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Kronenberg J, Andersson E, Elmqvist T, Łaszkiewicz E, Xue J, Khmara Y. Cities, planetary boundaries, and degrowth. Lancet Planet Health 2024; 8:e234-e241. [PMID: 38580425 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00025-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Cities are the main hubs of human activity and the engines of economic growth. In pursuit of such growth, cities are transgressing their local environmental boundaries. Ongoing urbanisation increasingly contributes to the human pressure on planetary boundaries and negatively affects planetary health. In a telecoupled world, cities externalise impacts by shifting production and many other functions away from their boundaries. At the same time, urban inhabitants and people who follow urban lifestyles but live outside cities are increasingly disconnected from nature. This Viewpoint highlights the role of degrowth in keeping an urban planet within planetary boundaries and suggests areas for further research and policy. Degrowth calls for meaningfully connecting planetary boundaries with cities and ensuring everyone receives a fair share of their ecological capacity. Degrowth calls for lower use of existing resources, highlights political power asymmetries, and moves beyond pricing interventions. Degrowth addresses three key aspects that connect cities and urban lifestyles to planetary boundaries: reducing production and consumption, connecting people and nature, and including nature (to a more substantial extent) in the design of cities and in what is used and consumed in cities. A radical degrowth transformation of cities is necessary to stay within a safe operating space for humanity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Kronenberg
- Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Erik Andersson
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Research Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Thomas Elmqvist
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Edyta Łaszkiewicz
- Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jin Xue
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Yaryna Khmara
- Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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2
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Zhao X, Hou S, Zhang X, Hubacek K, Tillotson MR, Liu Y, Liu J. Revealing Trade Potential for Reversing Regional Freshwater Boundary Exceedance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11520-11530. [PMID: 37491875 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Applying the planetary boundary for the freshwater framework at the regional level is important in supporting local water management but is subject to substantial uncertainty. Previous estimates have not fully investigated the potential of trade in mitigating regional freshwater boundary (RFB) exceedance. Here, we estimate RFB based on the average results of 15 different hydrological models to reduce uncertainty. We then propose a framework to divide the RFB exceedance/maintenance into contributions from both consumption and trade and further identify trade contribution into six types. We applied the framework to China's provinces, which are characterized by intensive interprovincial trade and a significant mismatch in water resource supply and demand. We found that the current trade pattern limits the role of trade to mitigate RFB exceedance. For the importing provinces exceeding RFBs, 78% of their imported goods and services came from other RFB exceeding provinces. Scenario analysis showed that relying on increased imports alone, even to its greatest extent, will not reverse RFB exceedance in most importing provinces. Increased imports, however, will have an aggregate effect on the trade partners, leading to the exceedance of the national freshwater boundary. We also found that promoting export of goods and services from non-RFB exceeding provinces and reducing their water intensity will help address the imbalance both locally and, in the aggregate, nationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhao
- Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Hou
- Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Business School, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, People's Republic of China
| | - Klaus Hubacek
- Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
| | - Martin R Tillotson
- water@leeds, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Junguo Liu
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere and Watershed Water Security, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, People's Republic of China
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Phillips J. Determining sustainability using the Environmental Performance Index and Human Development Index - An alternative approach to the Environmental Human Index through a holistic quantitative dynamic framework. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163752. [PMID: 37120018 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Human Index (EHI) was recently proposed and demonstrated as a new sustainability assessment tool which uses data from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the Human Development Index (HDI). However, the EHI has potential conceptual and operational issues in respect to its consistency with established concepts and principles of the coupled environment-human system and sustainability. Specifically, the thresholds of sustainability the EHI uses, the bias towards the anthroposphere, and the absence of unsustainability. These issues raise potential questions concerning the EHI's value and approach adopted to utilise the EPI and HDI data to determine potential or actual sustainability outcomes. Therefore, to demonstrate how the EPI and HDI can be used to determine sustainability outcomes, the Sustainability Dynamics Framework (SDF) is applied in respect to the case study of the United Kingdom 1995-2020. The results indicated strong sustainability occurring throughout the specified period, within a S-value range of [+0.503 ≤ S(t) ≤ +0.682]. The Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between E and HNI-values and between HNI and S-values, and a significant positive relationship between E and S-values. The Fourier analysis indicated a three-phase change in the nature of the environment-human system dynamics over the 1995-2020 period. The SDF application to the EPI and HDI data has shown the importance of using a consistent holistic conceptual and operational framework to determine and evaluate sustainability outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Phillips
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom.
