The rise and threatened fall of planetary thinking

The research infrastructure of Earth science depends fundamentally on international cooperation, open-data exchange, and long-term institutional support. Here we argue that growing global threats to science could initiate the erosion of the complex, collective understanding of planetary systems that underpins climate policy. The research infrastructure of Earth science depends fundamentally on international cooperation, open-data exchange, and long-term institutional support. This Comment argues that growing global threats to science could initiate the erosion of the complex, collective understanding of planetary systems that underpins climate policy.