The Original Human Quest Project
The Human Quest: Prospering Within Planetary Boundaries was an environmental communication project built around a large-format illustrated book published in 2012. It brought together scientific research, environmental storytelling and nature photography to examine one of the defining questions of the twenty-first century:
How can humanity achieve prosperity while remaining within the ecological limits of Earth?
The project combined the sustainability research of Johan Rockström with the photography and visual storytelling of Mattias Klum. Rockström is known for his work on the planetary boundaries framework, while Klum is an environmental photographer and filmmaker whose work has documented ecosystems, wildlife and communities around the world.
Rather than presenting environmental change only as a collection of isolated problems, the project explored the relationships among climate, biodiversity, freshwater, land use, food production, economic development and human well-being. Science explained the risks and limits; photography helped communicate what was at stake.
Authors and Contributors
The book was written by:
- Johan Rockström
- Mattias Klum
Mattias Klum’s official bibliography identifies the publication as a collaboration with Johan Rockström and notes that it included a foreword by former United States President Bill Clinton. citeturn560318search14turn788573search0
Some catalog records may list additional editorial or photographic contributors, but Rockström and Klum are recognized as the book’s principal co-authors.
Publication Information
The Human Quest: Prospering Within Planetary Boundaries was published in 2012.
The WorldCat library record describes it as an English-language print book, first edition, published in Stockholm by Langenskiölds in 2012. It lists Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum as authors and Bill Clinton as the writer of the preface. citeturn988641search1
Bibliographic summary:
- Title: The Human Quest: Prospering Within Planetary Boundaries
- Authors: Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum
- Foreword: Bill Clinton
- Publication year: 2012
- Original publisher: Langenskiölds
- Place of publication: Stockholm, Sweden
- Language: English
Launch and International Context
According to Rockström and Klum’s later account of the project, the book was launched in the spring of 2012 in connection with the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, commonly known as Rio+20.
With support from the Swedish Postcode Lottery, copies were presented to delegates and more than 130 heads of state and government. The authors described the book as an attempt to establish an authoritative foundation for a new international discussion about human development within planetary boundaries. citeturn170660search0turn788573search2
Klum’s official biography also records the presentation of his photography in Rio de Janeiro during the 2012 Rio+20 conference. citeturn788573search0
The Book’s Central Theme
The central theme of The Human Quest is that long-term human prosperity depends on maintaining the stability and resilience of Earth’s life-support systems.
The book considers how growing populations, consumption, agriculture, energy production and economic activity affect planetary processes. It presents planetary boundaries as a framework for understanding the environmental conditions within which societies may continue to develop safely.
Its message is not limited to environmental decline. The project also emphasizes human ingenuity, cooperation and the possibility of changing technological, economic and social systems. Its combination of scientific analysis and photography was intended to connect rational understanding with emotional engagement.
Bill Clinton’s foreword characterized the book as a combination of world-class photography and evidence that collective action could redirect damaging environmental trends toward a more resilient and prosperous future. citeturn560318search14
Official and Library Sources
Readers looking for information about the original publication can consult the following sources:
- The Human Quest in the WorldCat library catalog
- Mattias Klum’s official biography and bibliography
- Swedish LIBRIS catalog record for the Swedish edition
These external pages are maintained by their respective authors, institutions or catalog providers. Availability and bibliographic information may change over time.
About the Current TheHumanQuest.org
The present TheHumanQuest.org is an independent educational publication focused on planetary boundaries, sustainability, environmental science, resilience and the relationship between human prosperity and the living planet.
This website is not the original book project, its publisher or an official website operated by Johan Rockström, Mattias Klum, Bill Clinton, Langenskiölds, the Stockholm Resilience Centre or any organization involved in producing or promoting the 2012 publication.
References to The Human Quest: Prospering Within Planetary Boundaries are provided for historical, bibliographic and educational context. The use of the domain name does not imply endorsement, partnership, sponsorship or authorization by the original authors, photographers, contributors or publisher.
Copyright and Content Policy
TheHumanQuest.org does not reproduce or republish the original book.
The site does not provide unauthorized scans, downloadable copies, substantial extracts or reconstructed chapters from The Human Quest: Prospering Within Planetary Boundaries. Readers who wish to access the book should search legitimate library catalogs, booksellers or authorized sources.
TheHumanQuest.org also does not republish copyrighted photographs from the book or from Mattias Klum’s professional portfolio without permission. Images appearing on this website must be:
- Original works created for the site;
- Properly licensed stock or editorial images;
- Public-domain materials; or
- Materials used with documented permission from the copyright holder.
All rights in the original book, its text, photographs, illustrations, design and associated creative materials remain with their respective authors, photographers, publishers and other rights holders.
This independent site preserves the historical context of the original project while publishing new, separately created educational material about humanity’s challenge of prospering within the boundaries of a finite planet.