It's time to shift from the age of endless growth to an age of thriving in balance. This thought-provoking analysis proposes five critical turn-arounds for getting us there— each of them raising urgent issues for public discussion and action. Read on to explore possible futures for humanity and join the most vital debate of our times.
—Kate Raworth, author, Doughnut Economics
This tremendous collaboration, documented in this breathtaking book, provides yet more evidence that so much good can come out of pooling our minds and skills, to build a world that works for all. Why not opt for one-planet prosperity, if the alternative is one-planet misery?
—Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D., founder, Global Footprint Network, co-author, Ecological Footprint
If we'd paid attention to The Limits to Growth in 1972, we wouldn't be in the fix we're in today; as the modeling in this book makes clear, what's left of this decade may be our last best hope to get it at least partly right.
—Bill McKibben, author, The End of Nature
This latest, most urgent, and most carefully researched version of system science's scenarios for our human future is essential reading for collapse preventers everywhere. Whether its recommendations are taken up by policy makers everywhere— and whether we humans are therefore able to avert worldwide ecological, economic, and social breakdown sometime during the remainder of the 21st century— is up to all of us.
—Richard Heinberg, senior fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival
An extraordinary book at an extraordinary time. For today and tomorrow's leaders, Earth for All is a must-read. This book offers a concrete, breakthrough vision on how to ensure well-being for all— in any country— on our finite planet. Together, we can build a world that is genuinely equitable by following the 5 Turnarounds— a roadmap to accelerate the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals in the next decade. I hope it will inspire a new movement of minds and souls that are willing to save our precious humanity.
—Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, and Deputy Chair of The Elders
Earth For All conclusively shows that humanity's future on a livable planet depends on drastically reducing socio-economic inequality and a more equitable distribution of wealth and power. Essential reading on our long journey toward an "Earth for All" society.
—Thomas Piketty, author, Capital in the Twenty-First Century and A Brief History of Equality
This book arrives at a moment in time when humanity is facing its most consequential decade in human history. What we do now will determine whether we have a future to protect. In order to ensure our survival, we must understand the interconnected nature of the current convergence of crises we are dealing with. Earth for All illustrates this understanding and uses it to show us a path forward that will put the wellbeing of people and our planet first, instead of profit and growth.
—Kumi Naidoo, global ambassador, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity
Too many cooks, they say, but in this case we are talking chefs. Indeed, the multiple authorship of Earth For All ensures both hugely satisfying food for thought and high-energy fuel for action. The two scenarios, "Too Little, Too Late" and "The Giant Leap," will help readers to confront the existential realities now facing us, while the proposed recipes for change will help guide the those of us who value the future and are ready to roll up our sleeves in pursuit of better futures for all.
—John Elkington, founder and chief pollinator, Volans, and author, Green Swans: The Coming Boom In Regenerative Capitalism
Timely, brilliant book. Earth For All describes a concrete roadmap to transform our economies and defeat poverty whilst protecting planet Earth. An inspirational read for both grassroots groups and national leaders. Will we hear? Will we make this change happen?
—Sheela Patel, founder and director, Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), Mumbai
Earth for All is an extraordinary, potentially historic, breakthrough guide to a viable and fulfilling future for all on a finite living Earth. My highest recommendation. Read it. Share it. Discuss it.
—David Korten, author, When Corporations Rule the World, The Post-Corporate World: Life After Capitalism, and Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth
Earth For All sharply addresses the biggest challenge of our time: how to defeat inequality and poverty, whilst saving our planet from climate change and environmental destruction. Its urgent call to transform our economies is my call to our leaders. A must-read for all of us.
—Naoko Ishii, Professor and Executive Vice President at the University of Tokyo. Former CEO of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
Stubborn optimism versus immobilizing pessimism. Long-term vision versus short-term reaction. Collective intelligence versus individualism. Human well-being vs compulsive consumption. Valuing our future versus discounting it. A livable planet versus an unstable planet. The choices we must make for a prosperous common future are crystal clear. So is the urgency to act and to redress the imbalances of a broken socio-economic model. What is less clear is how to articulate the system change we need, how to manage the complexities that come with it, how to constructively engage all the relevant stakeholders, how to sequence the moves from the different players, how to prioritize strategic transformations, how to measure impacts, how to anticipate and to mitigate risks... And here is where Earth for All comes to the rescue: an honest contribution for positive change from some of the most renowned thinkers, scientists and economists of our time. A recalibrated set of lenses to explore the challenges of our generation: global equity and a healthy planet. A map to explore, dive deep and inspire. A must- read for any policymaker who values our future, as well as for corporate leaders, responsible investors and the general public worldwide. Earth for All is a call for action and a movement to infuse social and political change for the common good. Earth for All is inspired by the legacy of The Limits to Growth, but it goes well-beyond that. It provides a guide to leapfrog into the future most of us long for. This is the tale of our time. A story not to be missed.
—Teresa Ribera, Deputy Prime Minister for the Ecological Transition, Government of Spain
Timely and important. A major contribution to a better shared future for humanity.
—Jinfeng Zhou, Secretary General of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Earth for All is a vision for a possible future based on global and local action. We hope it will spark honest, bold conversations, and help people around the world make decisions to redesign their societies.
—Chandran Nair, author, Dismantling Global White Privilege: Equity for a Post-Western World