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Chen S, Chen D, Tan Z, Chen M, Han J. Knowledge mapping of planetary boundaries based on bibliometrics analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:67728-67750. [PMID: 35945326 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22292-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The planetary boundaries concept has triggered a vast amount of pure and applied scientific research, as well as policy and governance activities globally. Indeed, it has rapidly become a centerpiece of sustainability study. It is crucial to review the scientific state of the planetary boundaries (PB) concept systematically. However, there is a lack of research on drawing a scientific investigation map of planetary boundaries. Therefore, to clarify the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, research hotspots, and frontiers of planetary boundaries, a scientometric analysis was performed based on 530 academic publications on planetary boundaries from 2009 to 2021. This paper conducted the analysis by visualizing the social network, dual-map overlay, co-cited references, structure variation article, and co-occurrence keywords with CiteSpace. The results show that as a new achievement and paradigm in sustainable development research, the planetary boundaries framework is gradually getting global attention and promotion, which has increasingly become an interdisciplinary hot research topic. The most productive authors and institutions are concentrated in England, the USA, Germany, and Sweden. Relevant articles were mainly published in journals focusing on ecology, earth, marine, veterinary, animal, economics, and politics. In addition, we summarized four predominant research themes by clustering keywords: the calculation of single boundary threshold and present value, the integration with assessment methods such as life cycle assessment and footprint families, the downscaling of planetary boundaries, and the expansion to economic and social domains. For scholars who are interested in this topic, this paper would be a useful reference and guideline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Chen
- School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Demin Chen
- School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhixiong Tan
- School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Maozhi Chen
- School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingwei Han
- School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Weidner T, Galán-Martín Á, Ryberg MW, Guillén-Gosálbez G. Energy systems modeling and optimization for absolute environmental sustainability: current landscape and opportunities. Comput Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2022.107883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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van Dijk J, Flerlage H, Beijer S, Slootweg JC, van Wezel AP. Safe and sustainable by design: A computer-based approach to redesign chemicals for reduced environmental hazards. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 296:134050. [PMID: 35189194 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Persistency of chemicals in the environment is seen a pressing issue as it results in accumulation of chemicals over time. Persistent chemicals can be an asset in a well-functioning circular economy where products are more durable and can be reused or recycled. This objective can however not always be fulfilled as release of chemicals from products into the environment can be inherently coupled to their use. In these situations, chemicals should be designed for degradation. In this study, a systematic and computer-aided workflow was developed to facilitate the chemical redesign for reduced persistency. The approach includes elements of Essential Use, Alternatives Assessment and Green and Circular Chemistry and ties into goals recently formulated in the context of the EU Green Deal. The organophosphate chemical triisobutylphosphate (TiBP) was used as a case study for exploration of the approach, as its emission to the environment was expected to be inevitable when used as a flame retardant. Over 6.3 million alternative structures were created in silico and filtered based on QSAR outputs to remove potentially non-readily biodegradable structures. With a multi-criteria analysis based on predicted properties and synthesizability a top 500 of most desirable structures was identified. The target structure (di-n-butyl (2-hydroxyethyl) phosphate) was manually selected and synthesized. The approach can be expanded and further verified to reach its full potential in the mitigation of chemical pollution and to help enable a safe circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanke van Dijk
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584, CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, GE, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Hannah Flerlage
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, GE, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, GD, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Steven Beijer
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, GD, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - J Chris Slootweg
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94157, GD, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Annemarie P van Wezel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, GE, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Hickel J, O'Neill DW, Fanning AL, Zoomkawala H. National responsibility for ecological breakdown: a fair-shares assessment of resource use, 1970-2017. Lancet Planet Health 2022; 6:e342-e349. [PMID: 35397222 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00044-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human impacts on earth-system processes are overshooting several planetary boundaries, driving a crisis of ecological breakdown. This crisis is being caused in large part by global resource extraction, which has increased dramatically over the past half century. We propose a novel method for quantifying national responsibility for ecological breakdown by assessing nations' cumulative material