewardship (e.g., throughusable: Ensure that data

infrastructure—as an importantinnovation challenges).

is freely available online inprecondition for long-term

Convene and join initiatives toreal time and make it usable

sustainable transformations.

drive innovation.

and relevant for otherdevelopment: Focus on••

Make data available andstakeholders—particularly to•

Build capacity: Support•

Innovate through education

expose greenwashing.

capacity building, technology

for the Global Commons:transfer and pilot programs to

Universal access to education

assist less developed countries,

provides a necessary

in international, sectoral andwhich can be crucial forfoundation for innovation.

multistakeholder coalitions

crowding-in private investment.

Promoting scientific literacy,

to improve the availability,

including an understanding

quality and use of data andof environmental challenges,

novel governance approaches

can create consensus forto bolster Global Commons

action and safeguard against

stewardship and responsible

misinformation. Use the SDGs

governance of the cybersphere.

•

Drive collaboration: Engage

25

A.4

Action items for internationalorganizations and financing institutions
Disclaimer: Governments, businesses
and international or civil society
organizations cannot solve the challenge
of Global Commons stewardship in
isolation. Close collaboration between
stakeholders at all levels is essential andsiloed approaches are likely to fail. We
therefore call on all actors to join forcesand engage in effective multistakeholder
coalitions.

Set targets; aligngovernance and institutions•••

Promote regionala focus on impacts on thecollaboration: Serve as a

Global Commons, before any

mediator and enabler for some

substantial commitment ofof the toughest policy andfunding or other major action.

Align priorities with Global

financing challenges arising

Commons stewardship:from the need for regional

Align work and processes

collaboration, such as sharedwith safeguarding the Global

biomes and watersheds or

Commons and realizing the fourshared infrastructure, likesystem transformations.

power pools.

Strengthen social inclusionand equity•

development: Focus on

Strengthen international
law: Pursue and support legal
approaches to managing theadvancing human development

Reset economics andfinancethrough the SDGs—
including universal access

Global Commons—such asefforts to combat environmental
crime, boost transparency
in trade and improve theglobal legal framework for theenvironment (e.g., recognizing
ecocide as an international
crime)—to help establish
and strengthen international
standards.

26

Advance humanto social services and basic•

Align financing with

infrastructure—as an importanttransformation pathways:

precondition for long-term

Align international financesustainable transformations.

around national pathways
toward Global Commons•

Mobilize development

stewardship, such as

assistance and climate

ensuring energy financefinance: Meet ODA and climate

is consistent with national

finance obligations, which

decarbonization pathways.

remain critical to help poorer

Undertake sustainability

countries achieve the SDGs

impact assessments, including

and ensure global fairness.

Respect Indigenous Peoples

Global Commons stewardshipof ODA will require clear

and local communities:(e.g., through innovation

standards and measurements.

Ensure that all projects protect,challenges). Convene and join

Without a fair international

value and empower Indigenousinternational initiatives“deal” on financing,

Peoples and local communities

to drive innovation.

it will be impossible toat the regional and local levels.

Harnessing the full potential••

safeguard the Global

and availability: Promote

Commons.
•

Build capacity: Support

Harness innovation,technologies and datacapacity building, technology
transfer and pilot programs to

Set standards for data qualitytransparency and harness thepower of new technologies totrack the state of the Global

Drive innovation: Fund

Commons, including throughassist less developed countries,

critical innovations that help

international standards set bywhich can be crucial forto advance the four system

the UN Statistical Commission,

crowding-in private investment.

transformations to secure

the OECD and many other•bodies.

27

B

Safeguarding the Global Commons

Over the last 12,000 years, modern humans
have enjoyed the Holocene: a uniquely stable
epoch that enabled the rise of the world’s
great civilizations. But we are now in a newgeological epoch—the Anthropocene, whichis shaped by human degradation of critical
Earth systems.3 Since 1900, the world’s
population has increased almost fivefold andworld gross product has risen eightyfold.4
Humans are consuming ever-larger sharesof the world’s renewable and non-renewable
resources, and emitting unsustainable
volumes of waste and pollutants. Indeed,human actions have begun to shape thecarbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the oceans,the cryosphere and other Earth systems.
Scientists have estimated the carrying
capacity of the Earth, or “planetary
boundaries,”5, 6 which must be respected topreserve critical Earth systems and ensure

28

a safe operating space for humanity. These
planetary boundaries cover nine control
variables:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

climate change;
biosphere integrity;
land system change;
freshwater use;biogeochemical flows;
ocean acidification;
atmospheric aerosol loading;stratospheric ozone depletion; andnovel entities (Figure 5).

Several of these boundaries have alreadybeen transgressed; some are within a zone ofuncertainty; and for others, we lack adequate
data. Under business as usual, many planetary
boundaries are projected to be transgressedin the near future, which would threaten
human civilization and survival.7

FIGURE 5
Planetary boundaries
Beyond zone of uncertainty(high risk)
IT

Y

L EN

TI T

I ES
S

EI

E/

M

SY

EG
R
NT

NOVE

ZON
IC O
ER N
P H T IO
OS LE
AT DEPshades; and blue indicates where safeEdiversity, defined as extinctions per million

NG

Biosphere integrity consists of genetic

CHA

margins have not yet been determined.

quantified)with increasing risks indicated by darker

AT
A E R MO S P H E R I COS(not OL LOADING
yet

where safe margins have been exceeded,

PERATING SP
ACE

E

are within safe margins; orange indicates

EO

LAND SYSTEM

Green indicates where human activities(noquan t yet
tifie
d)

Boundary not yet quantified

F
SA

BI I

BIOS

PH

ER

Below boundary(safe)NG E

TRWithin zone of uncertainty(increasing risk)

C HA

Increasing risk

CL

TE
IM A

species per year, and functional diversity.

al. (2016),9 and Persson et al. (2022).

10

CA
TI

HW
AT
E

ES

from Steffen et al. (2015),7 Nakicenovic etFRnitrogen and phosphorous cycles. AdaptedON

Biogeochemical flows consist of the

P
RU

SE

N
B IO G

EOCHEMICAL FLOWS

OC

EA

D
CI
NA

IF

I

Clearly, these trends are unsustainable.

development needs. To this end, Kate

A major course correction is needed to

Raworth and others have augmented thesafeguard the Earth system. Major changes

planetary boundaries with social floors

are needed to promote human prosperity

for income and social protection; health,and wellbeing for all without breachingeducation and other social services; andthe planetary boundaries. However, as we

access to basic infrastructure services.17 This

discuss below, successful strategies to“doughnut framework” is starting to be usedstabilize the Earth system must also takeby decision makers around the world.

account of inequalities. Rich countries, andthe wealthy within each country, accountAs trade and supply chains now span thefor a disproportionate share of the resource

globe, business leaders play an important

use and pollution that are driving global

role in safeguarding the Global Commons.

environmental change. For these reasons,This is no longer optional or altruistic. At aa global perspective is needed on thesefundamental level, the long-term successchallenges; and strategies must be integratedof businesses and the economy depends

across biophysical, technological and socialon the health of people and the planet. The

drivers of change.

COVID-19 pandemic has starkly illustrated
the potential costs of planetary disruption,

Moreover, strategies to meet the planetarywith the projected cumulative output loss

boundaries must consider socio-economic

from 2020 to 2025 standing at $22 trillion.18
29
4

In contrast, the transformations required to

become net positive; and that “those who missachieve the SDGs, and thereby safeguard thethis seismic shift will face a raft of existential

Global Commons, could open up economic

risks. The economics of business as usual will

opportunities worth up to $12 trillion andnot favor them, society won’t accept them, andincrease employment by up to 380 million

younger generations won’t work for them.”20 Ajobs by 2030.19 Seizing these opportunities“net-positive” company is one that “improves

will require significant investments andwell-being for everyone it impacts and at all

fundamental shifts in how businesses operate.

scales—every product, every operation, every
region and country, and for every stakeholder,

Meanwhile, governments, regulators andincluding employees, suppliers, communities,

investors are increasingly demanding greater

customers, and even future generations andresponsibility and transparency. In addition, athe planet itself.” This is an aspiration that no

growing share of customers and employees

company has yet achieved; but many haveare refusing to engage with companies thatembarked on the journey and those which

do not live up to their environmental and social

ultimately succeed will stand to be more

responsibilities. Paul Polman, the former

resilient, attractive and profitable.

CEO of Unilever, argues that companies must

B.1

Understanding the Global Commons
In Elinor Ostrom’s famous definition,

We use two criteria to define the “Global“common-pool resources” are finite resources

Commons.” First, “Global Commons”

whose use by members inside or outside a

describes the biophysical systems that must

group must be carefully managed.21 Failure

be safeguarded for the Earth system as ato do so can lead to the “tragedy of thewhole to remain resilient and stable withincommons,” where everyone loses from the

Holocene-like conditions that can support

exhaustion or destruction of common-poolhuman development. This means that theresources. Ostrom and others focused onplanetary boundaries are set to keep thecommons at the local level, such as shared

Global Commons in a healthy functioning

irrigation systems, communal forests, grazingstate. Second, “Global Commons,” as distinct

grounds and clean water. But the conceptfrom local or regional-scale commons,of common-pool resources, or commons, isare common-pool resources that requirealso helpful for understanding the challenges

coordinated management across countriesof maintaining Earth system stability in thein order to avoid the tragedy of the commons.

Anthropocene; and for devising appropriate

As we will see below, this science-based

response strategies at local, national, regional

definition of the biophysical Global Commonsand global scales.

complements international law, which focuseson the high seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica
and outer space.aa30

The Global Commons Stewardship Framework focuses on Earth systems, so we exclude outer space.22

•

We focus here on the biophysical Global

Climate system: The Earth’s

Commons and also briefly consider digital“greenhouse effect” and associatedsystems or the cybersphere, which isprocesses have maintained a stablebecoming inseparable from the biophysicaltemperature range during the Holocene,world (Section D.4.3). We note that there

which has enabled the rise of humanare several social, economic and cultural

civilization. The climate system is largely

commons at a global scale. They include

driven by greenhouse gas (GHG)

public health surveillance and disease control;

concentrations in the atmosphere, which

UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the United

in turn are affected by the carbon cycle

Nations and international conventions; theand other feedbacks. These and otherinternet; international research cooperation;

air pollutants generate aerosols, which

technology exchange; and many others.

can contribute to climate change andThese are of critical importance to humandrive regional weather patterns (e.g.,wellbeing and underpin strategies to secure

monsoons); so we include clean air

the biophysical Global Commons.

as part of the climate system. A stableclimate system is critical for directly

Nakicenovic et al. were the first to apply

securing the planetary boundaries onplanetary boundaries to identify key

climate change and ocean acidification,biophysical Global Commons. We build

as the latter are driven by increasedon their work in identifying five domains ofconcentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2)

the Global Commons (Figure 6) that mustin the atmosphere. Indirectly, the climate

be preserved to stay within the planetarysystem also drives changes to otherboundaries:

planetary boundaries, including land use

9

FIGURE 6
Five Global Commons domains
The five Global Commons domains are made up of a number of biophysical Global Commons systems.

Climate system

Ozone layer

Land biosphere

OceansIce sheets & glaciers

Aerosols, atmosphericcomposition & circulation,
carbon cycle,
monsoons

Stratosphericozone layer

Amazon & boreal
forests, freshwater,
grassland/tundra,
permafrost, soil
carbon sink

Acidification, anoxia,
biodiversity, coral reefs,
El Niño, methane
hydrates, ocean
currents

Arctic sea ice, East &West Antarctic Ice
Sheets, Greenland Ice
Sheet, inland glaciers

Each Global Commons is a biophysical system that affects the stability of the Earth system and can only be preserved through coordinated management acrosscountries. The Global Commons are highly interdependent and must be secured through integrated strategies at the local, national, regional and global levels.

31

change (e.g., through desertification);Indirectly, the land biosphere affects

biosphere integrity (e.g., throughmultiple planetary boundaries, includingchanges in species ranges); andbiosphere integrity (e.g., through changes

freshwater use (e.g., through increased

in habitat ranges); climate change (e.g.,

evapotranspiration).

through changes to carbon sinks andthe Earth’s albedo); atmospheric aerosol•

Ozone layer: The thin layer of ozone

loading (e.g., through desertification andin the upper stratosphere absorbs

sand storms); ocean acidification (e.g.,

ultraviolet radiation from the sun thatthrough changes in the carbon cycle);is harmful to humans and other living

and biogeochemical flows (e.g., throughorganisms. As the emergence of thethe release of reactive nitrogen and“ozone hole” has shown, the ozone layer isphosphorous).

highly vulnerable to human perturbations,which can breach the planetary boundary•

Oceans: The ocean biosphere comprisesof stratospheric ozone depletion.

the high seas and coastal marine waters.

