How do we make planetary science not only understandable, but also inspiring and actionable – not just for experts, but for everyone?

This question has been at the heart of a project that Elise van Breda and I have poured our time, energy, and love into over the past year: the Planetary Boundaries Fresco (Fresque des frontières planétaires). It’s a participatory workshop that brings Earth system science to life – and one we’ve helped further develop as a tool for transformation.

From day one, this has been a community effort. Together with facilitators, educators, scientists, students, and curious citizens from around the world, we’ve been building a tool that turns complex science into something people can use – to connect the dots, break out of silos, embrace systems thinking, and move from awareness to action.

So, what is the Planetary Boundaries Fresco?

The Planetary Boundaries Fresco is a 3 to 3.5-hour collaborative and educational systems-thinking experience designed to raise awareness of humanity’s impact on the planet and explore what we can do to protect it.

At the heart of the workshop is the Planetary Boundaries Framework, developed by leading scientists from the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), and other global research institutions. The framework identifies nine critical Earth system processes – from climate and biodiversity to freshwater and nutrient cycles – that work together to maintain the stability and resilience of our planet.

These so-called planetary boundaries define a safe operating space for humanity, reflecting the environmental conditions that have allowed human societies – and the broader web of life – to thrive for thousands of years.

But today, we have already crossed six of the nine boundaries, and seven are under increasing pressure (!!). Each transgression increases the risk of destabilising Earth’s systems, potentially leading to irreversible environmental change. With the planet’s life-support systems weakening, the call for urgent action is clear: we must reduce the pressures on Earth and find our way back into the safe operating space.

But where do we begin? What needs to change – and how can we all be part of that?

This is where the Planetary Boundaries Fresco comes in.

The workshop invites participants to explore the links between Earth’s systems, trace the cascading effects of human activities, and reflect on what it truly means to cross a planetary boundary – and what it will take to guide humanity back into a safe operating space.

It’s an engaging, fun, participatory format where participants engage not only with the science, but also with the beauty, complexity and fragility of the living systems that sustain all life. The workshop offers a space to step back, see the bigger picture, and ask: Where do I fit in? What can I contribute? And how do we respond – together?

— Read more on our dedicated workshop page!

We have the science – now we need good tools

Earth’s life-support systems are weakening. The recent Planetary Health Check Report lays out the science clearly, showing how deeply interconnected our systems are, how far across boundaries we have gone, and what needs to be done. But understanding is only the beginning.

In today’s world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale and complexity of the planetary crisis, as well as the deepening social and economic inequalities that result. We’re not short on reports, data, or assessments – on the contrary, many of us have read more than a few.

The knowledge and solutions are there. The real challenge now? Implementation and scale.

But where do we begin?

For those who don’t know me very well: my partner Elise van Breda and I genuinely enjoy reading, analysing, and sometimes lovingly critiquing reports. We read them out loud while cooking, dissect the language, sit with the gut-punching facts, debate the justice implications, and reflect on what’s actionable.

I always used to joke that we shouldn’t let others know we do this for fun in our spare time, because, secretly, our dream was to be part of big projects that required us to do it – and paid us for it. Now that we are, it feels like a real priviledge. Behind that joke was the genuine belief that one of the most valuable things Elise and I can offer is the ability to translate complex scientific findings into actionable insights – something people can actually use.

That’s why Elise and I often find ourselves talking about what’s missing: the tools and narratives that carry science and knowledge into the hearts of people and into the policies that shape our future. Ones that challenge the old ways of thinking and open space for new possibilities. That help paint a clearer picture of the interconnected challenges of our time, enable individuals to make sense of them, see where they fit in, and imagine what kind of contribution they can make.

From curiosity to creation

A few years ago, we came across the concept of planetary boundaries and were immediately drawn to its potential as a communication tool. With the right framing and format, it could help people break out of silos, embrace systems thinking, and move from awareness to action.

Over the past year, Elise and I have poured our hearts and time into shaping that potential into something tangible and accessible – a participatory workshop that brings Earth system science to life.

The Planetary Boundaries Fresco, is a collaborative, systems-thinking experience. It invites participants to explore the links between land, biodiversity, climate, water, and other key Earth system processes – and to identify sustainable pathways and systemic solutions to prevent planetary overshoot.

Inspired by the successes of the Climate Fresk format, the first version of the workshop was initiated in 2022 by Arthur de Lassus to make complex sustainability issues more accessible and actionable. Since then, the workshop has steadily evolved thanks to the contributions of a global community of volunteer facilitators and educators. Together, they’ve refined the content, improved the facilitation approach, and helped make planetary boundaries science accessible to all.

