More than a decade ago, scientists defined a set of biophysical global limits, known as planetary boundaries, within which humanity can operate 'safely'. These span nine areas -climate change, the biosphere, nutrients, water, land use, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, aerosols and 'novel entities' (pollutants and pathogens) 1 . Since 2019, a task force called the Earth Commission, co-led by one of us ( J.R.), has been integrating social-science perspectives to ensure that such