Indirectly, the ozone layer affects

It is home to a large share of biodiversity.

biosphere diversity, in terms of both

Ocean currents and carbon sinks arefunctional and genetic diversity. To thismajor drivers of the Earth’s climate

end, the Montreal Protocol has bannedsystem and cryosphere. Most reactive

the production and use of chemicals,

nitrogen and phosphorous releasedsuch as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), thatthrough human activities end up in the

can harm the ozone layer. As a result, theocean, where they foster anoxic zones

ozone layer is the one planetary boundarythat are lethal to most forms of life.

where human pressures have abated overA stable ocean biosphere therefore

the last 20 years; though there are now

directly contributes to respecting

growing concerns about increased illegal

several planetary boundaries, including

use of CFCs in some countries.

the climate system; biosphere integrity;
ocean acidification; and biogeochemical•Land biosphere: The land biosphere

flows.

comprises various forms of land, including
wilderness, agricultural, urban and

Cryosphere: A final Global Commons is

industrial land. It includes major biomes

the cryosphere, which comprises polarof global significance, such as boreal

ice sheets and glaciers. The cryosphereand tropical forests. Changes to the land

directly affects climate change, including

biosphere directly affect the planetarythrough changes to the Earth’s albedo.

boundaries of land system change, as

Melting ice sheets are chiefly responsible

well as freshwater quality and use. The

for sea level rise, which can have profoundlatter are driven primarily by land use andimplications for land system change andland use change, including for agriculture.

biosphere integrity. Thawing glaciers

b

b

•

Major perturbations of the hydrological cycle that affect planetary boundaries are driven by changes to evapotranspiration

due to modifications of land biomes.23 For this reason, we do not include the hydrological cycle or other freshwater systems as a separate
Global Commons.

32

alter seasonal freshwater flows that drive•

Arctic sea ice;

agriculture in many parts of the world.

•the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets;•

the Greenland Ice Sheet; and•inland glaciers.

The five Global Commons domains define thebroad categories of biophysical systems thatmust be safeguarded through global action

This hierarchy of the Global Commonsin order to ensure a stable and resilient Earthis useful, as it can inform more concrete

system. The planetary boundaries are set togovernance measures.

safeguard the Global Commons, providing
both resilience and services to humanity

Several of these Global Commons domains

through a stable and manageable Earth

are scientifically identified as “tipping

system. In short, we all depend on them bothelements”—that is, they not only contributefor our own wellbeing and for that of future

to the regulation of the Earth system, but cangenerations. The five domains integrate thealso undergo major changes past dangerous

original (legal) definition of “Global Commons”

tipping points. If these biophysical systems(high seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica)

are pushed too far (e.g,. through GHG

except outer space, which is not part of theemissions, deforestation or pollution) andbiosphere that regulates the state of thethese tipping points are exceeded, this canplanet.

lead to irreversible changes due to shifts infeedbacks (e.g., from buffering/cooling to self-

Each of the five Global Commons domains

amplifying/warming). These changes may

consists of numerous biophysical Global

affect the overall stability of the Earth system.

Commons systems. For example, thecryosphere domain is made up of five Global
Commons systems:

B.2

Goals for safeguarding the Global
Commons
Fortunately, governments have ratified thewill stabilize the climate system, curb ocean

Paris Agreement and adopted the SDGs.

acidification, drastically cut air pollution andTogether, these provide a useful goal-safeguard “the integrity of all ecosystems,

setting mechanism to safeguard the Global

including oceans, and the protection ofCommons. The Paris Agreement commits

biodiversity.”25 In this way, meeting the Paristhe world to net-zero GHG emissions by

Agreement targets will also help preserve

the middle of the century and net-negative

terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

emissions beyond.

1,24

Meeting this objective

33

The SDGs, contained in the 2030 Agenda for

population or wealth. The five entities with the

Sustainable Development, set out quantitative

worst impacts are China, the United States,

goals for economic prosperity, social

the EU27, Japan and India. Eighteen of the 20

inclusion, environmental sustainability and the

top contributors are part of the G20, which

Global Partnership for Effective Development

bears a special responsibility in safeguarding

Co-operation. They underscore the central

the Global Commons, as its member countries

importance of sound stewardship of therepresent two-thirds of the world’s population“biological support systems of the Planet.”

and 85% of global GDP. These spillovers are

Critically, the SDGs emphasize the need tolargely driven by global resource extraction,

reduce extreme poverty in all its forms andwhich has increased dramatically overpromote social inclusion.

the past half-century. Quantifying national26

responsibility for ecological breakdown
We are beginning to get a clearer senseby assessing nations’ cumulative materialof how countries are contributing to theuse in excess of equitable and sustainable

degradation and stewardship of the Global

boundaries also points to the disproportionate

Commons. The SDSN, Yale University andresponsibility of high-income countries

the Center for Global Commons at Tokyo(Figure 7, p36).8

University have compiled the GCS Index,
which assesses both countries’ domestic

Demand-side measures to reduce wastage

impacts on the Global Commons and the(i.e., demands superfluous to humanimpacts embodied in trade and consumption

needs and wants) are an important lever to(so-called “international spillovers”).

reduce spillovers. According to the latest

The 2021 GCS Index helps identify thoseIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

countries with the greatest per-capita and(IPCC) report,27 such measures could

absolute negative impacts on the Global

reduce GHG emissions in end-use sectors

Commons (Annex 1).

by between 40% and 70% by 2050 without

13

undermining human wellbeing. Such demandTable 1 lists 50 countries and their per-capita

side approaches require a mix of political

impacts on the Global Commons; and Table

leadership and ambitious policy, innovation

2 lists the 20 countries with the greatest

in business models and technologies, andabsolute impacts on the Global Commons—

cultural interventions.

generally the relatively large countries, by

34

TABLE 1
Global Commons Stewardship Index 2021 results in proportional terms
COUNTRY
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
BelarusBelgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
BrazilBrunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
CanadaChile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
CyprusCzech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
EcuadorEgypt, Arab Rep.
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Union
FinlandFranceGabon
Germany
GreeceGuatemala
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran, Islamic Rep.
Iraq
IrelandIsraelItaly
JamaicaJapan
JordanOVERALL

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↗

DOMESTICSPILLOVER

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↓
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↗

52.0
40.1
40.0
62.1
15.8
47.9
37.3
35.0
67.9
50.7
66.4
39.3
42.2
44.5
10.3
46.8
22.0
43.8
34.3
35.5
63.6
52.1
58.5
58.0
46.0
67.1
65.9
60.0
39.3
51.3
77.1
23.9
68.0
62.9
41.7
53.0
44.5
61.2
51.8
40.5
40.4
31.3
33.4
39.3
61.2
35.8
54.5
62.0
60.7
62.5

COUNTRY

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↓
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69.6
74.5
62.8
69.6
17.0
17.8
72.2
35.1
93.3
99.9
18.2
73.9
28.1
69.7
32.0
60.7
16.4
42.7
75.5
66.8
55.9
48.0
74.6
27.9
32.6
19.9
71.0
74.7
85.9
28.5
99.9
26.5
24.3
24.1
64.2
20.5
27.1
78.7
53.7
17.5
88.7
79.7
68.1
78.7
22.1
29.8
27.4
62.4
18.3
57.7

OVERALL

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Kazakhstan
Korea, Rep.
KuwaitLatviaLebanon
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
MexicoMontenegro
Namibia
Netherlands
New ZealandNigeria
North Macedonia
NorwayOman
Pakistan
PanamaParaguay
Peru
Philippines
PolandPortugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
SerbiaSingapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
SwedenSwitzerland
ThailandTrinidad & Tobago
TurkeyTurkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela, RB
Vietnam

LEGENDDASHBOARDSCOREDOMESTIC
15.5
52.7
20.9
77.1
52.5
21.7
67.4
52.6
36.1
52.3
40.2
39.1
35.0
46.1
57.6
27.4
50.9
53.3
30.9
20.3
45.6
53.9
50.5
50.1
54.5
46.7
52.0
7.9
66.8
33.3
18.4
40.6
42.7
58.4
55.4
29.7
40.5
64.3
75.0
78.2
50.8
11.3
40.7
22.0
10.6
55.3
31.5
44.0
65.7
40.9

SPILLOVER

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↓

54.2
23.8
3.6
33.1
46.7
66.6
26.5
1.8
33.1
25.0
6.3
59.7
12.8
44.2
13.6
25.7
91.1
59.7
10.4
26.2
99.8
51.7
59.5
73.0
81.5
52.3
26.6
23.3
59.7
51.5
22.5
36.4
1.3
26.5
27.6
66.2
25.8
76.8
21.4
5.8
58.8
38.3
57.2
51.8
1.8
21.7
25.8
39.4
61.4
82.9

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LEGEND
LABEL

95–100

No or limited negative impacts on the GC

90–95

Low negative impacts on the GC

80–90

Medium-low negative impacts on the GC

70–80

Medium-high negative impacts on the GC

50–70

High negative impacts on the GC

30–50

Very high negative impact on the GC

0–30

Extreme negative impacts on the GC

ARROW

↑
↗
→
↓

MEANING
Projected to meet 2050 target
Projected to meet only 2030 target
Insufficient progress toward target
Trajectory headed in wrong direction

Notes: Indicators are standardized to allow comparison
across countries. Countries listed in alphabetical order.
The GCS Index calculations include all Global Commons
except the ozone layer due to lack of available data.

35
4

TABLE 2
Global Commons Stewardship Index bottom 20 countries in absolute terms
COUNTRYOVERALL

Iran
TurkeySpain
Korean Republic
Italy
FranceMexicoSaudi Arabia
CanadaAustralia
United Kingdom
BrazilIndonesia
Germany
Russian Federation
India
Japan
European Union
United States
China

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DOMESTIC
33.4
36.1
44.0
49.3
48.2
55.5
29.6
34.4
36.7
23.0
48.7
24.1
12.1
45.4
16.3
4.4
46.2
9.1
7.8
4.5

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47.8
37.6
32.5
31.2
25.6
47.1
38.5
35.1
50.6
23.0
43.2
52.8
11.6
26.3
30.6
1.3
1.0
1.0
1.0

Lower-middle income

Since 1970, high-income countries (according
to the World Bank classification) have beencollectively responsible for 74% of cumulative
excess material use, and upper-middle

DASHBOARD

SCORE

LABEL

95–100

No or limited negative impacts on the GC

90–95

Low negative impacts on the GC

80–90

Medium-low negative impacts on the GC

70–80

Medium-high negative impacts on the GC

50–70

High negative impacts on the GC

30–50

Very high negative impact on the GC

0–30

Extreme negative impacts on the GC

ARROWMEANING↑↗
→↓

Projected to meet 2050 target
Projected to meet only 2030 target
Insufficient progress toward target
Trajectory headed in wrong direction

1200

C U M U L AT I V E OV E R S H O OT (G t)

Upper-middle income

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58.7

FIGURE 7
Cumulative excess resource use of countries
by income group, 1970-2017
High income

LEGENDSPILLOVER

900

600

300

income countries for 25% of cumulative
excess material use. Lower-middle income
countries and low-income countries havebeen collectively responsible for less than 1%.

0
1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

YEAR

Excess resource use for low-income countries
is close to zero and thus not visible in thisfigure. Adapted from Hickel et al. (2022).8

36

4

C

The Global Commons
Stewardship Framework

In the words of Pope Francis, “What is

Biological Diversity (CBD) must help ensureneeded...is an agreement on systems ofthat national actions aim to respect the

governance for the whole range of so-called

planetary boundaries. Across all levels,‘global commons’.” Sound management of

stakeholders must organize aroundthe Global Commons requires determinedshared goals, redesign markets, improve

action at the local, national, regional andtechnologies, strengthen inclusive

global levels. Communities must reduce

governance and mobilize the power of data.

28

the resource intensity of their development
models. Countries must decarbonize their

Fortunately, we are witnessing profoundenergy systems and curb internationalchanges in awareness of the Global

spillovers. Key biomes—such as the Amazon,

Commons and a movement toward

the Congo Basin and some marine areas—

achieving planetary sustainability. The

must be managed at regional levels. And

necessary change is happening across fourglobal frameworks such as the United Nations

broad transformations that are critical for

Framework Convention on Climate Change

safeguarding the Global Commons, and is(UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on

being tracked by the Systems Change Lab:cc

These four transformations are aligned with transformations to achieve the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris Agreement,

as reviewed in the scientific and policy literature,29–31 and as increasingly applied to policies. For example, the European Green Deal focuseson critical SDG transformations.32

37

•

Decarbonized energy, industry andthe transformations needed to safeguard thetransport: The decarbonization of

Global Commons.

power generation, transmission, longdistance transport, industrial heating andEach system transformation is critical forcooling, and industry through measuressafeguarding multiple Global Commons. With

such as enhanced efficiency, increased

the exception of the ozone layer, each Global

electrification, the phaseout of fossil fuels,

Common similarly requires contributions

modal shifts and the development of newfrom more than one system transformation.

fuels and solutions for hard-to-abate

This shows that countries cannot prioritize

sectors—all while ensuring universal

one transformation over another; allaccess to clean energy.

transformations work synergistically and mustbe pursued in harmony with each other.

•

Sustainable cities and communities:
Including through access to compact and

The technical scope of the four system

resilient urban design and transit-oriented

transformations for Global Commonsdevelopment, sustainable buildings,

stewardship has been outlined by theheating and cooling of buildings andSystems Change Lab, Sachs et al.,29 The

waste management.

World in 2050 initiative30 and others.
Tremendous progress has been made in•

Sustainable production andconceptualizing and operationalizing theconsumption: Including through circulartransformations in recent years. Several

product design, production systems andcoalitions support technical analyses, policy

supply chains, sustainable material flows

support and stakeholder engagement aroundand shifting consumption patterns.

the transformations. For example, the ETC
and the Mission Possible Partnership are•

Sustainable food, forests, land,

helping to drive the energy transformation.

water and oceans: Including through

FOLU is dedicated to supporting countries

protection, sustainable production andand advancing global discussions on

management, restoration, sustainable

how to make land use and food systems

healthy diets, reduced food loss andsustainable, with the Food, Agriculture,

waste, halted overexploitation of species

Biodiversity, Land-Use and Energy (FABLE)

and greater efficiencies in supply chains.

