The Earth has exceeded its ecological carrying capacity: six out of nine Earth planetary boundaries have already been surpassed. The corresponding Earth system is destabilising as a result, from the climate and biogeochemical cycles to biodiversity. This decline threatens not only ecosystems worldwide, but also the very foundations of human life on earth. European political and economic strategies still focus primarily on mitigating economically induced damage through technological efficiency gains. However, this only allows us to freeze the current state – at best – while we are already well outside of the safe operating space for humanity.
Therefore, new strategies are needed that deliver more than mere damage avoidance. Regenerative economics is one such strategy. A regenerative economy actively contributes to the restoration of ecosystems and supports the regeneration of natural systems. This issue of In Brief shows that the path back within planetary boundaries requires a fundamental mindset shift. Economic success should be linked to the restoration of the health of ecological and social systems. This, in turn, requires new approaches to impact-oriented research, combined with concrete steps to change the current economic system.