When we joined the project in 2024, it quickly became about more than developing tools and scaling a workshop. It became about shaping a global community – one that includes facilitators, educators, scientists, students, and activists from around the world. Anyone who feels the urgency and is passionate about raising planetary awareness and driving collective action.

A tool built with love and powered by community

Elise and I have already dedicated hundreds of voluntary hours to this project. Beyond running public sessions (including one at the Stockholm Resilience Centre) and training new facilitators, we lead the ongoing development of the workshop and its supporting materials – from facilitation guides and presentations to online workspaces and training content. We’ve picked up the tool and refined its pedagogy and structure, improved the learning and facilitation experience, aligned the materials with the latest science (including the Planetary Health Check 2024), and supported our growing global community in deepening their understanding and communicating it with confidence.

And this is just the start! I recently joined the Board of Directors of the association behind the workshop (1er Degré) to lead international growth, shape the strategic evolution, and support translation efforts. The workshop is now available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, and Dutch, with many more languages on the way, enabling us to reach more communities in more contexts.

This is a true labour of love for both of us.

And just like the Planetary Boundaries framework – developed by a global network of interdisciplinary scientists, including Johan Rockström (original 2009 study), the late Will Steffen (2015 update), and Katherine Richardson (the 2023 update) – the workshop is now shaped and strengthened by a global community of facilitators.

It’s also opening up deeper conversations:
What is not just ecologically safe, but also socially just?
What are the systems that need transformation, and how do we ensure equity as we restore balance?

This is where the science meets the work of the Earth Commission, the Global Commons Alliance, and others working to create a safe and just corridor for humanity and protect the commons of the planet we call home. These conversations remind us that justice and planetary health must go hand in hand – and that both rely on collective care.

A safe and just future won’t build itself

Isn’t it kind of amazing that through grassroots collaboration, we’ve developed something that makes systems thinking click? That gives people the confidence to engage their communities – and builds a movement of planetary stewards equipped to respond, not just as individuals, but together?

I’m incredibly grateful to Arthur de Lassus for trusting Elise and me to carry this work forward – to help develop the workshop into a powerful, community-driven tool. And to María Aguilar, Ash Goddard, Mahi Patki, Michael Klöpper, Mia Tahan, Katya Stupina, Jacques Lamoine, and so many others who helped translate, test, and improve the latest version.

And of course, I’m incredibly thankful to have done this together with Elise van Breda – to co-create something that brings the research we love to read into the hands of those who can drive change where it’s needed most.

This work isn’t done – it’s just getting started. We’re here to help bring the Planetary Boundaries Fresco to even more people around the world. Our mission is to support a growing network of planetary stewards – those ready to lead, care, and act.

Because a safe and just future won’t build itself.

But we can..

Let’s connect and build something together

Are you working at the intersection of science, education, systems thinking, or sustainability transformation?

If you represent an organisation like the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Global Commons Alliance, Earth Commission, UNEP, or the Club of Rome – or if you’re active in research, policy, or public engagement on topics like planetary health, Earth system governance, systems change, or the wellbeing economy – we’d love to connect.

Whether you’re building tools, designing learning experiences, exploring new narratives, or translating research into action, let’s talk. We’re always keen to collaborate with people and organisations who care deeply, think systemically, and are exploring new ways to bring planetary science to life.

By inviting us to deliver a workshop or facilitation training, or capacity-building session – as part of a conference, internal programme, or public engagement event – you help spread planetary awareness and directly support the financial sustainability of this work, the tools, and the community behind it.

The Planetary Boundaries Fresco is a participatory, accessible format that creates space for systems thinking, shared reflection, and narrative-building around planetary health and just transitions. With in-person or online facilitation available in English or Dutch – and options to dive deeper into topics like policy, organisational change, or local action – we can tailor the workshop to a wide range of audiences and settings, from classrooms and boardrooms to community gatherings and intergovernmental events.

We believe this format can make a meaningful contribution wherever science, justice, and transformation intersect – especially in spaces where new ways of thinking and collaborating are needed to meet the challenges of our time.

Curious what this looks like in action? Scroll through some of our session highlights, or reach out via email or LinkedIn (Elise or Joy) and we’ll happily share materials to give you a feel for the workshop and how it’s being used in diverse contexts.

Let’s raise planetary awareness, connect the dots, and imagine a better way forward. Together. 🌍