use in excess of equitable and sustainable boundaries. METHODS For this analysis, we derived national fair shares of a sustainable resource corridor. These fair shares were then subtracted from countries' actual resource use to determine the extent to which each country has overshot its fair share over the period 1970-2017. Through this approach, each country's share of responsibility for global excess resource use was calculated. FINDINGS High-income nations are responsible for 74% of global excess material use, driven primarily by the USA (27%) and the EU-28 high-income countries (25%). China is responsible for 15% of global excess material use, and the rest of the Global South (ie, the low-income and middle-income countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia) is responsible for only 8%. Overshoot in higher-income nations is driven disproportionately by the use of abiotic materials, whereas in lower-income nations it is driven disproportionately by the use of biomass. INTERPRETATION These results show that high-income nations are the primary drivers of global ecological breakdown and they need to urgently reduce their resource use to fair and sustainable levels. Achieving sufficient reductions will likely require high-income nations to adopt transformative post-growth and degrowth approaches. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Hickel
- Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Anthropology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
| | - Daniel W O'Neill
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Andrew L Fanning
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Doughnut Economics Action Lab, Oxford, UK
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Towards Carbon Neutrality in Higher Education Institutions: Case of Two Private Universities in Colombia. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper addresses the path followed by two private higher education institutions (HEI) in Colombia towards achieving carbon neutrality. The methodology followed by these universities to achieve a carbon-neutral certification, based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, is first described. The process of developing the GHG inventory, projected towards the carbon neutrality of these organisations while using the standard ISO 14064:2006, involved a series of steps that were consolidated in three phases: (i) definition of the scope, collection of data and emissions quantification; (ii) analysis of results and mitigation actions; and (iii) verification and compensation strategies. Results for the HEIs are shown in terms of the organisational context, carbon footprint measurement, reduction, verification, and compensation. The case is presented for Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, a multi-campus university that became the first carbon-neutral university in Latin America in 2017, and Universidad Ean, a single-campus university that became the second carbon-neutral university in Colombia in 2021, as verified by the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC). This work shows that universities can play a key role in regional and global agendas with their contribution through the incorporation of sustainability strategies, since HEIs can not only achieve carbon neutrality, but they can help other organisations by delivering graduates who are aware of sustainability and provide specific training towards building a sustainability culture, which is needed for regenerative development.
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Zhang Q, Wiedmann T, Fang K, Song J, He J, Chen X. Bridging planetary boundaries and spatial heterogeneity in a hybrid approach: A focus on Chinese provinces and industries. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150179. [PMID: 34798734 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Communicating the finiteness of the Earth system at sub-global scales is necessary to guide human activities within a safe operating space. Despite the numerous efforts committed to downscaling planetary boundaries (PBs) at multiple scales, neither top-down nor bottom-up approaches adequately account for the spatial heterogeneity and integrity of local and global natural systems. To overcome these shortcomings, we developed a hybrid approach that combines bottom-up aggregation and top-down adjustment for downscaling five crucial PBs (i.e., climate change, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, freshwater use, and land use change) to Chinese provinces and industries. In addition to the widely applied equity principle, we further incorporated the eco-efficiency principle into the downscaling of PBs under the proposition that safeguarding finite PBs should be reconciled with the pursuit of maximizing human welfare. Environmental sustainability at multiple scales was subsequently assessed with the complementary use of environmental footprints and downscaled PBs. The results demonstrate that 1) China suffers from severe unsustainability because of the transgression of PBs for phosphorus and nitrogen cycles, carbon emissions, and cropland use; 2) provinces in West and North China perform worse than other provinces in terms of the eco-efficiency in manufacturing industries, including Electronic equipment, Textiles, and Wood processing and furnishing, rendering these industries that are more unsustainable; and 3) industries with varying eco-efficiencies account differently for the provincial PBs. Construction dominates the provincial shares of carbon PBs, whereas Agriculture and Food processing and tobacco contribute most to the other four PBs. Our findings suggest that improving eco-efficiency in most manufacturing industries is the key to saving resources, reducing emissions, and safeguarding local boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifeng Zhang
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Thomas Wiedmann
- Sustainability Assessment Program (SAP), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kai Fang
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Center of Social Welfare and Governance, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Ecological Civilization Academy, Anji 313300, China.
