Unveiling global sustainability boundaries: exploring inner dimensions of human critical determinants for sustainability

Abstract

Greater global awareness and action to implement sustainable development are underway. However, global progress towards sustainability has been slow. Advancing towards some form of sustainability requires greater attention and analysis of the role played by the human inner world. While the scientific analytic tools have focused on external aspects, we present a scientific methodology to identify human critical determinants (HCDs) acquired during the human biological and cultural evolution, which, although crucial for survival, well-being, and economic prosperity, may also currently act as human sustainability boundaries (HSDs). These boundaries can be softened by personal transformations with the capability of spurring resonant institutional and governance transformations. This commentary examines how a definable set of interacting and interdependent HCD provides a complete and coherent explanation of why reaching sustainability is currently an elusive objective.