Within a conceptual framework of human ecology, this symposium sets strategies for meeting the complex and contested challenges of living well in the Anthropocene. When bio-physical Earth System “thresholds” are exceeded by human perturbation of the system, the risk of destabilizing the Earth System and radically altering the environment is increased. These thresholds thus define a “safe operating space” for humanity and remaining within them becomes a central challenge for humanity in the Anthropocene. At the same time, however, many contemporary human communities cannot access sufficient environmental resources to maintain a minimally dignified existence. So the further challenge is to raise such individuals’ living standards above these dignity floors. The ultimate goal is for all humanity to converge on a safe and equitable operating zone, where social-ecological process are just and sustainable. Overcoming the lingering influence of paradigms that are past their use-by date is a major obstacle to achieving good governance in the Anthropocene. At the close of the last speaker’s address, all speakers will convene in a questions and answer session with the audience.