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

End the 'War on Terror'

11/9/2021: On the twentieth anniversary of the attacks on New York, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch calls on President Biden to announce a definitive end to the forever "global war on terror." The abuses of security forces have arguably promoted as much terrorism as the effort has stopped.

Source: Human Rights Watch

Indonesia terminates $1bn REDD+ agreement with Norway

10/9/2021: Indonesia has terminated a long-standing agreement with Norway, in which the latter agreed to pay US$1 billion if the forest-rich tropical country is able to slow its emissions from deforestation. The Indonesian government cited lack of progress in the payment.

Source: Mongabay

Cut less, leave longer: we are over-exploiting tropical rainforests

8/9/2021: The timber harvesting cycle in most tropical countries stipulates rotation periods of 25-35 years to allow the forest to recover. New research suggests that true sustainability would require a considerable reduction in the harvesting intensity and a significant increase in the duration of these logging cycles.

Source: The Conversation

Call to postpone COP26 due to unequal vaccine access

7/9/2021: A global partnership of climate NGOs is concerned that the UN conference scheduled in early November would de facto exclude many government delegates, civil society campaigners and journalists, particularly from Global South countries. Repeated requests to the UK Presidency for clarity around support for Covid logistics and quarantine costs have not been forthcoming.

Source: Climate Action Network International

The 'war on terror' and the consequences for the world

10/9/2021: Twenty years ago terrorists challenged the world's only remaining superpower. In response, the United States declared a "war on terror." The world continues to struggle with the consequences.

Source: DW

Ecowas leaders show lack of moral authority

11/9/2021: The Guinea coup has sparked a major debate across West Africa, with opinions sharply divided about the role of the Economic Community of West African States. Ecowas has struggled to uphold good governance as an uncompromising tenet of its membership.

Source: The East African

UK’s unlawful cruelty in the English Channel

10/9/2021: Human Rights Watch says that the UK government’s reported plan to “turn around” boats of migrants and refugees in the English Channel is irresponsible, dangerous, and unlawful. The responsibility to assist people in distress at sea is a humanitarian duty developed by maritime nations like the UK going back hundreds of years.

Source: Human Rights Watch

UN warns that blocking funds to Afghanistan could backfire

9/9/2021: The UN's special envoy on Afghanistan says that freezing bank accounts to keep money out of Taliban hands could plunge millions more into poverty. Much of the Afghan central bank's assets are not held in the country and the Taliban is unable to access the International Monetary Fund's $440 million emergency reserve.

Source: DW

Making the case for CEDAW ratification by the United States

7/9/2021: The US is one of only a handful of countries that has yet to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in common with Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Tonga, and Palau. There are good reasons why the Biden administration should rally bipartisan support to ratify CEDAW to advance the human rights of women around the world.

Source: Inter Press Service

UN calls out unacceptable delays in COVAX deliveries

8/9/2021: The UN has condemned the global picture of access to COVID-19 vaccines as unacceptable, with only 20% of citizens in low income nations likely to receive a dose before the end of 2021. The statement calls on countries that have already achieved high coverage to give up their place in the queue of orders to COVAX.

Source: UN News

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