Multi-Agent Planetary Resource Negotiation Engine (PRNE) for Equitable Global Resource Allocation

Independent Researcher, Ontario, Canada

^* Corresponding author: rpara@ieee.org

Abstract

This paper introduces the Planetary Resource Negotiation Engine (PRNE), a system designed to help both human and non-human agents negotiate the use of Earth’s limited resources under strict ecological boundaries. Unlike conventional models that treat environmental limits as secondary concerns, PRNE places planetary thresholds—such as climate, water, and biodiversity—at the core of its decision-making. The framework models ecosystems themselves (forests, rivers, coral reefs) as active agents with the power to veto harmful proposals or impose costs when ecological limits are threatened. PRNE blends market-style trading with treaty-like rules to promote fairness and protect future generations. Instead of relying on economic discounting, the model ensures minimum rights for future utility. Mathematically, the engine is built as a constrained multi-agent Markov decision process, solved using a mix of equilibrium search and constrained reinforcement learning. A prototype scenario involving nations, corporations, NGOs, and ecosystem agents at the water–energy–food nexus is presented to test the design. Results include resource allocation schedules, ecological boundary usage, and equity measures, with stress tests under shocks such as droughts and tipping points. The paper concludes with governance and ethical considerations to ensure PRNE is transparent, fair, and responsibly applied.