| | - Junnian Song
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Jianjian He
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xianpeng Chen
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Castro V, Quintana JB, López-Vázquez J, Carro N, Cobas J, Bilbao D, Cela R, Rodil R. Development and application of an in-house library and workflow for gas chromatography-electron ionization-accurate-mass/high-resolution mass spectrometry screening of environmental samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 414:6327-6340. [PMID: 34865195 PMCID: PMC9372009 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03810-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This work presents an optimized gas chromatography–electron ionization–high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-EI-HRMS) screening method. Different method parameters affecting data processing with the Agilent Unknowns Analysis SureMass deconvolution software were optimized in order to achieve the best compromise between false positives and false negatives. To this end, an accurate-mass library of 26 model compounds was created. Then, five replicates of mussel extracts were spiked with a mixture of these 26 compounds at two concentration levels (10 and 100 ng/g dry weight in mussel, 50 and 500 ng/mL in extract) and injected in the GC-EI-HRMS system. The results of these experiments showed that accurate mass tolerance and pure weight factor (combination of reverse-forward library search) are the most critical factors. The validation of the developed method afforded screening detection limits in the 2.5–5 ng range for passive sampler extracts and 1–2 ng/g for mussel sample extracts, and limits of quantification in the 0.6–3.2 ng and 0.1–1.8 ng/g range, for the same type of samples, respectively, for 17 model analytes. Once the method was optimized, an accurate-mass HRMS library, containing retention indexes, with ca. 355 spectra of derivatized and non-derivatized compounds was generated. This library (freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5647960), together with a modified Agilent Pesticides Library of over 800 compounds, was applied to the screening of passive samplers, both of polydimethylsiloxane and polar chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), and mussel samples collected in Galicia (NW Spain), where a total of 75 chemicals could be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Castro
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Research On Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Benito Quintana
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Research On Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Javier López-Vázquez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Research On Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Nieves Carro
- INTECMAR - Technological Institute for the Monitoring of the Marine Environment of Galicia, Peirao de Vilaxoán S/N, 36611, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain
| | - Julio Cobas
- INTECMAR - Technological Institute for the Monitoring of the Marine Environment of Galicia, Peirao de Vilaxoán S/N, 36611, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain
| | - Denis Bilbao
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain.,Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Basque Country (PiE-UPV/EHU), 48620, Plentzia, Spain
| | - Rafael Cela
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Research On Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosario Rodil
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Research On Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Chen X, Li C, Li M, Fang K. Revisiting the application and methodological extensions of the planetary boundaries for sustainability assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147886. [PMID: 34134372 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The planetary boundaries (PBs) delineating the safe operating space for human activities have been broadly recognized as a well-grounded framework for global sustainability assessment. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the application and methodological extensions of the PBs by linking with multiscale environmental sustainability assessments. We find that the targeted scales, sharing principles and sustainability perspectives jointly determine the downscaling of the PBs-a complex process that needs to take into account the biophysical, socioeconomic, ethical and cultural dimensions. Despite the varying sharing principles, in general both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been employed to define the environmental boundaries at sub-global scales on which the various PBs highly differ in their threshold behaviors. To clarify the responsibility of different stakeholders for sustainable development, the PB-informed sustainability assessment should refer to a specific perspective (i.e., production-, consumption-, or life cycle-based). Furthermore, the methodological extensions of PBs have the potential to monitor the progress and gaps of the globally consensus-based Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve the SDGs within the PBs, there is a great need for a thorough transition of socioeconomic systems towards a prosperous, just and sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianpeng Chen
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenglin Li
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, China.
| | - Mo Li
- School of Humanities and Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 518172 Shenzhen, China
| | - Kai Fang
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, China; Center of Social Welfare and Governance, Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, China.
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12
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Wiedmann T, Allen C. City footprints and SDGs provide untapped potential for assessing city sustainability. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3758. [PMID: 34145276 PMCID: PMC8213854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23968-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cities are recognised as central to determining the sustainability of human development. However, assessment concepts that are able to ascertain whether or not a city is sustainable are only just emerging. Here we review literature since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed in 2015 and identify three strands of scientific inquiry and practice in assessing city sustainability. We find that further integration is needed. SDG monitoring and assessment of cities should take advantage of both consumption-based (footprint) accounting and benchmarking against planetary boundaries and social thresholds in order to achieve greater relevance for designing sustainable cities and urban lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wiedmann
- Sustainability Assessment Program (SAP), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Cameron Allen
- Sustainability Assessment Program (SAP), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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