Consortium supporting national pathways.

d

The International Resource Panel (IRP) andIn addition—and as reviewed in Section D—

partners are promoting sustainable industry

countries must transform health, educationand consumption. And the C40 Cities Climate

and other social systems to promote humanLeadership Group, ICLEI - Local Governments

wellbeing, expand human capital and reducefor Sustainability, United Cities and Local

inequalities. These investments are a vital

Governments and many others are supporting

enabler of Global Commons stewardship.

the urban transformation. The WRI-led

Without social inclusion and human wellbeing,

Systems Change Lab is tracking progress forit will be impossible to undertake and sustain

each system transformation (Table 3).

d“Sustainable healthy diets” are dietary patterns that promote all dimensions of individuals’ health and wellbeing; have low

environmental pressure and impact; are accessible, affordable, safe and equitable; and are culturally acceptable.33

38

TABLE 3
Global Commons stewardship transformations and their components tracked by the Systems Change Lab
GCS TRANSFORMATIONSUB-TRANSFORMATIONCRITICAL SHIFTS

Decarbonization of power,
industry and transport

Power

Phase out unabated coal and gas electricity generation
Rapidly scale up renewable electricity generation
Modernize grids, scale storage, manage demand
Guarantee reliable access to electricity for all

Industry

Reduce demand for steel, cement and plastics or replace with zero-carbon alternatives
Electrify industry
Develop new solutions for zero-carbon steel, cement and plastics
Reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations

Transport

Guarantee reliable access to safe and modern mobility
Reduce excessive travel by car and plane
Shift to public, shared and non-motorized transport
Transition to zero-carbon cars and trucks
Transition to zero-carbon shipping and aviation

Sustainable cities
and communities

Cities and the built
environment

Adopt compact urban design
Build only zero-carbon buildings
Make all existing buildings zero carbon
Guarantee access to safe, resilient transport and shelter
Transition to zero-waste cities

Sustainable production
and consumption

Sustainableproduction andconsumption

Increase material efficiency in production
Decrease consumption of materials
Regenerate biological material flows
Regenerate technical material flows
Extend the useful life of products and materials
Recycle and recover resources at their highest value

Sustainable food, forests,
land, freshwater andoceansForests

Protect forests and other natural landscapes
Restore degraded and deforested landscapes
Sustainably manage forests and other natural landscapes
Sharply reduce chemical pollution and litter
Halt the overexploitation of terrestrial species
Dramatically slow the spread of invasive, alien species

Food

Increase crop yields sustainably and without expanding farmland
Increase livestock productivity sustainably and without expanding pastureland
Increase aquaculture productivity sustainably
Reduce food loss and waste
Shift to healthier, more sustainable diets for all
Reduce GHG emissions and other harmful environmental impacts from agricultural production

Freshwater
management

Protect freshwater ecosystems
Restore freshwater ecosystems
Sustainably manage freshwater ecosystems
Sharply reduce chemical pollution and litter
Halt the overexploitation of freshwater species
Dramatically slow the spread of invasive, alien species
Ensure reliable, sustainable access to clean water for all

Ocean
management

Protect marine and coastal ecosystems
Restore marine and coastal ecosystems
Sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems
Sharply reduce chemical pollution and litter, particularly from land-based activities
Halt the overexploitation of marine species, particularly by sustainably managing wild fisheries
Dramatically slow the spread of invasive, alien species

The Systems Change Lab will continue to refine this list to ensure it best captures all relevant transformations.

39
4

Success will require massive innovation and•

Set targets; align governancesharing of lessons. There is a lot to learn

and institutions to provide a clear

across the four system transformations

ambition and pathway for change andfor Global Commons stewardship. In

strengthen multistakeholder coalitions

particular, we can learn from some of theand social movements, reconfiguring

early successes of energy decarbonization

national governance and international

following the Paris Agreement. Evidence

cooperation for the Anthropocene. The

suggests that a “Paris Effect” hasmost promising mechanism for effective

occurred, whereby policy commitments on

governance of the Global Commonsdecarbonization have accelerated innovation,

may be strong new multistakeholder

technologies and financing solutions that put

coalitions that complement improved

full decarbonization by mid-century withinintergovernmental and nationalreach. While a lot more must be done to makemechanisms.

14

our energy systems climate neutral, early
lessons can be applied to the three other•

Reset economics, finance andsystem transformations for Global Commons

incentives for the Global Commons bystewardship.

putting a price on carbon and natural
capital; aligning economic policies

With others covering the technicaland regulations with the goal of Global

and operational details of each system

Commons stewardship; redefining

transformation, we focus in this report on

government and business accounting;the action levers for activating and realizing

and catalyzing private, public and blended

the transformations. We draw on a review

finance.

of the literature on the enablers of climate
action conducted by WRI,11 emerging lessons•

Ensure inclusion and fairness

from energy decarbonization, major policy

to build consensus for change

initiatives such as the European Greenthrough developing strategies for justDeal and a vast number of multistakeholdertransitions, including participatory

coalitions around the world to identify

design, fair incomes and investment

practical steps for catalyzing the action levers

in good health, education and social

for Global Commons stewardship. Four action

safety nets, to provide the foundation

levers work across all system transformations

for these transformations. Value and(Figure 8) and are reviewed in the following

champion Indigenous Peoples and local

section:communities as stewards of the Global
Commons.

40•Harness innovation, technologies andIn our experience, one of the most exciting

data to advance our understanding ofopportunities today is to learn from what is

the Global Commons and accelerate

working in one system transformation—say,

the system transformations needed toenergy decarbonization—and apply thesesafeguard them, paying special attention

lessons to other transformations that may

to the governance of the cybersphere.

be lagging behind. Such learning can bepropagated both within countries and at
the international level. The action levers arecentral to driving the system transformations
for Global Commons stewardship, so thefollowing section discusses them in detail.

FIGURE 8
The Global Commons Stewardship Framework
ACTION LEVERS
Set targets; aligngovernance andinstitutions

Reset economics,
finance andincentives

Ensure inclusionand fairness tobuild consensus
for change

GLOBAL COMMONS DOMAINS
Harness
innovation,technologies
and data

SYSTEM TRANSFORMATIONS

Decarbonization of energy, industry and transport

Climate system
Aerosols, atmospheric composition &circulation, carbon cycle, monsoons

Ozone layer

Power generation, transmission, long-distance transport, industry and industrial
heating and cooling

Stratospheric ozone layer

Sustainable cities and communities

Land biosphere

Compact and resilient design and transit-oriented development, sustainable waste
management and buildings including heating and coolingAmazon & boreal forests, freshwater,
grassland/tundra, permafrost, soil carbon
sink

Sustainable production and consumption

OceansCircular product design, business models, production systems and supply chains,sustainable material flows and consumption patterns

Acidification, anoxia, biodiversity, coral
reefs, El Niño, methane hydrates, ocean
currents

Sustainable food, land, water and oceans

Ice sheets & glaciersProtection, sustainable management, restoration, sustainable diets, halting
overexploitation of species, reduced food loss and waste

Arctic sea ice, East & West Antarctic Ice
Sheets, Greenland Ice Sheet, inlandglaciers

41

D

Action levers for Global
Commons stewardship

We are witnessing early signs of positive

For example, the “Paris Effect” is making

tipping points toward several system

renewable power economically competitivetransformations for Global Commonswith (often subsidized) fossil fuel power.35

stewardship (Section B). Such positive

Countries are committing to reach net-systemic tipping points (by contrast to thezero emissions by 2050 and the financial

dangerous tipping points of the Global

system is integrating climate risk into its

Commons discussed earlier in this report)

DNA. Multistakeholder movements—andoccur when targeted interventions lead toparticularly advocacy from youth leaders—large and long-term consequences for theare changing the global debate and making

evolution of that system, profoundly altering

it increasingly difficult for policymakers andits modes of operation. Interventions canbusiness leaders to dodge the question of

foster the emergence of positive feedback

how they will achieve net-zero emissions.

loops and activate positive tipping points

Today, low-carbon solutions are competitive in(see Figure 9) – as is already occurring in the

one critical sector: electricity. With investment

energy and transport systems.

now flowing into low-carbon solutions of all

34

stripes, we could reach market tipping points
in sectors representing 90% of emissions by
2030 (see Figure 10).

42

FIGURE 9
Progress in low-carbon solution maturity leads to market tipping point
which triggers an S-curve scale-up in share of new sales / new build

Solution development

Niche market

SHARE OF SALES / NEW BUILD

Concept

Mass market

Late market

Markettippingpoint

P R O G R E S S I N LOW - CA R B O N S O L U T I O N M AT U R I T Y
Source: Adapted from The Paris Effect - COP26 Edition.35

LOW C A R B O N S O L U T I O N M AT U R I T Y

FIGURE 10
Low-carbon solution maturity by sector—progress since 1990 and possible future to 2050
Concept

H I S TO R I C A L P R O G R E S S

1990Solution development

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

POSSIBLE FUTURE

2021

2025

2030

2035

2040

2045

2050

Niche market
Electricity

Mass market
Late market
Market tipping point(cost critical mass
tipping points)

Light road transport
Fugitive emissions
Building heating

Food & agriculture

Trucking
Aviation
Land use change
Shipping
Steel
CementChemicals
Other
Note: Sectors sized according to 2019/20 emissions impact.
Source: Adapted from The Paris Effect - COP26 Edition.35

43
4

D.1

These profound changes have comelevels, humanity can safeguard the Global

about through advances in target setting,Commons that underpin human wellbeing,

governance and institutions; economics,

prosperity and security. Together, thesefinance and incentives; inclusive and fair

factors can bring about not only the systemconsensus building; and new innovations,transformations, but also the changes intechnologies and data. Now it is time to apply

behavior, social norms and cultural values thatthese lessons systematically toward all

are required to create consensus for a sharedsystem transformations for Global Commons

vision of the future, transformative policies

stewardship. By activating the four action

and a shift in the goods and services welevers at local, national, regional and global

demand and consume.

Set targets; align governanceand institutions
Perhaps our greatest challenge lies in making

broad range of policies, starting with sharedleadership and governance fit for Global

targets. Without this societal buy-in, theCommons stewardship. Success will require

four system transformations cannot be

more ambitious, better-integrated policies at

implemented. New governance models

all levels. But we must also look at the politics

are therefore needed. The most promising

to see beyond what divides us as humans. As

mechanism for effective governance ofprofound as differences might be between

the Global Commons may be strong new

nations and peoples, the only path toward

multistakeholder coalitions that complement

successful Global Commons stewardship lies

improved intergovernmental and nationalin collaboration across and within countries.

mechanisms. We see four priorities for making

Another critical requirement is to mobilize

governance fit for the Global Commons.

stakeholders and secure buy-in across a

D.1.1

44

Set clear targets and promote pathways
as a method for problem solving

As with every system change, clear targets

said, “By defining our goal more clearly, byand strategies for achieving them are

making it seem more manageable and lesscritical starting points for Global Commons

remote, we can help all people to see it, tostewardship. As John F. Kennedy famously

draw hope from it and to move irresistibly

toward it.”36 This is the essence of leadership

The SDGs provide the international

for system change; and it is wonderful to see

framework for clarifying the targets that cana growing list of countries adopting targets

define success in managing other Global

for net-zero emissions by the middle of theCommons. Two areas stand out where greater

century.

clarity and ambition are urgently needed inrelation to policy targets at the global andSetting goals is essential for social

national levels:

mobilization. Greta Thunberg and the youth
movement she has inspired mobilize around•

Terrestrial and marine biodiversity: At

the simple message of “getting to zero.”the CBD COP15 in Kunming, governments

Shared goals allow all people to agree onmust adopt an ambitious target fora shared direction and can elevate Global

preserving and restoring terrestrial

Commons stewardship above the noise. They

and marine biodiversity, including large

also generate peer pressure and mobilize

tropical and boreal forests. The proposed

epistemic communities around shared“30 by 30” target37 sets an important

problem solving, such as cutting the costmilestone; but science tells us that upof renewable power or scaling up electricto half of the Earth’s land should be

vehicles. The consensus target of “getting

preserved for nature.38

to zero” is demonstrating the power of clear
goals in the energy sector.

