Towards Sustainability of the Earth System

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Earth system is endowed with unique characteristics and geophysical conditions to support life [1] and ecosystem services. Its ecological and social subsystems, individual processes, and their interactions forming the earth system determine the fate of biota and humans [2]. While the earth system has survived for billions of years, the Holocene era has seen unprecedented impacts from an anthropogenic influences [3], some have called this an anthropogenic era [4]. Climate change and rapid resource use to feed the burgeoning population are changing the nature and stability of the earth system. Current levels of human impacts can inadvertently alter the earth system in ways that it may prove irreversible [5]. Some examples of these impacts are Atlantic thermohaline circulation, Amazon forest dieback, and decay of Greenland ice sheet [6]. Continuation of status quo levels of resource use and environmental impacts without consideration of system limits [7] can lead to unsustainable trajectories of the earth system. The need to understand and work within the limits imposed by natural systems for achieving growth is a major emphasis in achieving sustainability of the earth system. This reflects the equilibrium that is within the boundaries of ecosystem services and the carrying capacity [8] of the earth system. The socioeconomic activities for human well-being need to balance with conservation of life support systems provided by the earth system.