For the first time, we are experiencing a ‘Planetary Human-Nature Society (PHNS)’, where every corner of the Earth is inter-dependent (health, economy, migration, ecology…), and development impacts have no boundaries any longer. G20 agreements affect all societies! We must plant the seeds for a new form of planetary livelihood, and transcend this era of human caused extinction. Today, the constraints to human progress are not just technological, but principally ecological. The future demands a sustainable development strategy for the wellbeing of all forms of life, with full citizens’ engagement. The multilateral debate must go beyond technologies and markets and, essentially, be about The State of Nature.[4]

Challenges

Structural Challenge (Nature). Despite the material progress made to date, due to technological change and human capital development, the “State of Nature” (environment, ecology, biodiversity…) continues to be the most fundamental determinant of human life and human collective wellbeing. Thus, to “Recover Together” and “Recover Stronger”, G20 policy makers must adequately protect, manage, and regenerate our natural-resources-endowments and environmental-services; in particular, those endowments we hold in common, like oceans, climate, biodiversity (Together).[13]

Predominant Challenge (Economy). The satisfaction of “basic needs” continues to be the essential determinant of both, content and quality of the Recovery. But, the concept of “basic needs” has evolved significantly; from food, water, shelter, and clothing, to include also climate, health, clean environment, spiritual self-realization, identity, belonging, dignity…[16] To satisfy them, the fundamental constraints facing most countries are not just technological (in a traditional sense) but strongly ecological (biological). Thus, it is not only about (1) ‘how much’ and ‘how fast’ an ‘endowment grows’ (efficiency/competitiveness) or (2) who ‘consumes that endowment’ (equity) but, also, (3) ‘how long’ will that ‘endowment last’ (sustainability) and ‘what’ are the ‘ingredients of that endowment’ (consciousness).[8] It is not just quantity but quality (human, social, economic, and environmental quality). Think about water shortages, desertification, ocean pollution, biodiversity depletion, and climate change. We need a sustainable future (Recover Stronger).

Inter-Being Challenge (Wellbeing). As a PHNS, we fail to have the appropriate institutions (organizations, incentives) and the governance systems to ‘optimally’ decide for the equitable management of our global commons.[12] The UN, World Bank, International Monetary Fund…are not planetary at their core, as member countries defend their own self-interests, without much regard for the external effects on others. The poor attainment of the UN Development Goals, and the arguments towards the urgent need to curve down global warming are two contemporary examples. The global scene is still shaped by the Cold War, democratic gaps in global decision-making, and refusal to embrace shared responsibilities.

Paradigmatic Challenge (Society). We have entered the era of ‘citizenry’ (“ciudadanismo” in Spanish),[6] where the power of decisions, and the basis of a nescient planetary democracy, are being shaped by NGOs worldwide [7]. This has been marked and accelerated by a major transition from market-based-societies to rights-based-societies (human rights, nature rights);[9] a crucially important transformation in developed and developing countries.

These challenges demonstrate that Nature, Economy, Wellbeing, and Society are interdependently indivisible and inseparable aspects in determining the future of humanity.[

Solutions

Adopt an Environmental Macroeconomics Framework. Economic and social interventions via traditional macroeconomic policies, investments, regulations…are not neutral with regard to our collective ability to reach the objectives of sustainable development. The policies affect all forms of capital (e.g. man-made, financial, physical, human, natural, institutional, cultural, spiritual). We cannot continue assuming that the impacts of development are on some forms of capital only (man-made) and not others (natural). Growth targets, prices, taxes, subsidies, income, interest rates, public expenditures…must be evaluated against their effects on Nature.[10]

Understand Environmental Policy as Social Policy. Sustainable development cannot be separated from its social setting. The environmental crises and social crises we witness today are two sides of the same reality. Thus, one cannot decouple environmental policies from social policies. We witness ecological poverty and ecological migration. The constant change in the quantity and quality of our natural endowments (‘natural capital’) has significant human and social consequences.

Change Indicators of Progress to Measure “Planetary Welfare”. The term “development progress” must go beyond ‘materiality’,[7] so that the economy and the practice of economics possess attributes which ensure the highest forms of human self-realization (Wellbeing). Not the welfare of just one person or one nation, but our entire PHNS (Together). We are already aware of how our “planetary-collective-welfare” is affected by COVID-19, human insecurity (war, conflict), climate change, water shortages… The traditional indicators of progress (like GNP) must be changed if we are to decide whether we are really better off or worse off. G20 interventions must be appraised in relation to Economy (GNP) and to how they affect Nature (sustainability), Society (integration) and Wellbeing (happiness).

Go Far Beyond the Economic Calculus. A non-materialistic vision of our collective livelihood must emerge, accompanied by a new set of collective values, policies and norms.[1] This is vital for market oriented economies, as markets do not possess automatic trigger mechanisms to address the social and environmental effects of transactions; many of which, like pollution, appear as positive net additions to GNP. To introduce an “ecological calculus” or an “ethics calculus” demands important changes in the existing paradigm and leaders’ mindsets. An example: fiscal policy and taxation, where we should tax the “bads” (pollution) and not the “goods” (textbooks). This is a radical departure from the past, to ensure a prosperous planet for future generations.

