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History of IESP

Global warming is a fact, most likely caused by homo sapiens. Climate change is one of the the consequences of warming; other consequences include: spread of hunger and thirst; loss of human lives, of biodiversity, and of economic assets; migration of people and loss of social cohesion. It appears as if the Earth, Gaia, a very complex system controlled by a concert of physical, chemical and biotic processes, is shifting away from conditions favourable for humankind to survive.

What needs to be done?

• Because being expelled from Earth is not in the interest of humankind, measures are already being considered worldwide to secure our planet's long-term habitability. In principle, we have two alternatives to choose from: Refrain from any further intervention into the Earth system and trust on the self-healing capacity of Gaia.
  

• Take any possible efforts to guide the healing process in a direction that hopefully leads to restoration and consolidation of conditions favorable for humankind to survive.

In either case we have to understand that we deal with an extremely complex system consisting of a variety of components, properties, and processes. Taking the time constant in perspective, measures put in action today may show its effects, positive or negative, only after years, decades, or even centuries. It may be difficult, even impossible, in the future to correct the detrimental effects caused by wrong decisions made today.

Under these conditions, the decision makers of today carry a tremendous and unprecedented responsibility for humankind on Earth. Science is obliged to make available and understandable the knowledge that is necessary to make the correct decisions. Thus, scientists carry responsibility for the future of humanity.

To take responsibility, the Institute of Advanced Studies on Sustainability held a High-level Reflection Workshop on Earth System Engineering "The Art of Dealing Wisely with the Planet Earth" on September 23 - 26, 2008 at the Wildbad-Kreuth - Educational Centre of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Germany.

On advice of participants of this Workshop the "International Expert Group for Earth Systems Preservation" (IESP) was founded. IESP is a group of scientists, politicians and business representatives feeling obliged to foster responsible actions to ensure the continuation of an Earth System that allows humanity to survive well.

 

Workshop group in Wildbad Kreuth, Germany, September 24, 2008.