An Analysis of Earth System Approach to the Global Pact for the Environment - International Environmental Law-making and Diplomacy Review 2019 Chapter 4

‘Earth system’ refers to Earth’s physical, chemical and biological processes interacting with one another. The system consists of the land, oceans, atmosphere and poles. It also includes the planet’s natural cycles – the carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and other cycles. The integrity of Earth systems is eroding at a rapid pace and it has become more apparent than ever. We are faced with unprecedented socio-ecological crisis that gravely threatens all life on Earth. Human activities are increasingly crossing the planetary boundaries, which is pushing the Earth to enter into an Anthropocene era – an era which is altogether a more unpredictable and unstable geological epoch.