Today, we face urgent and escalating challenges which are pressuring planetary boundaries and social norms. Immediately, these include the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and a looming global economic crisis; but also existential threats to the very fabric that sustains life – our climate, biodiversity and natural systems.
Our existing political and economic frameworks are struggling to address today's challenges, and a concerted effort at reform is needed to enable a transition to a sustainable future. If we are to survive and flourish, we need radically to accelerate progress. The law is central to achieving this goal, yet there is limited discourse on its value and the essential roles it can play.