•

Nutrient cycles: The release ofreactive nitrogen and phosphorous

The scientific understanding of the Global

already exceeds planetary boundaries,

Commons and the planetary boundaries

yet we lack quantitative time-boundhas improved significantly in recent

targets for curbing their release into theyears—particularly due to the IPCC, theenvironment.6 No international convention

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on

exists that is specifically mandated to

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and thetackle nitrogen and phosphorous, so

IRP. Yet important gaps remain—especiallythis critical issue tends to fall through thein relation to the tipping points of the Global

cracks of international diplomacy andCommons and the interdependencies

national action. We therefore call on the

between them. To this end, the Earththree Rio Conventions to explore how

Commission, supported by Future Earth, is

global science-based targets might beundertaking a global scientific assessment

set, drawing in particular on upcoming

to refine the planetary boundaries andfindings of the Earth Commission.

strengthen global Earth system targets aswell as baseline data. This science will help

Similar targets and baselines are needed forto inform and motivate more ambitious andbusinesses. Starting with the Science-Basedmore rigorous numerical targets adopted byTargets Initiative (SBTi), the energy sector

governments around the world.

has pioneered science-based targets for
sectors and individual companies. Almost

45

1,300 companies have adopted their own

decarbonization.41, 42 Energy decarbonization

targets.39 The SBTi and the Science-Basedpathways have thus become a tried-and-Target Network (SBTn) are now developing

tested method for problem solving thatsimilar targets for other sources of GHG

has progressively allowed the sector toemissions, as well as for biodiversity, land,

increase its ambitions. The Mission Possible

oceans and water. The SBTn aims to mobilize

Partnership mobilizes industry leaders to

1,000 companies and cities to set science-accelerate the translation of rigorous sector

based targets across the Global Commonspathways into faster decarbonization efforts.

on a socially equitable basis, in advance of thelaunch of methodologies for 2022. This work

Thanks to these pathways, some sectors

is expected to contribute significantly toward

are now moving toward positive tipping

making the Global Commons actionable bypoints for decarbonization. Other “hard-

every company.

to-abate” sectors are moving more slowly,
but the combination of learning from others

While this is an important trend, the vastand peer pressure is nonetheless beginningmajority of businesses lag behind in terms ofto show effects. We now see more clearly

disclosure and targets. While the 13,000-plus

that decarbonizing the industrial sectors

companies that disclosed through the Carbon

will require greater material efficiency

Disclosure Project (CDP) represent 64% of(i.e., reduced material inputs per unit ofglobal market capital, just 33% are developing

service provided); more efficient production

a low-carbon transition plan and less thanprocesses; a switch to low-carbon energy

9% have set targets validated by the SBTi.

carriers—in particular, electricity, hydrogen

Moreover, only 6% claim to have set a net-and synthetic fuels; and the deployment ofzero target; and a mere 1% reported on all key

carbon capture and utilization. These latter

indicators that CDP associates with a credible

technologies reduce the need for mitigation,

climate transition plan. The silver lining is thatso they must be considered critically in terms

this data exists, and both the number and theof their realistic potential; otherwise, we risk

quality of plans are increasing. Corporate

delaying necessary mitigation action.

40

leaders bear a responsibility to ensure theirfirms develop credible and transparent plans

Similar pathways are needed for the otherto manage climate and wider environmental

system transformations toward Global

risks.

Commons stewardship. To this end, FOLU and
its FABLE Consortium have promoted national

46

Through the Deep Decarbonization Pathways

decarbonization pathways toward sustainable

Project and the ETC, the energy community

land use and food systems in some 20

has also developed economy-wide and sector

countries.43 More work is needed to include

pathways to demonstrate the feasibility ofoceans and to increase the spatial resolution“getting to zero”; identify the tough challengesof the pathways to better inform policies.

that require more work; and mobilize all

FOLU has also developed a framework forstakeholders around a common vision for

triggering positive tipping points and appliedit to four critical transformations to transform

But we are encouraged by the progress madefood and land use. Since food and land

by C40, the Coalition for Urban Transitions

use systems account for up to 30% of GHG

and many others in conceptualizing pathways

emissions, every country must develop

toward urban transformations and developing

such pathways alongside energy pathways totools to activate them. More work is clearly

map out the transformation toward net-zeroneeded—particularly to understand how

GHG emissions. Together, these two sets

pathways can be designed and implementedof pathways can help to mobilize industry

in cities around the world, which often facecoalitions for practical problem solving, andmassive resource gaps and lack technicalinform countries’ long-term low-emission

capacity. This is where new coalitions thatdevelopment strategies and nationallyharness new technologies and foster new

determined contributions under the Paris

modes of cooperation can perhaps add theAgreement.

greatest value (Section C.1.2).

Efforts to apply the concept of pathways

Such pathways are necessary at the national

and industry coalitions to sustainablelevel, to motivate and guide stakeholder

consumption and production are also

coalitions and improve policies. But they aregathering pace. Yet, as underscored byalso required at the regional and global levels,

the IRP, discrete analyses are required for

to foster a science-based understanding ofmajor production and waste management

how systems and response strategies interact

systems. Breaking the Plastic Wave

across the four system transformations forpresents such an approach for reducing

Global Commons stewardship and the SDGs

plastic pollution and is beginning to mobilize

more broadly. To this end, PIK and the Center

governments, industry and civil society aroundfor Global Commons at the University ofthe practicalities of curbing the release ofTokyo are facilitating an effort to model global

plastic into nature. The EU is promoting

and regional transformation pathways towardsimilar pathway assessments as part of its

effective stewardship of the Global Commons.

New Circular Economy Strategy.

This work aims to improve our understanding

34

44

45

46

of synergies and tradeoffs for governing the
Pathways for how cities and other humanGlobal Commons under varied scenarios,

communities can transform to meet thewhich in turn could inform national policy

SDGs represent a tremendous analytical andpathways.

organizational challenge.

47

Box 1 | Modeling pathways toward Global Commons stewardship
PIK is conducting interdisciplinary modeling of transformation pathways that will allow humanity to stay within
planetary boundaries and achieve the SDGs by 2030, 2050 and beyond. It is analyzing the synergies andtradeoffs in governing the Global Commons domains of atmosphere/climate and biosphere under various
scenarios. This work will support international policymakers by offering evidence toward a shared vision,
supporting problem solving and presenting viable pathways that contribute to the new economic paradigm.
Its unique value will be in capturing the interactions across the four Global Commons Strategic Frameworktransformations, given that existing pathways largely focus on achieving a specific climate stabilization target.
In particular, this research will take into account interdependencies between societal and environmental
systems, and assess positive and negative synergies of policies and measures in different fields of action
relevant for achieving the SDGs and safeguarding the Global Commons.47–54

D.1.2

Strengthen multistakeholder coalitions
and social movements

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in thecan be faster off the ground and havenumber of coalitions and movements aimed

greater freedom to develop and promoteat promoting system transformations.

creative solutions. For example, WRI’s broad

27

These have become critical drivers ofexperience in convening multistakeholder

problem solving, bottom-up experimentation,

coalitions for the system transformations

advocacy, coordination and implementationsuggests that such movements can help to

support across different stakeholder groups

drive innovation, change behavior and norms,

and domains of expertise. In all of these roles,

promote better policies and institutions, andthey can accelerate progress toward positive

facilitate response to exogenous change.55

tipping points—for example, by changing thefeasibility and economics or shifting cultural

Powerful examples of effective problem

and social norms. Such multistakeholder

solving are the multistakeholder coalitions

coalitions are an important complementthat contributed toward the global fightto intergovernmental bodies and bilateralagainst AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in thegovernment cooperation. Compared withearly 2000s.

intergovernmental processes, coalitions

48

Their shared problem solving focused on fivecountries’ capacity to design andcore challenges:

implement complex disease control andtreatment programs;e•defined shared goals and metrics;•

pathways and policy standards for
successful disease management;•

the development and financing of

D.1.3

•

hard-headed, evidence-based advocacy;
and•applied research and technology
development to fill gaps.f, 57

Make domestic governance andinternational cooperation fit for the
Anthropocene

To achieve their science-based targets,build consensus for action among diverse

national governments must develop detailed

interests; and inform strategy setting.27 Thesepathways and policies. Doing so successfully

functions are often accomplished throughrequires new ways of evaluating policies andindependent national expert bodies andmeasuring progress, as well as new ways tohigh-level coordinating bodies that transcendbalance political priorities. Interdependencies

departmental mandates.

across ministries can result in conflicts andtradeoffs beyond the traditional objectives

Centralized approaches to managing suchof a ministry. For instance, a housing ministry

conflicts include cabinet committees thatwill have historically focused on ensuring

bring together the responsible politicalthe delivery of (affordable) housing, rather

decision makers, convened by the headthan on decarbonizing the built environmentof government or finance minister. Someor ensuring the sector does not deplete

countries have set up “super-ministries”

biodiversity excessively. Governments need

responsible for managing climate change.

strong institutions as well as mechanisms

These can help; but they may struggle

for alignment and coordination to manage

to influence decisions in other ministries

difficult tradeoffs and develop solutions

and do not by default consider all Globalthat are optimized across Global Commons

Commons. At a working level, cross-ministrystewardship and other legitimate priorities.

collaboration should be institutionalized

The latest IPCC report highlights the need forby bringing together officials from various

independent and cross-institutional bodies toministries to jointly resolve issues.

coordinate across sectors, scales and actors;e

A central actor in this regard was the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This promoted bottom-up

innovation and helped build high-quality country demand for increased financing.56
f

For example, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, industry and many others initiatedtargeted programs to develop rapid-diagnostic tests for malaria, improve treatment for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, provide
insecticide-treated bednets and explore effective methods for community engagement.

49

Governments also need effective institutions

hold the executive to account in meeting

to provide backing and pressure fornational and international policy commitments

ambitious action. The judiciary can play

relating to climate change and other Global

an important role here. The highest courts

Commons. As an example, the UK Committee

of several countries have found domestic

on Climate Change and Denmark’s Council

policies to be inadequate for achievingon Climate Change were created by law to

Global Commons stewardship. For example,

report regularly to Parliament on whether

in April 2021, Germany’s Constitutional

national policies are in line with commitments

Court ruled that the country’s climate law

under the Paris Agreement. Crucially, the laws

had to be revised to avoid placing an undue

establishing these committees set out theirburden on young and future generations. In

independence and reporting duties, as well

its ruling, the court explicitly acknowledged

as the respective government’s obligation tothat Germany’s remaining carbon budget

respond to all recommendations.61

must not be exceeded to remain in line withthe global temperature goals set under theCountries—particularly the richest ones—

Paris Agreement. This followed a series ofmust further track and reduce negative

court cases in the Netherlands, which led tospillovers on the Global Commons and ona December 2019 Supreme Court decision

other countries. Such spillovers include

ordering the government to implement more

emissions and biodiversity loss due toambitious emissions reductions “due to theinternational trade, as well as exports of toxic

risk of dangerous climate change that could

waste. These spillovers are pervasive, as

have a severe impact on the lives and welfare

demonstrated by the GCS Index;62 but theyof the residents of the Netherlands.”59 These

tend not to be measured by national statisticalexamples highlight the importance of judicial

authorities. In recent years, data and analyticaloversight over executive and legislative

methods for estimating international spillovers

action in support of the Global Commons. In

have improved greatly—particularly in relation

addition, the judiciary can play a role in holding

to the four system transformations for Global

companies to account for their impact. For

Commons stewardship. Every country

example, in May 2021 the District Court of The

can publish this data and should consider

Hague in the Netherlands ruled that Royalit in the process of policy formulation.63

Dutch Shell must reduce its carbon emissions

Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, is

by at least 45% compared with 2019 levels

preparing to incorporate spillover metrics

by the end of 2030 to avoid environmental

into its official statistics and has urged otherdamage with respect to Dutch residents.

countries to follow its example. In April

58

60

2022, Sweden became the first country
However, while the judiciary can be powerful

to announce its intention to set a target toin setting precedent, its procedures

reduce consumption-based GHGs generated

are lengthy and reactive. Therefore, theabroad.65

establishment of institutions that can

50

proactively scrutinize government policy is

Beyond measuring spillovers, countries

also crucial. For instance, the legislature canmust reform domestic policies to curb theirnegative impact. As a first step, this requires

Thus, the world must hope that cooperation

the systematic assessment of the potential

on the stewardship of the climate and otherspillovers that domestic policies may generate

Global Commons will become central

on other countries. The transformation

to relations between these two powers,

toward sustainable food, forests, land, water

deepening trust and enabling the constructive

and oceans must address these spillovers.

resolution of disagreements.

Famously, the US and the EU failed to64

consider the impact of their biofuel mandates

Indeed, Global Commons stewardshipon tropical deforestation in Latin America

depends on effective internationaland Southeast Asia. To increase policy

cooperation and diplomacy. For example, as

coherence, all countries—and particularlypart of its Green Deal, the EU is promoting therich countries—must screen their domestic

concept of “Green Deal diplomacy,” which

policies for unintended international spillovers.

frames bilateral and multilateral relationships

These include bilateral and multilateral

under the overall objective of advancing

trade deals, which should align with Global

sustainable development, including by setting

Commons stewardship. As illustrated by thea credible example and following up with

FABLE Consortium, analytical tools alreadydiplomacy, trade policy, development support

exist to understand international spillovers

and other external policies.12 We strongly

and strengthen policy coherence.43

agree with the need for Green Deal diplomacy
between all countries.

Countries must also reframe international
relations in the age of the Anthropocene. In the

The recent agreement to reform internationallast few years, tensions have risen between

taxation rules to ensure the fairer distribution

China, Russia, Europe, the US and many otherof tax revenues and a global minimum

regions. Russia has now invaded Ukraine,

corporate tax rate further illustrates theand there is a risk of a confrontation between

potential for mutually beneficial international

Russia and NATO. We do not deny thatcooperation. The agreement was advanced

there are deep-seated differences between

by the OECD, and 136 countries andcountries; but a failure to come together tojurisdictions—representing more than 90%

fight climate change and safeguard otherof global GDP—have joined the framework.67

Global Commons will literally spell the end ofWith respect to Global Commons

the world’s great human civilizations.

stewardship, the OECD has also made66

progress toward a harmonized assessment
The China-US joint declaration at COP26

of carbon pricing across 44 OECD and G20

reiterated the countries’ commitment tocountries.68 This approach will be critical intackle climate change both individually andfacilitating cooperation and a fair comparison

collaboratively. While this is commendableof emission pricing policies.

and necessary, the concurrent pursuitof cooperation and confrontation risks

Meanwhile, existing intergovernmental bodies

undermining trust and genuine collaboration.

should be reconfigured to be better suited for51

Global Commons stewardship. For example,

to avoid—or even reverse—catastrophic

while the G20 has emerged as a powerfultipping points should not be discounted, theand effective complement to the United

risks and potential costs of these interventions

Nations, it currently leaves out 96% of Africa’s

are immense. Our understanding of natural

population and thus many of the regions

processes is growing rapidly; but so too

and peoples most at risk of a collapse in theis our awareness of the complexity of and

Global Commons. The economist Jeffrey

interactions between systems. A well-

Sachs argues that a simple remedy would

intentioned intervention could have severe

be to expand the G20 by one member: theand irreversible consequences. The fact that

African Union. The G21 would represent 54

individual actors may be capable of deploying

more countries, 1.3 billion more people andsuch interventions without the consent$2.3 trillion more output. This would not onlyof affected stakeholders and the global

enhance the organization’s ability to makecommunity further underscores the need forbetter, more legitimate decisions, but also

new international governance mechanisms

provide a crucial forum for African regional

to manage the study and deployment of such

coordination.

unproven interventions in natural systems.

