https://phys.org/news/2018-06-safe-sorryeconomic-optimization-earth-elements.html > Mathematical experiments, climate policy and Sustainable Development Goals > This is the result of mathematical experiments that the scientists performed. While governments worldwide agreed on ambitious targets such as the 17 U.N. Sustainability Goals and the Paris Agreement, which aims at limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius, there is no consensus on how to reach those targets. The scientists identified and then analysed three big concepts: economic optimization (act to maximize your expected profit, with discounted future), sustainability (act to always stay above a minimum standard of expected profit, with discounted future), and the safe operating space approach, relying on the Planetary Boundaries concept (act to always stay within the safe space for humanity to ensure the functioning of the Earth's life-supporting systems).