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 what we can do to protect it.
At the heart of the workshop is the Planetary Boundaries Framework, developed by leading scientists from institutes such as the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The framework identifies nine critical Earth system processes – from climate and biodiversity to freshwater and nutrient cycles – that together maintain the stability and resilience of our planet. These ‘planetary boundaries’ define the ‘safe operating space’ for humanity, preserving the environmental conditions that have allowed human societies and the broader web of life to flourish for the past thousands of years. Crossing these boundaries increases the risk of destabilising Earth’s systems, leading to potentially irreversible environmental change.
Today, six of the nine planetary boundaries have been crossed, with seven under increasing pressure. As Earth’s life-support systems weaken, the need for urgent action is clear: to secure a safe and just future for all, we must reduce the pressures on our planet and guide humanity back to the safe operating space.
But where do we begin? What needs to change – and how can we all be part of that?
With the Planetary Boundaries Fresco, you’re invited to explore these questions through guided discussions, collaborative group exercises and a visually rich, interactive card game (inspired by the Climate Fresk) that brings the science to life. As you work with others, you’ll uncover how human activities are driving changes across Earth’s systems, trace the ripple effects of these pressures, and reflect on what it means to cross planetary boundaries – and what it will take to guide humanity back into a safe operating space.
It’s an engaging and fun format that offers a space to step back, connect, and open the door to new ways of seeing – and being – on the only planet we call home.
From classrooms to boardrooms, and from dinner tables to global conferences, the workshop has sparked meaningful conversations across sectors and continents, empowering participants to think critically about sustainability and collective action.
Each session builds on collective intelligence, fostering shared understanding through guided discussions and interactive group exercises. The format works best in groups of 4 to 8 participants, and we can facilitate up to four groups (32 participants) simultaneously in person. For larger events, we can involve additional trained facilitators to ensure a high-quality experience for all participants.
Workshops last 3 to 3.5 hours and can be delivered in-person or online, in English or Dutch. The format is flexible and can be adapted to a wide range of settings – from community events and educational programmes to organisational workshops and strategy sessions – and can be tailored to explore topics such as policy, organisational change, or local action.
3 — 3.5 hours
4 — 32 people
in-person & online
English & Dutch
🌍 The workshop begins with a warm welcome and a moment to connect with each other and the systems that support life on Earth. You’ll be introduced to key concepts that help make sense of how the Earth system functions, and what happens when we push beyond the boundaries of the planet we call home.
Next is a collaborative group exercise that brings the science to life. Using 42 illustrated cards, representing the planetary boundaries and the causes and consequences of their transgression, you’ll explore how human activities drive planetary change. Together, you’ll trace patterns and connections, and reflect on the deeper questions that arise around justice, responsibility, and our shared future.
After mapping the system, we take a moment for you to pause and reflect on what you’ve learned, how it feels, and what it all means to you. Then, together, you’ll bring your group’s insights to life by turning them into a “fresco” – a creative expression of your shared understanding.
🖐🏾 Finally, you’ll explore together what action can look like and what is required on a community, policy, and economic level to bring humanity back towards the safe operating space. Through a group exercise called planetary accounting, you’ll consider how different choices can ease pressure across multiple boundaries. This part of the workshop can be tailored to your context – whether that’s your organisation, community, or sector – and invites you to think big, reflect on meaningful responses, and imagine what’s possible when we act together.
Did you know that the Planetary Boundaries Fresco is built through grassroots collaboration? The workshop, its tools, and the global community around it are all shaped by volunteers passionate about raising planetary awareness and driving collective action.
We (Elise van Breda and Joy (Dorant) van Breda) lead the ongoing development of the workshop and its supporting materials – from facilitation guides and presentations to online workspaces and training content. We ensure the workshop reflects the latest science and support our growing global community in deepening their understanding and communicating it with confidence. Joy also serves on the association’s Board of Directors (1er Degré), helping guide international growth, translation efforts, and the strategic evolution of the workshop to reach more communities in more contexts.
By inviting us to deliver a professional (paid) workshop or facilitator training, you directly support the financial sustainability of this work, the tools, and the community behind it.
Curious what this looks like in action? Please scroll through the session highlights, or visit our full News & Events archive.
Whether you’re hosting a conference, capacity-building session or community event, we can tailor the Planetary Boundaries Fresco to engage your group and spark meaningful conversations.
It’s a powerful and accessible format that creates space for systems thinking, shared reflection, and narrative-building around planetary health and just transitions. With options for in-person or online facilitation in English or Dutch, we’ll help bring planetary awareness to your team or audience in a way that fits your goals.
Interested in collaborating? Get in touch – let’s create something impactful together.
We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a list of Planetary Boundaries Fresco workshops and facilitator training sessions that are open to the general public. For a full overview of upcoming participatory events, head over to our Workshop and Events page – a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your understanding.
Most public sessions require a small participation fee. For Planetary Boundaries workshops, this fee goes directly to the association to keep the tools accessible and support the community – we volunteer our time because we believe in the power of collective learning and spreading awareness. If the fee is a barrier to joining, just send us a message. Planetary education should be accessible to everyone, and we’re happy to work something out.
Each listing below will take you to the event page with more details and registration info.
