Downscaling Planetary Boundaries to the National Level: A Review of Methods and Indicators

Parsonsová, Aneta

doi:10.2478/jlecol-2021-0011

Abstract

The practical implementation of the planetary boundaries’ (PB) conceptual implications is a challenge from the perspective of both global and national governance. (Schmidt, 2013; Biermann & Kim, 2020) This paper reviews the methods and indicators used in subsequent studies which focus on downscaling the PB concept to the national level. The conclusions confirm significant progress in identifying appropriate national indicators; however, also point at the need for further research to (1) develop a complex downscaling methodology; (2) consider additional variables to ensure just and equitable allocation principles; and (3) mainstream the PB into national policies.

References

Biermann, F., Kim, R. E. (2020). The Boundaries of the Planetary Boundary Framework: A Critical Appraisal of Approaches to Define a “Safe Operating Space” for Humanity. Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 45:497–521. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-080337.10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-080337
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cole, M., Bailey, R., New, M. (2014). Tracking sustainable development with a national barometer for South Africa using a downscaled “safe and just space” framework. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 111, E4399–E4408.10.1073/pnas.1400985111
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dao, H., Peduzzi, P., Friot, D. (2018). National environmental limits and footprints based on the Planetary Boundaries framework: The case of Switzerland. Glob. Environ. Change, 52, 49–57.10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.06.005
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dearing, J.A., Wang, R., Zhang, K., Dyke, J.G., Haberl, H., Hossain, M.S., Langdon, P.G., Lenton, T.M., Raworth, K., Brown, S., et. al. (2014). Safe and just operating spaces for regional social-ecological systems. Glob. Environ. Change, 28, 227–238.10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.06.012
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
European Environment Agency (EEA), Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) (2020). Is Europe living within the limits of our planet? An assessment of Europe’s environmental footprints in relation to planetary boundaries 2020, ISBN 978-92-9480-215-6, doi:10.2800/890673.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fang, K., Heijungs, R., De Snoo, G.R. (2015). Understanding the complementary linkages between environmental footprints and planetary boundaries in a footprint-boundary environmental sustainability assessment framework. Ecol. Econ., 114, 218–226.10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.04.008
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
European Environment Agency (EEA) (2005). EEA core set of indicators — Guide, EEA Technical report, No 1/2005, ISSN 1725-2237, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 38 pp.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Häyhä, T., Lucas, P., van Vuuren, D., Cornell, S.E., Hoff, H. (2016). From Planetary Boundaries to national fair shares of the global safe operating space — How can the scales be bridged? Glob. Environ. Change, 40, 60–72.10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.06.008
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hickel, J. (2020). Quantifying national responsibility for climate breakdown: An equality-based attribution approach for carbon dioxide emissions in excess of the planetary boundary. Lancet Planet Health, 4, e399–e404.10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30196-0
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hoekstra, A. Y., Wiedmann, T. O. (2014). Humanity’s unsustainable environmental footprint. Science 344 (6188), 1114–1117.10.1126/science.1248365
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hoff, H., Alva, L.I. (2017). How the Planetary Boundaries Framework can Support National Implementation of the 2030 Agenda; Stockholm Environment Institute: Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-2017-PB-Hoff-HowthePlanetary.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hoff, H., Nykvist, B., Carson, M. (2014). Living Well, within the Limits of Our Planet? Measuring Europe’s Growing External Footprint. SEI Working Paper 2014–05, Stockholm Environment Institute. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://www.sei.org/publications/living-well-within-the-limits-of-our-planet-measuring-europes-growing-external-footprint.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Höhne, N., den Elzen, M., Escalante, D. (2013). Regional GHG reduction targets based on effort sharing: a comparison of studies, Climate Policy 14(1), pp. 122-147; doi: 10.1080/14693062.2014.849452.10.1080/14693062.2014.849452
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hongwei Huang, L., H. Hu, A., Kuo C-H. (2020). Planetary boundary downscaling for absolute environmental sustainability assessment — Case study of Taiwan, Ecological Indicators, Volume 114, 106339, ISSN 1470-160X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106339.10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106339
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Janoušková, S., Hák, T., Moldan, B. (2018). Global SDGs Assessments: Helping or Confusing Indicators? Sustainability, 10, 1540.10.3390/su10051540
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kahiluoto, H., Kuisma, M., Kuokkanen, A., Mikkilä, M., Linnanen, L. (2015). Local and social facets of planetary boundaries: Right to nutrients. Environ. Res. Lett., 10, 104013.10.1088/1748-9326/10/10/104013
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., Schmidt-Traub, G., Kroll, C. (2020). How Is Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals Measured? Comparing Four Approaches for the EU. Sustainability, 12, 7675.10.3390/su12187675
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lucas, P. L., Wilting, H. C. (2018). Using planetary boundaries to support national implementation of environment-related Sustainable Development Goals, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, PBL publication number: 2748.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nykvist, B., Persson, Å., Moberg, F., Persson, L., Cornell, S., Rockström, J. (2013). National Environmental Performance on Planetary Boundaries: A Study for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Report 6576, Naturvårdsverket. p. 122. ISBN 978-91-620-6576-8.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Parsonsová, A., Machar, I. (2021). National Limits of Sustainability: The Czech Republic’s CO2 Emissions in the Perspective of Planetary Boundaries. Sustainability, 13, 2164. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042164.10.3390/su13042164
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Raworth, K. (2012). Living in the doughnut. Nature Climate Change 2(4): 225–226.10.1038/nclimate1457
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin, F.S., Lambin, E.F., Lenton, T.M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H.J., et.al.. (2009). A safe operating space for humanity. Nature, 461, 472–475.10.1038/461472a19779433
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ryberg, M.W., Andersen, M.M., Owsianiak, M., Hauschild, M.Z. (2020). Downscaling the planetary boundaries in absolute environmental sustainability assessments - A review. J. Clean. Prod., 276, 123287.10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123287
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Sabag Munoz, O., Gladek, E. (2017). One planet approaches: methodology mapping and pathways foreward, report commissioned by WWF and IUCN, Retrieved February 15, 2021, from https://www.metabolic.nl/publications/one-planet-approaches-methodology-mapping-and-pathways-forward/.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schmidt, F. (2013). Governing planetary boundaries: Limiting or enabling conditions for transitions towards sustainability? In Meuleman, L., ed. : Transgovernance Advancing Sustainability Governance (pp. 215–34). Berlin: Springer.10.1007/978-3-642-28009-2_5
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S.E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E.M., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S.R., de Vries, W., de Wit, C.A.. et.al.. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science, 347, 1259855.10.1126/science.125985525592418
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
United Nations (UN) (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN General Assambly, 2015, A/RES/70/1. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from: https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Downscaling Planetary Boundaries to the National Level: A Review of Methods and Indicators

Abstract

Paradigm

My account