A safe and just operating space for human identity: a systems perspective.

Area of Science:

• Sustainability science
• Socio-ecological systems
• Environmental psychology

Background:

• The safe and just operating space concept bridges earth systems and social equity.
• Feedback loops between self-identity and planetary boundaries are often overlooked.
• Environmental degradation can negatively impact self-identity and pro-environmental behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the neglected feedback loops between self-identity and planetary boundaries.
• To investigate how environmental degradation and improvement influence self-identity and behavior.
• To propose an analogous safe and just operating space for self-identity.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis integrating biophysical and social science perspectives.
• Exploration of feedback mechanisms between environmental quality and self-identity.
• Theoretical framework development for socio-ecological systems and individual well-being.

Main Results:

• Environmental degradation creates a vicious cycle, reducing nature-identification and cooperation.
• Environmental improvement fosters a virtuous cycle, enhancing nature-integration, health, and prosocial actions.
• A safe and just operating space for self-identity is proposed, linked to planetary health stewardship.

Conclusions:

• Self-identity is a critical, yet underappreciated, factor in maintaining socio-ecological system stability.
• Nurturing a positive self-identity-nature connection is crucial for achieving sustainability goals.
• Individual well-being and planetary health are intrinsically linked through self-identity and behavior.