The EU’s Green Deal is the leading example ofSome countries are also proposing stronger

the vital role that regional institutions can playinternational legal frameworks for the Global

in driving action, collaboration and consensus.

Commons, including the Global Pact for

Regional collaboration is critical to ensure

the Environment. Other suggestions focus

efficiency (e.g., interlinking energy grids,

on expanding the Rome Statutes, whichshared standards); strategic development

established the International Criminal Courtof critical infrastructure (e.g., low-carbon(ICC). Currently, the ICC can hear cases

transport and hydrogen networks); andrelating to crimes against humanity, crimes ofappropriate stewardship of the Global

aggression, war crimes and genocide. Several

Commons and ecosystems.

campaigners have called for ecocide to be69

added as a fifth international crime. Efforts
The prospect of experimental interventions

to establish new legal crimes or rights could

that could directly alter global natural

make a significant contribution toward curbing

processes, such as geoengineering, poses

environmental crime and protecting thesignificant challenges for both regional andGlobal Commons.

international collaboration. While the potential52D.1.4Address illegal acts that harm theenvironment

Most commonly, environmental crime consists

in supply chains and promoting efforts byof the theft, illegal appropriation or pollution

multistakeholder coalitions. For example,of natural resources. Often, criminal networks

there is an opportunity to support a new

exploit vulnerable people and ecosystems

Nature Crime Alliance which would combine

to engage in illegal deforestation, land grabs,

the capacities of national law enforcement,

fishing, logging, mining, wildlife trade and landInterpol and the United Nations Officeconversion. Environmental crime is shockingly

on Drugs and Crime to crack down on

widespread, as the third most common illicit

environmental crime and human rights abuses

activity, after drug trafficking and trade inin food and land use systems.72 The proposed

counterfeit goods. The long-term costs ofbody, sponsored by Norway’s International

environmental crime are estimated to be as

Climate and Forest Initiative, could recapture

high as $1-2 trillion per year, and the annual

the illicit financing of environmental crime70

tax revenue lost by governments due toto finance Global Commons restoration

environmental crime as high as $9-26 billion.

and stewardship. The September 2020

However, environmental crime is largely

Leaders’ Pledge for Nature also included atolerated and is increasing at twice to threecommitment to ending environmental crime,

times the rate of the global economy.

which has since been endorsed by over71

72

90 countries. These efforts should include

D.2

Countries must enforce and uphold high legal

extending the scope of illegal activities tostandards domestically while respecting otherensure accountability and responsibility forcountries’ laws, strengthening transparency

environmental harms.

Reset economics, financeand incentives
The Stern Report,73 the Dasgupta Review74

example, the global food system generates

and many other studies have shown that

$12 trillion in hidden costs each year,72 while

Global Commons stewardship makes goodits market value is $10 trillion. Radical changes

economic sense. It is far cheaper to curb

to existing economic models are needed

negative human impacts than to bear theto curb unsustainable investments andlong-term consequences of inaction. Yet

redirect financing toward Global Commonsfinancial markets and businesses remain

stewardship. Shifting the economics canstacked against the Global Commons. For

result in broad and efficient reinforcing

53

feedbacks that bring about the conditions for2019 and introduced a tool to consistently

positive tipping points.

assess the monetary and non-monetary
costs and benefits of policies. Other countries

As one overarching challenge, it is widely

are considering different metrics, but theacknowledged that GDP and national

fundamental point remains the same: GDP is

accounts present a misleading picture

too narrow a gauge for progress in modernof countries’ economic, social andsocieties. The COVID-19 recovery both lends

environmental progress.

urgency and presents significant opportunity.

74–76

Countries

should thus complement GDP with more

If done well, the unprecedented government

direct measures of human wellbeing. New

spending on post-COVID-19 recovery could

Zealand, for example, has replaced a focus

turbocharge a shift toward Global Commons

on GDP with a Living Standards Framework

stewardship. If done poorly, however, thesethat incorporates human, social and natural

programs might entrench legacy sectors that

capital to guide decision making. To embed

undermine the system transformations.77 We

this thinking in policymaking, the Treasury

highlight four urgent priorities for action in thishas moved toward a “Wellbeing Budget” fromregard.

D.2.1

Align fiscal policies with Global
Commons stewardship

National fiscal policies—on taxation andlabor, which can promote employment. Equity

public spending—are critical tools for Global

and distributional impacts of such carbon

Commons stewardship and social inclusion.

pricing instruments are critical to ensure

A first priority is to introduce an adequate

they are widely accepted.27 Carbon pricing iscarbon price that rises over time. According

most effective if revenues are redistributed byto the OECD, carbon prices will need to reach

returning them to taxpayers, supporting low-at least €120 per ton of CO2 equivalent by

income households or ring-fencing them for2030; but so far, most countries are fallinggreen infrastructure (Section D.3.1).

woefully short of this target. Effective carbon
78

54

prices can be generated through carbon

Second, countries should phase out

taxes and carbon market mechanisms,

and repurpose harmful subsidies. The

such as the EU Emissions Trading System.

International Monetary Fund has estimatedTogether, these pricing mechanisms should

the potential revenue gains from charging

cover all parts of the economy that drive GHG

efficient fossil fuel prices in 2025 at 3.8% ofemissions. Similar pricing is necessary for

global GDP, which would also reduce global

other pollutants, such as nitrous oxide andCO2 emissions to 36% below baseline levels

sulfur dioxide. Increases in taxes on pollutants

and prevent 0.9 million local air pollution

can in turn help to reduce the fiscal burden on

deaths per year.79 Well-designed energy

subsidies can help to meet critical societal

represents around 30% of total generalneeds and advance the achievement of thegovernment expenditure and 12% of GDP

SDGs, but most energy subsidies are poorly

on average in OECD countries.81 If aligned

designed: they encourage wasteful energy

with the transformation pathways toward

consumption; reduce investments in clean

energy decarbonization, sustainable foodenergy; exacerbate income inequalities;

systems and circularity, public procurementgand crowd out other critical public spending

can accelerate technological shifts andneeds for infrastructure and social services.

set standards that will draw in more private

Fortunately, the toolbox for repurposing

finance. To this end, public authorities acrossperverse energy subsidies is reasonably

the EU and the UK have already confirmed

well known and backed up by country

their intention to abide by the EU Taxonomy

experiences. The post-COVID-19 recovery

and equivalent standards in the UK. This is

and the disruptions in global energy systems

an important step and public procurement

following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine present

authorities elsewhere should consider similaran opportunity to accelerate such subsidy

approaches.

80

reforms.
Fourth, countries must combat base erosion
After energy, agriculture is the sector thatand profit shifting to sustain the fiscal basereceives the largest subsidies worldwide,

required to finance public investments in theto the tune of $700 billion annually. Manyfour system transformations. This includesof these subsidies have net-negative

measures such as minimum corporate tax

social impacts on public health, the climate

rates; greater tax transparency; fair taxation

system, biodiversity, soil carbon storageof technology companies, which can mostand pollution. Such subsidies should be

easily shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions;redirected toward nature and human health-transparent registers of beneficial company

positive solutions, such as more sustainableownership; and enforcement of anti-money

agriculture, contributing to a food systemlaundering standards. We are encouraged bytransformation that could reap a societal

the progress toward an agreement to reform

return of over 15 times the investment costs

international taxation rules that should curb

required, which are estimated at less thanbase erosion and profit shifting, and hope that

0.5% of global GDP. Such efforts would alsotransparent minimum standards will soon be

reduce the estimated $12 trillion that our

adopted by all major economies.67 This will

current food system generates each year

make a singular contribution to countries’

in hidden costs to the environment, humanability to invest in achieving the SDGs,

health and development.

including Global Commons stewardship.

A third priority for aligning fiscal policies

Fifth, to ensure better fiscal policies, countries

with the four system transformations

must reflect natural capital in their national

toward Global Commons stewardship is

accounts to ensure that the destruction of

public procurement. Public procurement

natural capital is not disguised as economic

72

72

g

One study concluded that the richest 20% of households receive six times more in fossil fuel subsidies than the poorest

20%.8055

output and wellbeing. The UN System of

The SEEA considers both physical andEnvironmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)

monetary accounts that can be integrated

has now matured to serve this purpose. It

with the standard System of Nationalfeatures methodologies for natural capital

Accounts. We therefore call on countries

accounting for agriculture, forestry, fisheries,

to expand their national accounting

air pollution, energy, ecosystems, land,

frameworks to include natural capital andmaterial flow, water and other environmental

other dimensions critical for Global Commonsactivities.

stewardship.

D.2.2

Invest in safeguarding the
Global Commons

In addition to fixing the rules of the game

National development banks and equivalent

to make them compatible with Global

institutions are stepping up to financeCommons stewardship, countries mustenergy decarbonization and the othermobilize and direct more finance toward

system transformations. As one example,

the Global Commons. The four system

the European Investment Bank has become

transformations will require an estimatedEurope’s Climate Bank and is playing a

increase in investment of $1.5-$2.5 trillion per

central role in directing blended finance

year, or 1.5-2.5% of world gross product overtoward the objectives of the European

the next 10 years. Many of the necessary

Green Deal. Similarly, the missions ofinvestments in energy systems, sustainablemultilateral development banks—including

agriculture, environmental protection, theregional development banks such as thecircular economy and other components ofAsian Development Bank and the Asianthe transformation toward Global Commons

Infrastructure Investment Bank—should

stewardship are complex, and thus require

be aligned with the SDGs and equivalentpublic-private financing solutions at scale.

standards, such as the EU Taxonomy.

At the moment, every public dollar spent

Concretely, multilateral lenders should notmobilizes less than $1 in private funds.

finance fossil fuel-based infrastructure that

However, we are starting to understandis inconsistent with achieving net-zero GHG

the key success factors for mobilizing such

emissions by 2050. The fact that many of theblended finance. They include streamlining

largest shareholders of multilateral financeregulatory restrictions, building pipelines of

institutions (China, the EU, Japan, Southbankable projects and mainstreaming and

Korea, the UK and the US) have committed toscaling blended finance instruments.

full decarbonization by 2050 (before 2060

h87

in the case of China) makes the shift awayfrom financing unsustainable infrastructure a
simple issue of policy coherence.
h56

Calculated by SYSTEMIQ from a range of sources.72, 82–86

Encouragingly, China, Japan, the EU, the US

for making them subject to environmental,

and other countries have all committed tosocial and governance (ESG) criteria byphase out international financing for coal-default and using the funds to finance thefired power plants. International financialtransformation to a more sustainable andinstitutions should undertake sustainability

resilient economy. Countries like Denmark90

impact assessments, including a focus on

and Sweden91 have already implemented suchimpacts on the Global Commons, before any

approaches.

substantial commitment of funding or othermajor action.88 All national and multilateral

A more direct way of raising funding for

financial institutions should focus theirrestoring and preserving natural systems

activities on mobilizing blended finance withis to use the revenues from taxes on GHG

the imperative of safeguarding the Global

emissions or other activities harmful to the

Commons. This includes the pension funds

Global Commons to fund payments forthat many countries have amassed, estimatedecosystem services. This could stimulate

to stand at $56 trillion globally in 2020. Givenand generate a competitive market forthat many of these enjoy public sector support

regenerating natural systems.

89(e.g., favorable tax treatment), there is a case

D.2.3

Align business and financial sector
incentives with Global Commonsstewardship

The private sector has a crucial role to playcosts and risks, as well as their success—that

in making Global Commons stewardship a

is, in everything from accounting standards

reality. Private banks and businesses must

to business models. But standards are notprovide the drive, finance and resources toenough. Corporate leaders must recognize

develop and scale the new technologies

that private gain at public expense is no

and operating models that are needed. This

longer acceptable and commit to net positive

requires changes in how businesses measurebusiness strategies (Box 2).

