The paper “An Aspirational Approach to Planetary Futures” lays out the conceptual foundation for a proposed new metric to track and promote mutually beneficial relationships between humans and the rest of the living world. Inspired by the Human Development Index (HDI), which shifted global development debates beyond economic growth to human capabilities, the proposed Nature-Relationship Index (NRI) similarly seeks to move beyond tracking environmental harm alone. It aims instead to assess human–nature relationships as a core dimension of development, capturing progress toward more positive and mutually beneficial relationships between people and the planet.
The idea builds on a growing recognition that development and planetary health must be addressed together. While still at a conceptual stage, the proposed index would aim to capture how well countries are caring for ecosystems, ensuring equitable access to nature, and preventing environmental harm, rewarding positive action rather than solely recording decline. It would complement existing measures of environmental and social progress, helping to align policies and investments with long-term wellbeing for humans and the rest of the natural world, of which humans are a vital part.
This concept paper contributes to the broader thinking underway for the 2026 Human Development Report, which will explore what human development progress looks like in a world where planetary systems are increasingly under strain, and what it means to cultivate more constructive relationships between people and our planet.
The NRI remains at an early, conceptual phase. Further work is needed to refine the dimensions of the index and assess the indicators and data that could underpin it.
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