Climate change pressure on the biosphere is increasing. Soils are losing their fertility, biodiversity is declining dramatically, microplastics and toxins are spreading to the most remote ecosystems and climate change is increasing the pressure. These developments are already having an impact on food security, bioeconomy, and ultimately prosperity. A diverse team of international researchers has now synthesized solutions for eight problem areas and published them in the journal Biogeosciences.

An international and interdisciplinary team has now launched the first of a new publication series in the journal Biogeoscience, which summarizes the latest findings from biosphere research annually. Their aim is to provide well-founded and solution-oriented impulses between the major global reports IPCC and IPBES, which are published every 8-10 years. “Because the various crises in the Earth system all affect the biosphere and therefore food security, material cycles and cultural and economic values, an annual update is important,” says Friedrich Bohn who initiated the project and is corresponding author. The experts selected eight key areas, from endangered habitats on the seashore to forests and carbon capture in natural ecosystems. For each issue, the scientists described the scientific background and challenges and then outlined specific solutions.

“If, for example, forests in the Amazon are cleared for livestock farming, rainfall decreases, which can lead to crop failures in agriculture,” Anja Rammig, co-author and scientist at the Technical University of Munich. Intact forests could prevent this. However, reforestation measures are not equally useful everywhere. “In dry areas, new afforestation could cause the groundwater level to fall because the trees evaporate a lot of water, causing other plant species to die out locally,” she says.

In order to avoid such mistakes, the local population must be involved, especially indigenous knowledge. “A lot can be predicted using scientific models, but locally sensible and adapted solutions are best found when science, economics and local people work together to develop solutions,” says Bohn.

The importance of education and involvement at the local level

The team of authors advocates creating awareness of existing problems through education and actively involving the local population in political decision-making processes in all the subject areas covered. More sustainable practices should be promoted in a targeted manner and innovative, possibly unconventional approaches should also be given a chance. Openness to new ideas and the courage to experiment are needed. At the same time, it is important to recognize regional characteristics, make them visible and incorporate them into measures. “Business as usual no longer pays off for the majority of people,” warns Romina Martin, from the Stockholm Resilience Centre and a co-author. “The biosphere which used to support human lives on Earth is increasingly out of balance. Although the challenges are complex, better life conditions for all are feasible where policy makers, academics, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and citizens act together.”

Collaborating to create change through science

“Future Earth, as one of the partners in this initiative, is proud of this exceptional group of authors who have translated cutting-edge science into clear, actionable insights,” said Dr. Giles Sioen, Co-Lead for Research and Innovation at Future Earth and Project Lecturer at the Sustainable Society Design Center, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at The University of Tokyo and part of the founding team of this initiative. “This peer-reviewed synthesis not only highlights the urgency of the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change but also equips decision-makers with science-based solutions developed over the past decade. Bridging disciplines and making knowledge accessible across sectors is critical to driving real-world impact.”

This edition comes from a survey and synthesis conducted in 2024, and the work for a second manuscript is ongoing.

Future Earth members that contributed to the first synthesis manuscript:

• Alexandros Gasparatos, Health Knowledge-Action Network
• Cornelia B. Krug, BioDISCOVERY
• Markus Reichstein, Risk Knowledge-Action Network
• David Obura, Earth Commision
• Fabrice DeClerck, Earth Commision
• Peter H. Verburg, Global Land Program & Earth Commission
• Amy Luers, Former Executive Director, Future Earth
• Damon Matthews, Future Earth & Sustainability in the Digital Age
• Giles B. Sioen, Co-lead Research and Innovation, Future Earth