57

Box 2 | The need for net positive business strategies
Given the gravity and urgency of our environmental challenges, business models that are “less bad,” doing
marginally less damage or producing fewer emissions, are not good enough. Neither are “sustainable”
business models that neither deplete nor replenish nature. Instead, former Unilever CEO Paul Polman calls
for companies to think regenerative, restorative and reparative, so that they become “net positive.” In his
definition, net positive companies thrive by giving more to the environment and society than they take. His
book outlines the implications for this approach,92 centered on four steps that businesses can take to thrive
today and win in the future.
First, move beyond shareholder primacy toward benefiting a broader set of stakeholders throughresponsible, long-term-oriented management. Focusing primarily on returns to shareholders often resultsin significant social and environmental harm; and it also leads to a myopic focus on short-term gains, which
can undermine returns to investors. Long-term investor returns are the reward for serving a broad set ofstakeholders well, rather than maximizing short-term financial profit.
Second, take responsibility for their full footprint, intended or not. Short-term profits have often been boosted
by externalizing costs and internalizing profits.93 However, the real costs of not taking ownership of negative
impacts are now hitting home to managers and investors. Examples include child, low-wage and slavelabor practices; the role of tech platforms in spreading divisive and false content; and catastrophic adverse
environmental impacts ranging from local pollution to destabilization of the Global Commons. Increasingly,
regulators, investors and customers expect firms to understand all the ways in which their operations affectpeople and the planet, and to mitigate and manage these responsibly. Innovations in data collection andsharing can help (see Section D.4.2).
Third, embrace deep partnerships and strengthen multistakeholder coalitions, including by working withcritics (see Section C.1.2). When companies act together, they can tackle complex issues that will improvetheir own sustainability and resilience and those of the sectors in which they operate, and can often gain
efficiencies that counter first-mover disadvantages. Such partnerships should also include constructive
critics, such as civil society organizations, which can help identify problems and develop solutions.
Finally, shift toward a model of “net positive advocacy” with governments. Tackling complex systemic
challenges requires fundamental changes in how the system is governed. Rather than exploiting government
relations to resist regulations or demand preferential treatment, companies should consider how they
can help policymakers improve the rules to solve problems for the benefit of all. This requires an open andtransparent approach to government relations, including a clear understanding of the goals policymakers
want to pursue. In proactively helping governments design policy that effectively achieves desired behaviors
and outcomes, companies can avoid the costs of bad regulation and reduce uncertainty.
58

To mobilize private capital for the fourin labeling and funding activities that aresystem transformations, countries andalready sustainable. This would risk cutting

the international community must alignoff industries that are most detrimental to thebusiness and financial sector incentives withhealth and resilience of our planet from the

Global Commons stewardship, starting withfunds needed to invest in transformation, andfinancial regulation. The EU is seeking tomight push firms to continue operations in lessdirect capital markets away from financing

well-monitored parts of the financial sector.98

activities that undermine ESG objectives,

Instead, financial institutions and regulators

including the SDGs. Since the end of 2021,

must ensure the creation of instruments suchprivate investments must disclose whether

as transition bonds that are linked to science-

they are consistent with the objectives ofbased, externally verifiable decarbonization

the Paris Agreement. In subsequent years,

targets and other sustainability goals.

the EU Taxonomy will be expanded to coverother ESG topics that are broadly consistent

The TCFD, the EU Taxonomy and similar

with the four transformations for Global

standards for stress testing financial systems

Commons stewardship. Joining many otherand redirecting investments away from

central bankers convened under the Network

environmentally harmful activities are vitalfor Greening the Financial System, Christine

tools for Global Commons stewardship. They

Lagarde has declared that climate change isare an important start and must now becomea systemic threat to the world economy andmore granular to support the transformationis therefore critical to the mandate of centralof energy and land use systems along thebanks to ensure price stability and manage

pathways identified by the ETC, FOLU andeconomic risks.

others (Section D.1.1). Crucially, over time, tools

94

for financial stress testing and redirecting
Similarly, the UK is introducing tough financial

capital flows must look beyond GHGs toregulations to push capital toward green

consider other attributes of the Global

investments, drawing in particular on the

Commons and drivers of change.

recommendations of the TCFD. The US
95

Securities and Exchange Commission has

In particular, a major gap exists in relation toalso proposed TCFD-inspired rules onnational accounting for natural capital, as

climate-related financial disclosure. China

powerfully demonstrated by the Dasgupta

is preparing a raft of financial regulations to

Review.74 Similarly, the World Economic

support its objective of achieving carbon

Forum’s New Nature Economy Report series

neutrality by 2060.

reveals how key sectors contribute and96

97

are exposed to the degradation of natural
Investor pressure and regulation, as well as

capital.99 Drawing on lessons from climate

the self-interest of financial institutions, shouldchange, the TNFD has been establishedincreasingly lead to a rebalancing toward

to systematically assess how the financial

green investments. However, it is importantsystem can be reoriented toward sustainingthat this does not merely become an exercise

a nature-positive economy.

59

We recommend that the TNFD also consider

information by corporates and financial

the vital but commonly overlooked issues of

institutions within a globally accepted

unsustainable releases of reactive nitrogen

framework. It was initiated by the International

and phosphorous through agriculture, poor

Financial Reporting Standards Foundation,

waste management and industrial activities. In

which already sets accounting standards

this way, the TNFD can close two major gapsthat apply in about 140 countries. The ISSB istoward making the economy compatible withsupported by a broad coalition, including the

Global Commons stewardship.

recently merged Value Reporting Foundation,
which brings together the International

As Larry Fink—chairman of BlackRock, theIntegrated Reporting Committee and theworld’s largest asset manager—highlighted

Sustainable Accounting Standards Board.

in his 2021 letter to CEOs, climate change is aThis alignment of organizations suggests thatmajor risk for companies, but it is not reflected

emerging standards will soon move beyondin corporate accounts.

voluntary standards that mobilize early

100

D.3

Fortunately, key

global actors are coming together to remedy

adopters toward comprehensive adoption

this. The ISSB was launched at COP26 inof better accounting standards. Regulatory

November 2021 as an effort to consolidate theauthorities in every market should consider

disclosure of financially material sustainability

available proposals for rapid adoption.

Ensure inclusion and fairness tobuild consensus for change
All societies should strive to achieve social

Social inclusion and equity are critical toinclusion, equity and fairness, and to “leave nobuild consensus for change and thus enable

one behind,” as called for by the 2030 Agenda

the four system transformations for Global

for Sustainable Development. While income

Commons stewardship. The changes toinequalities are rising across the board, many

economies and labor markets brought bycountries serve as models in this regard. For

the transformations will be acceptable andexample, the Nordic states have maintained

successful only if countries enjoy a highlow levels of inequality through progressive

degree of social cohesion. Many of thetaxation, income transfers and investments intransformations rely not only on changes inhuman capital that disproportionately benefit

politics, technologies and business practices,the poor; and some countries in Latin America

but also on changes in behavior that requireand elsewhere have shown how targeted

positive tipping points in cultural and social

policies can reduce inequality rates.

norms. The climate movement was perhaps
the first to realize the critical importance of ajust transition and these insights apply equally60

to the other system transformations.

countries can strengthen social inclusion

While we fully recognize the importanceand equity.i To promote Global Commonsof social inclusion to achieving the Global

stewardship, countries should focus on the

Commons, the scope of this framework does

following issues.

not include a comprehensive review of how

D.3.1

Design transformations in fair, transparent
and participatory ways

Globalization has brought prosperity topoverty in all its forms—at the center of thebillions, but it is not delivering for many. Even

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

before the COVID-19 pandemic, 8.4% of theStrong human capital is not only the engine

world’s population lived in extreme povertyof economic growth, but also a critical(less than $1.90 a day). The World Bank

enabler for reducing income inequalities.

estimates that the pandemic may have

We know that significant inequalities

pushed as many as 150 million additional

are profoundly harmful to societies andpeople into extreme poverty by the end

individuals.105 Societies that are beset byof 2021. The pandemic also illustrated thepoverty or significant inequalities will struggle

importance of social cohesion and collective

to mobilize the shared purpose and energy

action, as well as the supporting personal andto tackle the four system transformations for104

socio-cultural norms. In contrast, low trust in

Global Commons stewardship. The latest

public authorities impairs the effectiveness of

IPCC report suggests that climate change

policies and polarizes society.

mitigation action designed and conducted103

in the context of sustainable development,
The challenges to development, inequality

equity and poverty eradication, and rooted

and the health of critical Earth systems arein the development aspirations of theintimately linked; and the same is true of theirsocieties within which it takes place, will besolutions. All countries must strive to meet

more acceptable, durable and effective.27

the needs of their populations, while staying

Investing in human capital and wellbeing iswithin the planetary boundaries. Development

therefore investing in the transformations forand sustainability must not be in conflict.

Global Commons stewardship. This report

The SDGs put investment in human capitaldoes not discuss social transformations andand wellbeing—health, education, genderinvestments in human capital in operational

equality, food security and an end to extreme

detail. However, it does underscore thati

For good reviews, see Leach et al. (2018) 101 and WBGU (2018).102

61

tackling climate change, making land use andCommons stewardship and ensuring thatfood systems sustainable, and promoting

these countries can escape extreme poverty

thriving and inclusive cities and the circularby 2030.16 Harnessing the full potential of

economy all rest on the foundation of

ODA will require clearer standards andinvestment in health, education, food security

measurements. For example, the OECD’sand other dimensions of human capital,

Development Assistance Committee could

ensuring universal access to basic services.

review its “Rio Markers” to ensure that they
promote and accurately measure ODA for

Healthy and resilient Earth systems are

Global Commons stewardship.

essential to the health, prosperity and securityof all people. Therefore, all countries have

Moreover, assistance does not always require

an interest in preserving and restoring thethe transfer of significant funding. Countries

Global Commons. Low-income countries

can provide technical expertise to help

tend to be even more reliant on healthy natural

facilitate the adoption of policies that are more

systems, particulary through agriculture

effective at attracting and mobilizing privateand fisheries. Quantifications of theinvestment. For example, stable and well-aggregate global economic repercussions ofdesigned policies for renewable energy are amitigation pathways—particularly for low-

critical factor to mobilize private investment

income countries—reveal that mitigation isin developing countries. Alongside the righta welfare-enhancing strategy when benefits

regulations, such measures include auctions,from avoided climate change impacts arefeed-in tariffs, tax policies and deployment

accounted for.

targets that increase transparency and

104

104

competition. On average, developing
While it is in all countries’ interest to ensure

countries with such enabling conditions in

the health and and resilience of the Global

place attracted 17 times more renewable

Commons, as outlined in Section B,

energy investments between 2015 and 2019some countries bear a disproportionate

than those without them.106 To avoid potential

responsibility for safeguarding them. In

adverse side-effects of technology transfer

particular, developed countries have both(e.g., low-value employment and dependence

the responsibility and the resources to leadon foreign knowledge and suppliers),

the system transformations toward Global

strengthened enabling conditions canCommons stewardship. All countries must

reinforce development benefits, which in turnwork together by developing equal andcan create feedbacks toward greater publicmutually beneficial partnerships aroundsupport for policy.27

diplomacy, investment and trade that value,

62

preserve and restore the Global Commons.

To successfully embark on and maintain

High ambitions and solidarity within andprogress toward the four system

across countries must go hand in hand. ODA

transformations, all countries must find ways

provided by rich countries to low-income

to manage disruption and share success.

countries is critical to promoting Global

Every transformation generates winners

and losers. This is evident in most market

Other countries will need to consider similar

economies, in which shifting market forces

mechanisms to enable just transitions. Where

both create and destroy industries anddomestic resources are insufficient—as is thebusinesses. Many countries with the meanscase in low-income countries—international

to do so are opting for social safety nets thatassistance will be needed. Economies that are

aim to cushion the impact of such shifts. The

highly dependent on the extraction and export

equity and distributional effects of economicof fossil fuels will face particular challenges

instruments (e.g., carbon pricing) can bearising from the deep and rapid transformation

addressed by using revenue from carbonof their economies.27 International

taxes or emissions trading to support low-

cooperation and new mechanisms toincome households. Such measures should

help countries successfully navigate thisbe deployed as part of a comprehensive mix

transformation will also be required.

27

of economic and regulatory instruments tofacilitate rapid responses and—particularlyCountries that do not diagnose the transition

for higher-cost measures—to mitigate thechallenges carefully enough, or that fail topotential equity impacts of relying on hightackle them, will struggle to meet their targets.

price signals. When countries decide to

For example, Germany’s energy transitiontransform major parts of their economies toand the exit from coal were held up for some

reduce society’s impact on the environment,time by resistance in lignite mining areas,

there is a strong case for supporting thewhere some 20,000 jobs depend on coal.

losers from these transformations throughFor an economy the size of Germany’s, thisa just transition fund. This is particularly the

represents far less than weekly fluctuations

case when transitions affect entire regionsin the labor market; but the issue becameor territories—as can happen when major

highly politicized because the government

industries and employment generators, suchand advocates of the energy transition failed

as coal, are phased out.

to anticipate the attendant job losses andwork with affected communities to develop

As one example, the EU has established thea transition strategy. Instead, policymakers

European Just Transition Fund to support

focused on estimates of overall job gains fromterritories in making the transformation underthe energy transition, without considering

the European Green Deal. It aims to alleviate

the needs of those who would lose their jobs.

the impact of the transformation by financing

Understandably, this was unacceptable tothe diversification and modernization of

the miners; so they mobilized and ended up

local economies. The fund will prioritize

delaying the country’s exit from coal.

investments in digital connectivity, theregeneration of industrial sites, the reskilling

By contrast, Spain developed a justof workers and the provision of technicaltransition strategy in 2019 as part of a

assistance to accompany the transformation.

wider decarbonization effort that outlined astructured, participatory process to protect
coalminers and power plant workers and63

plan for the economic future of coal regions.

estimates of net job gains are of little use;

This strategy will facilitate the assessment

instead, countries must identify and engageof potential job losses, challenges andwith those who might (understandably) resist

opportunities in affected regions through athe transformations for fear of losing out.

participatory negotiation process involving

The second lesson is that such issues cana wide range of actors, especially local

be resolved through careful, transparent andauthorities.

participatory design of the transformations.

