Social equality

Philosophy

Ecology

Social sustainability

Biology

Environmental economics

Sustainability

Futures contract

Economics

Market economy

Computer science

Sustainability science

Anthropocene

Business

Environmental planning

Intergenerational equity

Environmental ethics

Geography

Political science

Environmental resource management

Sustainable development

Sociology

Artificial intelligence

Finance

Equity (law)

Perspective (graphical)

Social system

Ecological systems theory

Social science

Global Sustainability

Non-technical summary It is no longer possible nor desirable to address the dual challenges of equity and sustainability separately. Instead, they require new thinking and approaches which recognize their interlinkages, as well as the multiple perspectives and dimensions involved. We illustrate how equity and sustainability are intertwined, and how a complex social–ecological systems lens brings together advances from across the social and natural sciences to show how (in)equity and (un)sustainability are produced by the interactions and dynamics of coupled social–ecological systems. This should help understand which possible pathways could lead to sustainable and fair futures.

Equity and sustainability in the Anthropocene: a social–ecological systems perspective on their intertwined futures