Otto Poon Lecture From Global Change to Ecological Civilization: Rethinking Humanity’s Future on a Changing Planet

Humanity’s relationship with the Earth has entered a new era. Over recent decades, our understanding of environmental change has evolved from studying individual problems to recognizing the Earth as an interconnected system in which human activities have become a major force of change. Drawing on experiences in international global change research and Future Earth, this lecture traces the evolution of global sustainability thinking—from global change and Earth System Science to planetary boundaries and ecological civilization. Particular attention will be given to climate change and the rapidly changing cryosphere, which provide powerful evidence of the growing pressures on the Earth system and their far-reaching consequences for societies. The lecture will explore how scientific understanding, technological innovation, governance, and changing values can come together to redefine humanity’s relationship with nature and help build a more sustainable and resilient future.