107

In Spain, this was achieved through a clearly
These contrasting examples yield two

structured and transparently documented

important lessons. First, even social costs

process, with the engagement andthat might appear small can scupper efforts

coordination of diverse governmental andto implement the system transformations.

non-governmental stakeholders. These

Therefore, it is critical to understand ex

lessons should be applied to all transformation

ante who might be the losers from thepathways and their implementation, as alsotransformations and how their needs can bereviewed in Section D.1.1.

met through support strategies. Aggregate

D.3.2

Value and champion Indigenous
Peoples and local communities

Indigenous Peoples and other local

Local commons can thrive only when thecommunities are at the heart of managing

communities that depend on them—and often

critical habitats, particularly in the land

manage them—can thrive too.

biosphere and the ocean. These communities
have lived in balance with the environment for

Indigenous Peoples and local communities

generations; but the threats of climate change,

manage close to 25% of the Earth’s surface

deforestation, development and externallyand ocean areas, which hold approximately

driven resource extraction are endangering

80% of the Earth’s biodiversity. Lands in which

this way of life. Valuing Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples and local communities

and local communities means recognizing

have full legal tenure hold an estimated 37.7

and upholding their substantive rights (e.g., tobillion metric tons of carbon.108 However, dams

their land) as well as their procedural rights

and hydropower projects have flooded much(e.g., to free, prior and informed consent;

collectively held land around the world. Mining

to information; to justice). Businesses andfor precious metals is another grave threat togovernments should not only respect theseindigenous lands.109

rights, but actively seek out the skills and64

expertise of these groups while ensuring

The contribution of Indigenous Peoples is

inclusive and equitable decision making foressential in designing and implementing

the benefit of the local and Global Commons.

solutions for ecosystems.110 Box 3 provides

an example of the importance of empowering

As the IPCC notes104—and as is recognizedlocal communities in the forests of Nepal.

in Target 1 of the draft Global Biodiversity

Strengthening intercultural dialogue between

Framework111—integrated land use planning

Indigenous populations and the scientificand management framed by the SDGs iscommunity represents an opportunity tocritical to halt deforestation and support the

integrate cultural management practices into

livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local

the management of national and regional

communities. To this end, countries should

natural resources. Knowledge dialogue

consider participatory spatial planning forplatforms in universities and research centers

nature, climate and people to support Global

should start by including Indigenous and local

Commons stewardship.

knowledge holders and local experts on theirfaculties.

Box 3 | Community forest management in Nepal112
Forests in Nepal were nationalized in 1957, which often resulted in conflict between government policies forforest protection and local forest-dependent livelihood needs (e.g., firewood, fuel, fodder and timber). In 1976,
in response to overexploitation of forests, government policies began emphasizing community forestry andhanding over parts of the government-owned forests to the smallest local governance unit. Subsequently,
forest administration began handing over forests directly to local groups, which greatly enhanced forest
protection, as users engaged in sustainable management activities such as thinning, pruning and weeding,in addition to gaining livelihood benefits from resources such as tree fodder, grass, poles and firewood.
Additional government regulations introduced in 1989, 1993 and 1995 further embedded community forestry
as a key program for the Nepalese forestry sector. The scale out of this program across Nepal has led totree regeneration and improved forest health, as well as significantly positive effects on local resource
conservation (e.g., watershed conservation) and livelihood conditions.
This example demonstrates the positive impact of empowering and valuing Indigenous Peoples on a range
of Global Commons—from land use change to climate, biodiversity and water—while also addressing
issues of poverty and social inequality. With strong government regulations and support, community forest
management in Nepal has increased significantly over time. As of 2020, there were some 22,519 community
forests in Nepal, covering 16% of all land and 35% of the total forest area.113, 114

65

D.4

Harness innovation,technologies and dataInnovation—which broadly encompasses

Global Commons stewardship. To bring about

new technologies, practices andpositive tipping points in innovation, including

approaches—often offers solutions to

the rapid development and deployment of

seemingly intractable challenges. We live

new technologies, coherent mission-oriented

in an era of unprecedented technologicalcollaboration is essential. As a result ofinnovation, which is sometimes called thetechnological breakthroughs, we are also

Fourth Industrial Revolution. While some

witnessing an explosion of data on the Global

technologies—such as cheap plastic and theCommons and the transformations required

internal combustion engine—are driving theto preserve them. Much of this data must be

degradation of the Global Commons, modern

managed and disseminated through global

technologies and the big data they yield lie atcyberinfrastructure; but our management

the heart of many solutions. We are excitedof the cybersphere is not currently fit forthat increasing amounts of private financepurpose.

are flowing into innovations that promote

Focus national innovation systems andindustrial strategies on Global Commonsstewardship

D.4.1

Beyond fixing market failures, as discussed

process of public-private partnership thatin Section D.2, countries must rethink theirhas profoundly transformed their economies.

innovation systems, including the role of publicMore recent assessments have shown

support for innovation. Economic history

how China and other countries have sinceand theory teach us that markets can solve

adapted and refined this model.118, 119 Thesemany, but not all complex problems. Deep

catch-up processes—all organized aroundtechnological and system change requires anan entrepreneurial state—have resulted in“entrepreneurial state” and public-private

major reductions in poverty and technologicalcooperation.

advancements, particularly throughout Asia.

115

116

In the age of the Anthropocene, the question
As famously explained by the Worldis how countries can direct their development

Bank in 1993, many countries in Asia andaway from merely catching up with advanced

elsewhere have successfully “caught up” witheconomies toward securing human wellbeing

industrialized nations through a deliberate

through Global Commons stewardship.

117

66

However, catch-up economics mightmainstreaming education on the SDGs at

nonetheless afford some important lessons

universities, what this looks like in practice,on how to upgrade technological capabilities

and the processes and activities universities

for sustainable development directed toward

can take to support implementation.120 The

the objectives of the SDGs and the Paris

Global Alliance of Universities on Climate

Agreement. China’s “Made in China 2025”

is a group of 15 universities that are jointly

strategy is a bold example of the pursuit ofadvancing climate change solutions throughtechnological leadership in key areas. Though

research, education and public outreach; andnot primarily motivated by environmental

that are partnering with industry, non-profit

objectives, China is also advancing key

and government organizations to promote

environmental technologies, such as solar

rapid implementation from local to global

panels, wind power and electric vehicles.

scales.

Partly in response, the EU launched a new
industrial strategy for Europe which, in the

Evidence-based, mission-oriented industrial

words of the European Commission, aims

strategies can provide the long-term funding

to ensure the long-term prosperity andand direction needed to promote innovation

sovereignty of the EU. These are strong

and facilitate its deployment at scale. Theywords, but they are apt. Every country must

provide a signal for market participants andtherefore consider whether its innovation

can be used to reduce regulatory barriers

system is fit for purpose and how it can bestand uncertainty. In areas such as global

advance the shift toward Global Commons

health, innovation challenges and technology

stewardship.

competitions have been successfully used
to identify promising technology solutions

Universities play three important roles,

for public goods. Many models exist, such asas educators, knowledge generators andGrand Challenges Canada, innovation grants

solution developers. To effectively fulfill

by the Gates Foundation and the X-Prize. We

the latter role, collaboration both acrosscall on public and private innovation agencies,

disciplines and with industry are particularly

foundations and research funders to consider

vital. Thus, in addition to investments ininnovation challenges for Global Commons

research and development, the development

stewardship.

of research networks and consortiums iscritical. We suggest that universities andSimilarly, creating protected spaces forresearch organizations should consider

experimentation, pilot projects and small-the Global Commons and the four systemscale demonstrations facilitates learning thattransformations as frameworks for teaching,

can lead to improvements in performanceresearch and problem solving. This will help

and reductions in cost. For example, real-

break down academic silos and promoteworld laboratories allow firms, universities

integrated and practical research. The

and research institutes, customers and

SDSN’s guide on Accelerating Education forregulators to test and scale novel approaches

the SDGs in Universities outlines the case forunder realistic conditions and relaxed67

regulatory constraints. This can help identify

demonstration can be particularly important

the right interplay of regulations and market

where complementary technologies (e.g.,mechanisms that will allow for the safe andbatteries and charging infrastructure for

efficient rollout of new technologies. A clear

electric vehicles) must be rolled out.

strategy and effective mechanisms for

D.4.2

Promote new progress measuresand harness new data

What does not get measured does notother partners have launched the Systems

get done. Rigorous tracking of progress is

Change Lab to identify and track sectoral

therefore vital to make Global Commons

shifts that will enable the four critical systemstewardship actionable and effective. Bettertransformations toward Global Commons

data and tracking are needed across all

stewardship (Section C). This effort will give

scales, including global, national, regional,

a clearer sense of key shifts for safeguarding

municipal and corporate. This will also lead

the Global Commons and how fast these

to a clearer understanding of what works

are advancing; and will allow lessons toand what does not. The GCSI is alreadybe shared on key ingredients for change

supporting two major efforts to improve data

across countries. The Lab will also work withon the Global Commons.

multistakeholder coalitions to nudge andcampaign on the areas of greatest risk.

First, the Center for Global Commonsat Tokyo University, the SDSN and Yale

The Systems Change Lab aims to serve as

University have developed the GCS

a “one-stop shop” for monitoring progressIndex (Annex 1), which tracks countries’

across the four system transformations. It

contributions to the Global Commons,

will complement traditional monitoring ofdistinguishing between domestic impact

outcomes (e.g., hectares of forest restored)

and international spillovers through tradeby tracking inputs—such as the deployment

systems and other mechanisms. The GCSof new technologies—which give a sense

Index aims to inform policymaking to reduceof how each system transformation isnegative impacts on the Global Commons andprogressing. By partnering with leading data

accelerate the implementation of the Paris

providers and users, the Lab will develop an

Agreement and the UN SDGs.

accessible, open-data platform that tracks

62

progress against science-based benchmarks.
Second, WRI, the Center for Global Commons

In particular, this will give a clearer sense ofat the University of Tokyo, the Bezos Earthwhich transformations are accelerating andFund, the Global Commons Alliance, thewhere progress might be slowing.

UN High-Level Climate Champions and68

A third set of tracking needs concerns

sustainable consumption, to fill these gaps innational policy action. The Climate Action

our understanding of how to operationalize

Tracker (CAT) has pioneered the inventory

Global Commons stewardship. Theseand assessment of forward-looking energy

instruments should be carefully designed

policies to assess which countries are on

to ensure complementarity with CAT,target to achieve the objectives of the Paris

FELD and other action trackers focused onAgreement. CAT not only identifies shortfallssocioeconomic transformations. Drawing

in policy ambition and implementation inin particular on the GCS Index62 and theindividual countries, but also helps build

Systems Change Lab, the GCSI will explore

knowledge of how to transform energy

ways to fill these gaps. PIK’s scientificsystems. Its freely accessible database ofmodeling of global transformation pathways

climate policies facilitates the comparison of

for achieving the SDGs while staying withinpolicies across governments and identifies

the planetary boundaries can also combine

which are working and which may be working

these tracking efforts with the latest available

less well. This combination of near-real-

integrated systems analyses.

15time tracking of forward-looking policies
and information sharing across countries

We also need to fill gaps in our understanding

has played a critical role in advancingof the state of the Global Commons. A

decarbonization efforts across countries.

comprehensive review of these data gaps isbeyond the scope of this report, but several

However, similar efforts are needed for the

stand out in particular. First, as the authors

other system transformations. One notableof Planetary Boundaries emphasize,6 wedevelopment in this regard is FOLU’s launch oflack data on the myriad chemical pollutants

a Food, Environment, Land and Development(“novel entities”) that are released daily into

(FELD) action tracker. Modeled on CAT,the environment, with unknown effects on

this initiative aims to build databases andecology and human health. Closing theseassessments of national policies toward

gaps will require better analytical devices

sustainable land use and food systems. Butthat are low cost and can ideally be deployed

to our knowledge, no systematic trackers offor automated sampling and analysis.

country policies toward sustainable oceans,

Remote-sensing satellite technologies cansustainable material use or sustainable cities

complement these analyses by tracking

are currently available. These represent

critical air pollutants.

crucial gaps in making Global Commonsstewardship actionable at the national andSecond, our data on biodiversity remains

international levels.

woefully inadequate. While Nature Map andother efforts have made important advances

We therefore call on the policy and researchin consolidating available spatial data, ourcommunities to consider in particular policy

knowledge of biodiversity remains extremely

action trackers for sustainable ocean

partial, with only an estimated 14% of land

management, sustainable industry andspecies and 9% marine species known to69

science out of an estimated 7.4-10 million total

vital importance that the ocean biospherespecies on Earth. At current rates, we risk

plays in regulating the Earth system, filling

losing species faster than we can identify andthese data gaps should be a high priority for

track them. This needs to change. Fortunately,

Global Commons stewardship.

121

new technologies such as environmental DNA
sampling (eDNA) can enable us to identify

At least as important as closing data gaps

vast numbers of species through routine

is utilizing available data more effectively

automated processes, giving us a real-time

for Global Commons stewardship. One key

sense of the status of entire ecosystems atpriority in this regard is to make data freely

vastly lower cost than traditional methods. A

available online and in real time. Many suchglobal effort is needed to reduce the cost of

portals are being developed, such as WRI’sthese technologies, increase their accuracy

Land and Carbon Lab, Global Forest Watch,and promote their widespread deployment.

Global Fishing Watch and Earth HQ. Digital

The Earth BioGenome Project proposes toEarth Africa is a promising regional portal forsequence all life on Earth—a bold ambition

spatial data. But many more are needed—that deserves attention as part of the effort toparticularly in relation to material flows,

promote Global Commons stewardship.

nutrient cycles and biodiversity.

