Caps should be imposed on total resource extraction, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic pollution, aligned with scientifically defined planetary boundaries and principles of equity. Global North countries, as the primary historical drivers of ecological breakdown, should undertake the fastest and deepest reductions, while countries of the Global South should retain policy space to expand essential provisioning within a shrinking global carbon and resource budget. At the national level, governments should introduce legally enforceable limits on fossil fuel extraction, industrial material throughput, and hazardous pollutants. In addition, democratic planning should dictate that resource use be prioritised for socially and ecologically valuable sectors such as food, housing, healthcare, and renewable energy infrastructure, while simultaneously phasing down ecologically destructive and socially unnecessary production. This would help counter the artificial scarcity of essential goods needed for a dignified life for all. Complementary measures, such as just transition programs, universal services, and minimum income guarantees are critical to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected during transitions.
