We aim to analyze the global scale ramifications of humanity´s rapid movement into the Anthropocene.

Linking social-ecological changes
Human activities now match (and often exceed) the natural forces that regulate the Earth System. Recent ice core data show that current levels of carbon dioxide and methane are well outside the range of natural variability over the last 800,000 years.

Roughly half of the world´s ice-free land surface has been altered by human actions. Particles emitted by human activities alter the energy balance of the planet, as well as have adverse effects on human health. These may seem to be unrelated issues; however, over the last decades, we have gained a deeper understanding of the degree to which all of these different issues are linked.

In addition, cross-scale issues are an important element of this theme, since global-scale processes can cause disproportionate changes on smaller scales, and small-scale processes can aggregate in ways that lead to global-scale impacts.

Focus on three main themes
There is a real risk that the climate of the Earth will, as a result of human influences on natural processes, exceed the limits for human security and wellbeing in many parts of the world. The inertia of the Earth System, including society, requires immediate and concerted actions to build resilience and adaptive capacity to the changes we anticipate.

Our initial research focus will concentrate on three main themes:

1. Planetary boundaries
2. Earth system governance
3. Horizon issues in global environmental change

These themes will be addressed through a number of different approaches. Since the focus is global, addressing these themes requires a global network of researchers.

We will take advantage of close connections and collaboration with international research networks such as the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP), its partner programmes (IGBP, DIVERSITAS, IHDP, WCRP), and other international networks.