Mobilising Science for a Green Renaissance
The Frontiers Planet Prize triggers a global science race to transition to a sustainable world.
Our planet has nine scientifically identified boundaries which define the safe limits for human survival1. These include the ozone layer that shields us from harmful radiation, the climatic temperatures that support life, the acidity of our oceans that serve as abundant sources of food and livelihoods, the purity of our air, the preservation of our forests – the planet's lungs, the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity which are essential for climate stabilisation, and the conservation of the freshwater we all rely upon.
Crossing even one of these boundaries affects the others, and transgressing all propels us past a critical tipping point. The planet, then, could shift, possibly violently, into a new equilibrium, radically altering the conditions for human life.
The 2023 Climate Change Synthesis Report2 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revealed the alarming human-driven impacts on Earth. Climatic extremes are becoming the norm - with global temperatures projected to reach 1.5°C by 2030, two decades sooner than previously estimated. Such changes threaten to disrupt ecosystems, jeopardise food systems and global supply chains, trigger large-scale migrations of humans and animals, and increase the likelihood of geopolitical unrest, wars, and the emergence of new epidemics and pandemics.
Alarmingly, we have already overstepped six of the nine planetary boundaries3. Neither money nor goodwill, on their own, can prevent us from pushing beyond all nine and ushering in a drastically different reality. Our salvation lies in urgent scientific innovation and rapid global deployment of these advancements.
The urgency is palpable. We need advanced marine solutions to combat ocean acidification, enhanced environmental engineering to keep our air clean, innovative forestry practices to safeguard our planet's lungs, and progressive agricultural techniques that nurture rather than exploit ecosystems. Cutting-edge biological research is paramount to understand and preserve crucial species, as biodiversity loss poses a grave threat. Additionally, groundbreaking hydrological solutions are essential to protect our freshwater resources.
The monumental challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions demands fresh scientific approaches in nuclear safety, renewable energy, fusion, and more. From greener factories and homes to carbon capture and eco-friendly construction materials, the scope is vast. Additionally, we require modern social science to construct resilient infrastructures and responsive disaster management, as well as breakthroughs in vaccine development and robust public health systems.
A green renaissance in science needs exponential funding. Enter the Frontiers Planet Prize4 (FPP). Structured akin to the Nobel Prize but executed with the fervor of the Olympics, FPP aims to galvanise the global scientific community. Launched on Earth Day 20225, this prize encourages universities worldwide to nominate their top three scientists working on breakthroughs in sustainability. These nominations are then vetted at national level and the crème de la crème compete on an international stage before an independent Jury of 100, who vote for the national and international champions. The international champions are awarded 1 million Swiss francs each6. As a testament to its impact, the number of university participants has already doubled, covering 95% of the world’s research on sustainability for its next edition.
Managed by the Frontiers Research Foundation7 in Switzerland, the FPP is more than just a prize; it is a clarion call for an international scientific movement. The vision is clear: if such prizes can be increased in number and size, they can potentially amplify global funding exponentially - sparking the most significant race in human history for sustainable solutions; sparking scientists to innovate, universities to fund their researchers, and nations to prioritise sustainability research.
As this race gains momentum, the global public will rally behind, like in the Olympics, and embrace the critical scientific solutions that emerge.