A third major gap concerns the tracking and

Well-designed real-time data portals

measurement of aerosols. Despite their major

combined with advances in artificial

impact on the climate systems, we lack clear

intelligence can bring Global Commons

data in this regard. However, it appears thatdata to life for experts and laypeople alike.

next-generation satellites launched by the

They can also highlight the areas of greatest

European Space Agency and others couldchange and increase accountability forhelp close this gap in our understanding

businesses and policymakers. Particularlyof the Global Commons. This should be

impressive examples of such near-real-time

made a priority—particularly in relation todata portals include Trase, which tracks

regional-scale weather patterns, such as thethe impact of agricultural supply chains on

monsoons in South Asia and West Africa,

deforestation, and Global Fishing Watch.

which are vulnerable to aerosol-induced
climate disturbances.66

One particular challenge is to integrate
remote-sensing data with other forms of70

Finally, the rollout of robotic Argo floats thatdata to arrive at a robust understanding

collect and transmit data on the state of theof the Global Commons. For example, ourocean and the latest generation of remote-understanding of forest management andsensing satellites has vastly improved data

above and below-ground carbon stocks is

on marine ecosystems and ocean dynamics.

greatly aided by satellite data; but typically

However, many major gaps remain—

also requires in-situ measurements,

particularly in relation to the state of fisheries

including through drones, soil samples orand biodiversity on the high seas. Given thethe abovementioned eDNA. Scientists at theInternational Institute for Applied Systems

industries and businesses with the SDGs

Analysis and elsewhere have successfully

and the Paris Agreement. Many start-ups

experimented with citizen science tools that

operating in this space promise to greatly

can produce large volumes of reliable in-situ

enhance our ability to track and manage

measurements in a short period of time.

complex international supply chains, which

These different forms of data should now beoften drive negative spillovers acrossintegrated to arrive at a robust understanding

countries and undermine Global Commonsof the Global Commons and generate data

stewardship.

122

that governments around the world canuse. We are encouraged by the substantial

A final priority for data innovation is the use ofphilanthropic investments that Jeff Bezos,

new digital governance technologies—such

the Moore Foundation and many others are

as Ethelo, Metagov and Holochain—whichmaking in this space.

use distributed ledger technologies basedon peer-to-peer networks to verify the

Another critical data trend for Global

authenticity of unique digital objects. These

Commons stewardship is the use of Big

technologies can increase transparency

Data to monitor the ESG performance ofin international supply chains, facilitatecompanies around the world. By combining

participatory and collective decision-large numbers of databases—including

making processes, and enable large-scalespatial data as provided by Trase andsocial cooperation for commoning and forothers—with internal company data, anmultistakeholder coalition governance.

in-depth, near-real-time picture can emerge

They could even form the basis for legalof the contributions of large companies andagreements, voting tools and other decision-

their supply chains to ESG impact objectives.

supporting tools that would enhance data

There is a need for more comprehensive andsecurity, transparency and collective

timely data to assess impacts embodied inaction processes for Global Commonsinternational supply chains—including more

stewardship. Such platforms could also

granular assessments looking at impacts

support accountability and expose illegal

embodied in specific supply chains (e.g., food,or ecologically destructive activities, as

textiles, construction) and commodities (e.g.,in the case of OpenSC. There is a role forcoffee, soy, cocoa, cobalt) —to inform thegovernment to promote further testing andgovernance and alignment of key sectors,

adoption of these technologies.

71Enhance the cybersphere

D.4.3

The Internet and its accompanying

For example, Open AI—founded by Eloninformation, data and digital technologies

Musk and Sam Altman—aims to develop

are of vital importance for economic

safe artificial general intelligence for thedevelopment, human wellbeing and Global

benefit of humanity. Additionally, the OpenCommons stewardship. The cybersphere

Source Climate Initiative is a collaboration

should be commonly managed, open andbetween the Linux Foundation, Allianz,

directed toward promoting Global Commons

Microsoft, Amazon, Federated Hermes, S&P

stewardship. However, current trends—such

and Goldman Sachs aimed at creating an

as the spread of fake news, security attacks

open source “data commons” that will makeand public election interference—show thatit easy for anyone to access information on

global cyberinfrastructure and standards arecompanies’ environmental performance.

not fit for purpose. Cyberspace governance

Finally, Open Sustainable Technology curates

is complicated by diffuse accountabilities, as

open technology projects for environmental

different layers of technology are owned bysustainability.

different actors across diverse jurisdictions.
Yet these are clearly not enough. Stronger
Open, commons-based models, such as

national and global rules are needed tothose adopted by the open-source software

combat fake news without undermining open

movement, j could improve transparency

societies, and existing rules must be enforced.

and security in the cybersphere and holdRecent cyberattacks illustrate the destructive

transformative potential for improving

power of cybercrime—a scourge which canknowledge, information, data and social

only be tackled through greater collaboration.

cooperation to promote Global Commons

The G20 and other fora can and should play a

stewardship.

proactive role in advancing cybersecurity.

j

The open-source software movement supports the use of open-source licenses for some or all software as part of thebroader notion of open collaboration. Major players in this space include the Linux Foundation, Mozilla, GitHub and GitLab.

72

E

A call to action

Most major economies have committed to

The “Paris Effect” is driving deep andnet-zero GHG emissions by the middle of theunprecedented changes in energy systems,

century. To realize this ambition, countries

mobility and key industries. For example,

must activate the four system transformations

progress in lowering the cost of renewables

outlined in this report to cut emissions fromhas consistently exceeded analysts’

energy systems, industry, cities and buildings,

expectations. This is now also happening

as well as the food system, land and oceans.

in critical technology areas such as electric

Success will require urgent action, building on

vehicles, the hydrogen economy and energy

the momentum from COP26 and leading intostorage. We may be on the cusp of similar

CBD COP15. Action must be broad to addresschanges in food and land use, where the data

livelihoods, nature loss and other challenges

revolution is making precision agriculture aoutlined in this report.

reality for many, and new ways to grow andproduce food could finally allow all countries

Decisive action on climate change must be

to provide healthy and affordable food without

combined with similarly bold steps to secure

wrecking the environment.

other Global Commons: the land biosphere,
the ocean biosphere and the cryosphere. For

The evidence is clear that bold action

example, political leaders from 93 countries

from governments (with support from theand the EU have signed the Leaders’ Pledge

international community), businesses,

for Nature. Countries must also be vigilant toinvestors and civil society can deliver onsustain progress in repairing the ozone layer,

the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris

which protects us all from harmful cosmic

Agreement.

radiation. Integrated approaches acrossthe Global Commons will achieve superior

Note: The resulting action items forresults for Global Commons stewardship anddifferent stakeholders outlined in this

therefore human wellbeing.

report are summarised in A.1 to A.4.

73

E.1

Governments
Let there be no doubt: all countries need morechallenge that requires shared purpose andand better policies to enable and drive the four

cooperation, separate from the invariable

system transformations outlined in this report.

differences and competition among theEvery country should set out how it intends tomajor world powers for regional and global

tackle these interconnected challenges andinfluence. This call for unity of purpose andwhere it sees the need and opportunity forcollaboration is not naïve idealism; it is agreater international collaboration. We urge

necessity to ensure the survival of humangovernments to recognize the preservation

civilization on this crowded and vulnerableof the Global Commons as a unifying

planet Earth.

Business and finance

E.2

Firms and financial systems are vital engines

The transformations required acrossfor driving the innovation, investments andall sectors of the economy to tackle our

new business models that will make the four

environmental challenges and deliver onsystem transformations possible. But they

the SDGs represent a multitrillion-dollar

can also be forces of resistance to change,

opportunity. Now all companies and investors

and in some cases can work actively against

must rise to the challenge by committing

Global Commons stewardship. Businesses

to science-based targets. There simply

play a crucial role both in meeting the basic

is no longer social license for companies

needs and wellbeing of all humans and inthat do not combine the profit motive withensuring responsible stewardship of theactive participation in making the system

Global Commons; or, as the WBCSD put it intransformations toward Global Commonsits Vision 2050,k in ensuring that more than 9

stewardship a reality. Investors are taking

billion people can live well within the planetary

notice, as sustainable companies have beenboundaries. It is in companies’ own interest to

outperforming their unsustainable rivals

become “net positive”; the economy cannot

and public scrutiny of business behavior isthrive unless people and the planet are also

growing.

thriving.

k

The WBCSD Vision 2050 provides a framework to help business fulfill its full potential and societal responsibility, and is wellaligned with Global Commons stewardship.

74

E.3

Civil society organizations andmultistakeholder coalitions
Civil society organizations are indispensable

These movements can help bring together

for Global Commons stewardship, as they candifferent perspectives to develop new insights

drive accountability, effective communication

and approaches to break the impasses

and stakeholder mobilization, and helpthat sometimes paralyze our multilateralensure justice. Often in the form of new

mechanisms. We need more of thismultistakeholder coalitions, they are building

mobilization; and we need youth in particularpowerful movements that both complement

to raise its voice. Powerful advocates likeand act as a check on government andGreta Thunberg help focus minds and drive us

corporate action to catalyze the four system

to try harder in tackling the challenges ahead.

transformations.

E.4

International organizations
and financing institutions
Global Commons stewardship depends

The UNFCCC process shows how theon international cooperation, which inplanetary boundaries can be respected

turn requires institutions for convening

through bottom-up, country-led strategies.

governments, agreeing on shared

Multilateral financing institutions provide

standards and promoting collective action.

critical financing for activating the four

At a time when international politics has

transformations, including by leveraging

become increasingly divisive, international

greater volumes of private financing.

organizations are more important than ever.

75

The time is now to bring humanity’s
impact on the Earth in line with theplanetary boundaries.
We are conscious of the catastrophic costs that inaction will incur for all people on this planet. We
also know how painfully slow and difficult international cooperation can be—particularly whenmajor powers compete for global leadership. But having studied the issues carefully, we areconvinced of the feasibility of rapid progress in securing the Global Commons. We are inspired by
the Paris Effect and the advances that have occurred in recent years. When we put our minds tothe four system transformations, human ingenuity and cooperation will prevail. There can be no
more bystanders in 2022; so we call on everyone to join the fight for a better future.

76

Annex 1
Results of 2021 Global Commons
Stewardship Index
The sustainable management of the Global

A detailed working paper and a chapter in the

Commons requires better data and metrics

OECD-Joint Research Centre publication on

to guide better policies. To this end, thetransboundary impacts explain the rationale

Sustainable Development Solutions Networkand construction of the GCS Index.123, 124 The(SDSN), Yale University and the Center for2021 Index provides scores for 100 entities:

Global Commons have launched the Global

99 countries and the European Union (EU27).

Commons Stewardship (GCS) Index, which

The organization of the Index is structured

assesses both countries’ domestic impacts

around two major pillars: domestic impacts

on the Global Commons and the impacts

and international spillovers. There are six

embodied in trade and consumption (so-impact categories: aerosols; greenhouse gas

called “international spillovers”). The GCS

emissions; terrestrial biodiversity loss; marine

Index aims to inform policymaking to reduce

biodiversity loss; nutrient cycle disruptions;

negative impacts on the Global Commons andand water cycle disruptions.

accelerate the implementation of the Paris
Agreement and the UN SDGs.

This year’s edition includes 33 indicators
using data from official sources and scientificFive major principles inform the design ofresearch. Based on a decision tree presented

the GCS Index. First, it uses a frameworkin the methodology section of the GCS Index,

that integrates multiple dimensions of theand building on methods used by the SDSN125

Global Commons into a comprehensive

and the OECD126, aspirational sustainability

assessment of impacts. Second, it tracks

thresholds are set for 2030 (interim) andboth impacts within territorial borders

2050 (more ambitious) to evaluate whether

and transboundary impacts, or spillovers

the pace of progress is sufficient to achieve

embodied in traded goods and services.

transformational objectives. Scores andThird, it estimates the distance to predefined

dashboards are presented in proportionalsustainability thresholds for all metrics in theterms that allow comparison across countries

Index to quantify and compare priorities withinof very different sizes—usually in per-capita

and across countries. Fourth, it focuses onunits, but also in absolute terms—to identify

outcome-based measures of environmental

which countries are having the greatest

impacts at the country level, leaving out

absolute impacts on the Global Commonspolicies and input measures or measures(see Tables 1 and 2). Results presented in theof access to resources such as access to

GCS Index 2021 are based on data collecteddrinking water and sanitation. Fifth, it relies onlargely pre-COVID-19. The methodology

data that is fresh and high quality, and that cansection of the GCS Index summarizes the

be updated regularly.

various steps for its construction.

77

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The Global Commons Stewardship Framework:
Safeguarding the Global Commons for humanprosperity and environmental sustainability
The scientific evidence is overwhelming: we

To inspire and guide decisionmakers fromare on a collision course with the stable andgovernments, business and finance, civil society

resilient Earth systems on which human wellbeing,

and international organizations, the Center forprosperity and safety depend—our Global

Global Commons at the University of Tokyo, with

Commons. We need to transform our economic

support from SYSTEMIQ, the Potsdam Instituteand social systems to safeguard these Global

for Climate Impact Research and the Sustainable

Commons or risk exceeding dangerous tipping

Development Solutions Network, has developed

points beyond which ecological damage may

the Global Commons Stewardship Framework.

become self-reinforcing and irreversible. To avoid

Drawing on the latest science, this frameworkthese tipping points, decisionmakers need tofor action can bring together stakeholders, guidetake concerted action to drastically acceleratetransformations and inform deft diplomacy inthe progress made in some sectors and unlock

support of security and the Global Commons.

positive tipping points for transformation.

Printed on recycled paper