Tread Softly - briefings on global justice for people and planet

An educational resource that promotes the values of global citizenship and international cooperation

Tread Softly briefings cover almost 100 topics relevant to sustainable development and global justice, organised into 12 familiar headings. The briefings offer basic analysis of the world’s major social and environmental problems. They seek to demonstrate that solutions invariably depend on principled international agreement and coordinated action.

Whilst the content strives to recognise differing views on controversial issues, there is a bias towards the call to “leave no one behind”, as articulated in the UN’s Global Goals on Sustainable Development. These Goals recognise principles of justice and equity, currently unfashionable, but likely to become the essential tools of humanity as the planet wrestles with its environmental limits.

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Developed over the last decade, two concepts in particular encapsulate a vision of sustainable development that informs Tread Softly briefings.

Planetary Boundaries

Scientists from the Stockholm Resilience Centre have examined the sustainability of the planet’s natural life support systems by assessing nine critical areas of anthropogenic impact. They conclude that four of these measures – climate change, loss of biosphere integrity, land-system change, and altered biogeochemical cycles (phosphorus and nitrogen) – exceed their “planetary boundaries”, the point at which the biosphere is at risk of instability.

These scientists believe that continued failure to respect planetary boundaries could drive earth systems into a permanently altered state, almost certainly with dire consequences for the human species.

Abundance within planetary boundaries – Johan Rockstrom continues to develop the concept of the safe operating space for humanity.
from Virgin Unite

The safe and just space for humanity

Inspired by a 2012 discussion paper published by Kate Raworth, then employed by Oxfam, development agencies have pointed out that tolerance thresholds also exist for individual families, whose social boundaries are measured in dignity rather than a test tube. To impose policies which remedy environmental damage caused by affluent lifestyles, without priority for eliminating poverty and hunger, would offend any sense of global justice.

The conceptual gap between these planetary and social boundaries therefore delineates “a safe and just space for humanity,” a “doughnut” vision of sustainable development. The UN Sustainable Development Goals must steer all humanity into this safe space if they are to be our touchstone.

Kate Raworth explains her idea of combining planetary and social boundaries into a vision of sustainable development
from Oxfam International

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A Good Life For All Within Planetary Boundaries – a data-driven opportunity to visualise and compare the environmental and social performance of nations relative to a “safe and just” development space. Not one country currently meets basic needs for its citizens at a globally sustainable level of resource use.

from University of Leeds

Recent News and Opinion about Global Justice

to filter these selections by theme, click on the menu above

Fragile democracies at risk in Central Africa as violence escalates

7/6/2021: The head the UN Regional Office for Central Africa has warned that violent attacks by non-State armed groups, including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and the Lord’s Resistance Army, are increasing. They pose threats to electoral progress that has been made within the subregion in recent years.

Source: UN News

Can COVAX really vaccinate the world?

8/6/2021: So far 75% of the world’s Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed in just 10 countries. The COVAX program that aims to acquire vaccines for poorer countries faces many hurdles, in particular India's decision to ban vaccine exports.

Source: DW

The G7 global tax deal represents genuine progress

6/6/2021: Corporate tax rules designed a hundred years ago are no longer fit for purpose. Multinational giants play pick and mix with tax jurisdictions, using their power to play countries off against each other. The Guardian says that the G7 finance ministers’ agreement on a fairer global tax system is a step in the right direction. The agreement will now go forward for discussion at the G20 summit in Venice next month.

Source: The Guardian

Global food prices rise at rapid pace in May

3/6/2021: Global food prices rose in May at their fastest monthly rate in more than a decade, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. A surge in the international prices of vegetable oils, sugar and cereals pushed the index to its highest value since September 2011.

Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Climate change fans spread of crop-damaging pests

2/6/2021: A scientific review facilitated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) finds that climate change will increase the risk of pests spreading in agricultural and forestry ecosystems. The FAO estimates that annually up to 40 percent of global crop production is lost to pests.

Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Rethinking Food Systems

4/6/2021: The UN Environment Programme and partners have launched the Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology - a sustainable farming approach inspired by natural ecosystems. The UN Food Systems Summit in September will be an opportunity to promote policies that prioritize regenerative agriculture and redirect subsidies away from intensive farming methods.

Source: UN Environment Programme

Fish exports deprive West African populations of vital protein

1/6/2021: More than half a million tonnes of small pelagic fish are extracted every year along the coast of West Africa and converted into animal feed, dietary supplements, cosmetics and pet food products outside the African continent. Greenpeace Africa says that the food security of over 33 million people in the region is affected.

Source: Greenpeace International

Sanctions: What are they good for?

4/6/2021: How to confront rogue regimes, such as Belarus and Myanmar, has long vexed governments that wish to safeguard rules-based relations and free trade. Sanctions are a popular option but are not a panacea to the world's problems. Like war, sanctions can lead to unintended consequences and collateral damage.

Source: DW

Soil pollution threatens future food production and ecosystems

4/6/2021: Industrial and mining activities, poorly managed urban and industrial waste, fossil fuel extraction and processing, as well as unsustainable agricultural practices and transport, have been identified as the main sources of soil pollution. The joint report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Environment Programme says that the use of pesticides increased by 75 percent between 2000 and 2017.

Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Africa not ready for third wave of Covid-19

3/6/2021: The struggle to acquire vaccines has left Africa poorly equipped to deal with a fresh surge in COVID-19. The continent has seen a 20% increase in cases in the past two weeks. Most African countries have less than than one intensive care unit bed per 100,000 people.

Source: DW

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