“We are called to consider the world as an enspirited whole, to accept no boundary to repairing and sustaining the Earth for the future, and to appreciate more deeply the creative energy in all living things and life processes. We seek to mend what has been hurt, and to strengthen our courage to discern and bear witness to this spiritual care for the Earth.”  (Extract from the Australia Yearly Meeting Quaker Earthcare Statement, January 2008)

Our Australian Quaker Earthcare statement was adopted at a time when Canberra Friend and climate scientist, Andrew Glikson, wrote “Climate Change is tracking toward levels which transcend the planetary boundaries which allowed the development of humans over the last 3 million years.”[1]

Now, at a time when action on climate change is a politically (but not scientifically) disputed policy area, we regularly hear from our politicians that Australia will play its part by implementing policies directed to reducing carbon pollution to net zero by 2050 (Liberal/National), or 43% by 2030 (ALP), or perhaps 60% by 2030 (some Independents). This seems to me to be inadequate, simplistic and suggesting gradual linear trajectory towards net zero. This seems also to be somewhat disconnected from the scientific community’s increasingly urgent calls for deep cuts to carbon emissions, massive use of renewable energy, extensive land restoration, and carbon sequestration (when or if ever feasible and sufficient).

The call to consider “the world as an enspirited whole” reflects an understanding of planet earth as a naturally complex system resulting from evolutionary processes whereby all living things have a place and role to play within the limits of the living biosphere. As well scientists, also working from a whole of planet perspective, have proposed a model that recognises a “safe operating space” within a “closed” biosphere. However, when a boundary of this system is exceeded, then remedial action is urgently required (Stockholm Resilience Centre[2]).

Already in 2022 scientists are reporting that two of the nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed: (1) greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, nitric oxide) and (2) extensive loss of species and disruption of biosphere integrity.  Worse still, they expect other boundaries have been crossed or are likely to be crossed soon, including: (3) land system change, mostly conversion of natural forests to cropland, i.e. the Amazon; (4) availability of freshwater; (5) biogeochemical flows (primarily phosphorous and nitrogen); (6) ocean acidification leading to collapse of coral reefs and the marine food chain; (7) atmospheric aerosol loading;  (8) ozone depletion; and (9) novel or synthetic entities (chemical pollution by metals, micro-plastics, radioactive nuclei etc.)