The scientists’ responsibility in communicating the sustainability crisis

Abstract

Humankind and, in general, all life on earth, face a fundamental sustainability crisis. We have realized many decades ago that both our sources and our sinks on our planet are limited. International treaties have been adopted, panels have been formed and assessments have been published. Yet, almost all nations regularly fail to comply with their goals. Many potential barriers to swift actions exist, and sustainability in its many facets reveals complex interdependencies and rebounds. Humankind relies on an infrastructure in terms of energy supply, housing, and others, which take decades to change. At the same time, we face tipping points, which describe an irreversible acceleration of degradation of our fundamental life’s resources. This concerns not only the climate crisis, which is visible in so many nations with floods and heat waves and a surge of new temperature extremes and costs due to mitigation and adaptation. No, the problem also lies in a set of planetary limits, including a terrifying loss of agricultural soil, an increasing level of acidity in the oceans, enhanced nitridation, and loss of biodiversity and natural habitats. In this situation, it appears obvious, that scientists, meaning all scientists beyond our representatives in international panels, need to respond. We need to inform ourselves across the disciplines and disseminate available information into society. We need to spell out that a transformation of society is required combining technological advances and a change in lifestyle with a reduction in demand for our planet’s sources and sinks.