Johan is a Swedish scientist, internationally recognized for his work on global sustainability issues. He is director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany, Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam and Professor in Water Systems and Global Sustainability at Stockholm University.

Johan also acts as an advisor for sustainable development issues at noteworthy international meetings, such as the United Nations General Assemblies, World Economic Forum, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC, also known as COP). He chairs the advisory board for the EAT Foundation and the Earth League and has been appointed as chair of the Earth Commission. He is also a member of the European Commission expert group: Mission Board for adaptation to climate change including societal transformation. 

Johan helped leading the internationally renowned team of scientists that presented the planetary boundaries framework for human development in the current era of rapid global change, first published in 2009, with an update in 2015. The nine planetary boundaries presented in the framework are argued to be fundamental in maintaining a “safe operating space for humanity.”

Johan is a leading scientist on global water resources, with more than 25 years experience in applied water research in tropical regions, and more than 150 research publications in fields ranging from applied land and water management to global sustainability., He has also published a number of books: The Human Quest (2012) and Big World Small Planet (2015) with National Geographic photographer, Mattias Klum; co-authored Water Resilience for Human Prosperity (2014); and Breaking Boundaries – The Science of our Planet (2021) together with Owen Gaffney. Furthermore, he has featured in media such as the Netflix "Breaking Boundaries" film, together with David Attenborough.