Embrace A Right Planetary Livelihood. Today, the imperative is to find a right planetary livelihood, to improve collective planetary welfare and not to continue breaking-up existing planetary boundaries.[3] Today, many countries consume more than 1 Planet Earth, to maintain their level of material welfare.[2] A right planetary livelihood demands the elimination of ocean pollution, global warming, water and air pollution, decimation of natural forests, depletion of biodiversity, contamination of soils and food chain, destruction of glaciers, uncontrolled urban sprawl, etc.[14]

Promote A Revolution in Values. Nothing anew may be implemented without a revolution in our collective values: interdependence, cooperation, solidarity, justice, equity, love, compassion… Also, nothing anew may be implemented within a moral and ethical vacuum. G20 must construct and support the foundations of a New Eco-Morality, to become the multi-lateral-institutions’ code on how to treat nature. The time has come to embrace a conscious sustainability leadership.[5]

Establish A Different Institutional Framework. Recover Together also requires an appropriate institutional framework. We have neither planetary institutions nor organizational spaces that are conducive to knit the ‘Together’. A new international system has to emerge out of “bottom-up structures”, with full engagement of world citizens. It must be an empowering framework (Society), considering the inner and outer power needed to govern and harmonize our inner ecology (Wellbeing) and outer ecology (Nature).

This is the only way to Recover Together and Recover Stronger.

Recommendations

Nature

1. Clean the waters of all oceans and major river basins following the priorities set by SDG Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all and SDG 14 Life below water.[11]

2. Establish an international agreement for the protection of the remaining natural forests following the targets set by SDG Goal 15 to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.

3. Adopt a conservation and protection strategy for the preservation of all the indigenous seeds. Create a Planetary Indigenous Seed Organization (PISO) aligned with target SDG 2.5: Maintain the Genetic Diversity in Food Production: “By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.”

Economy

1. Re-establish Green Accounting Systems in all G20 members, and assist countries which decide to go in this direction.

2. Construct a new form of Environmental Macroeconomics so monetary, fiscal, investment, trade, institutional…policies are selected and appraised based also on their environmental and ecological impacts.

Wellbeing

1. Eliminate progressively all human, animal and nature health-dangerous pesticides, herbicides, hormones, additives, colorants, addictive substances…to improve the food chain. All, accompanied by bio-organic agriculture and food security at the community level.[17]

2. Develop a New Eco-Morality to treat nature, based on the interdependent welfare of all forms of life.

Society

1. Reform the UN System and the Bretton Woods Institutions, with direct participation of civil society in decision-making.

2. Elevate UNEP to the level of truly planetary organization.

3. Bring at the constitutional level the values of conservation, ecological justice and security, intergenerational equity, eco-restoration, eco-competitiveness, etc., in accordance with country realities and culture.

Bibliography

[1]. Duncan, D., and M. Phillips. “Cultivating the Right Livelihood”. Kosmos Journal. Spring, 2019.

[2]. Earth Overshoot Day, “How Many Earths? How Many Countries? www.overshootday.org.

[3]. Steffen, W. et al. “Planetary Boundaries: Guiding Human Development On a Changing Planet”. Science, 347. No. 6223. 15 January 2015. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1259855

[4]. Sfeir-Younis, A, and Marco Tavanti. “Preventing the Collapse of Multilateralism: Towards Planetary Governance”. October 10, 2021. https://medium.com/@planethealingpress

[5]. Sfeir-Younis, A., and Marco Tavanti. Conscious Sustainability Leadership: A Paradigm for Next Generation of Leaders. Planet Healing Press. 2020.

[6]. Sfeir-Younis, A., and Uriel Escobar. Hacia la Construcción de Una Humanidad Planetaria (Towards the Construction of a Planetary Society). Editorial Alma. Colombia. 2021.

[7]. Sfeir-Younis, A. “Reconciliar la Economía Materialista con la Espiritualidad: EL Gran Desafío del Nuevo Milenio” (Reconciling Materialistic Economics with Spirituality: The Great Challenge of This New Millennium). POLIS: Revista Latinoamericana. Number 8, 2004

[8]. Sfeir-Younis, A. “El Ciudadanismo Global, Educacion y Consciencia Planetaria” (Global Citizenry, Education, and Planetary Consciousness). VIDASANA Newsletter. March 30, 2020.

[9]. Sfeir-Younis, A. “Violation of Human Rights is a Threat to Human Security”. In Conflict, Security and Development. Pp. 383–396. Volume 4, Issue 3. January 19, 2007.

[10]. The Club of Rome. The Limits to Growth. Global Report. 1972. Rome.

[11]. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “The Sustainable Development Goals”. New York, 2022. https://sdgs.un.org/

[12]. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, “Report of the Secretary General on Globalization and Interdependence”. New York, 2013.

[13]. UN Research Institute for Social Development, DP 72: “Biodiversity And Human Welfare” By Piers Blaikie and Sally Jeanrenaud. UNRISD Discussion Papers. February 1996.

[14]. University of Stockholm, “The Nine Planetary Boundaries”. Stockholm Resilience Center. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries/the-nine-planetary-boundaries.html

[15]. Wallimann, I., Environmental Policy is Social Policy — Social Policy is Environmental Policy. Toward Sustainability Policy. 2013. ISBN: 978–1–4614–6723–6. https://link.springer.com

[16]. Watkins, A. “How People’s Basic Needs Changed Overtime?” PopEd Blog. Ies Comments and Resources. January 25, 2022. https://populationeducation.org.

[17]. Zappi, J., “Societal Determinants of Health Human Welfare and Environmental Service Protection in Central Chile: The Role of Biocentrism” Socialomics 2013, Volume 2:2.