Md Atikur Rahman

The 21st century is increasingly defined by a ‘polycrisis,’ as the planet faces a convergence of ecological degradation, deepening social inequality, and systemic economic volatility. These challenges are not isolated; they are interconnected symptoms of a broader systemic failure. At the heart of this dysfunction lies a fractured social contract: the implicit agreement among citizens, the state, and the market that delineates their respective roles, rights, and responsibilities. This traditional contract, forged during an era of perceived resource abundance and focused on material throughput, is no longer fit for purpose. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global consensus on a more equitable and sustainable future. However, they are not merely a technical checklist—they demand a fundamental reconfiguration of societal structures. The SDGs are unattainable under the current societal “operating system,” which is inherently programmed to produce the very crises—ecological collapse and social inequality—that the goals aim to resolve.

The dominant social contract of the 20th century, especially in industrialized nations, was built on an implicit bargain: in exchange for political loyalty and labor, the state and market would deliver economic security, rising prosperity, and public services. While this model generated unprecedented wealth, it rested on two flawed assumptions. First, it treated nature as an infinite “externality”—a passive resource to be exploited and a limitless sink for waste. This mindset institutionalized environmental degradation, directly contributing to the climate crisis and the sixth mass extinction. Second, it elevated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the ultimate measure of national success. Yet GDP is a narrow indicator of economic activity, blind to wealth distribution, human well-being, and the value of unpaid care work.

The consequences are now evident: eroding public trust, rising inequality, and a growing backlash against environmental policies. This resistance is not a rejection of sustainability but a symptom of a broken contract—an outcry from those who feel excluded from the benefits of progress and burdened by its costs. To meet the demands of the 21st century, the social contract must be consciously reimagined. A new Green and Social Contract must redefine the roles of the state, market, and civil society, grounded in three foundational pillars: ecological integrity, deep social inclusion, and intergenerational and global justice.

Ecological integrity must be the cornerstone of the new contract. Rooted in the science of Planetary Boundaries, this principle repositions the planet as a principal stakeholder. The state’s mandate must expand to include the protection of life-supporting ecological systems. This requires robust regulatory frameworks, the elimination of harmful subsidies—particularly for fossil fuels—and the enforcement of environmental standards. Markets must transition from linear, extractive models to circular, regenerative systems. Tools such as carbon pricing, mandatory supply chain transparency, and integrated accounting for natural and social capital are essential. Citizens, too, must adopt sustainable consumption patterns, striking a balance between individual rights and collective ecological responsibilities.

The second pillar, deep social inclusion, recognizes that sustainability cannot be achieved on a foundation of inequality. The new contract must prioritize equity and human dignity, ensuring that the ecological transition is a Just Transition. This involves protecting vulnerable communities, supporting displaced workers, and investing in green jobs, skills development, and inclusive infrastructure. Moreover, procedural justice is essential to ensure that the transition is fair not only in its outcomes but also throughout the decision-making process. This requires dismantling systemic barriers and empowering marginalized groups—especially indigenous peoples, youth, and local communities—to shape their futures. The previous contract tolerated widespread disparities as collateral to economic growth; the new paradigm must place inclusion and fairness at its core.

The third pillar expands the scope of the social contract across time and borders. Intergenerational equity, as defined by the Brundtland Commission—“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”—reframes current generations as stewards of the planet. Climate policy thus becomes a moral imperative, not just a technical challenge. Simultaneously, the contract must embrace global justice. Climate change and ecological degradation are transboundary challenges. The old contract allowed wealthy nations to externalize environmental and labor costs to the Global South. A just global contract demands solidarity—through climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building support from developed to developing nations. This is not charity; it is a matter of justice and shared survival.

Redefining the social contract requires confronting entrenched interests, particularly in the fossil fuel and financial sectors, which resist transformative change. Moreover, democratic systems, constrained by short-term electoral cycles, often struggle to address long-term, intergenerational challenges. The erosion of public trust, fueled by decades of inequality, has weakened the social cohesion necessary for collective action. The rise of political polarization and anti-environmental sentiment underscores the inadequacy of 20th-century frameworks in addressing 21st-century realities. Incremental reforms are insufficient.

This transformation must be driven not by top-down technocratic mandates but by inclusive, participatory governance. Initiatives like Citizens’ Assemblies on climate demonstrate the potential of democratic engagement to overcome political gridlock and foster shared understanding. Building a new public consensus is imperative—one that recognizes the interdependence of economic vitality, social justice, and ecological sustainability. A thriving economy cannot exist without equity, and equity cannot endure without environmental integrity. This is not merely a policy challenge; it is a profound governance, economic, and ethical imperative of our time.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires more than incremental reform—it demands a fundamental redefinition of societal roles and responsibilities. A renewed Green and Social Contract must integrate ecological integrity, inclusive development, and intergenerational justice, ensuring that economic systems operate within planetary boundaries and that all communities are equitably engaged in the transition to a sustainable future. This transformation must be built through participatory governance, restoring public trust and fostering collective stewardship. Ultimately, rethinking the social contract is not simply a policy imperative—it is a moral and strategic necessity for building resilient, just, and sustainable societies.

The writer is a researcher