Question

How do planetary boundaries affect our approach to Sustainable Development? As much information as possible would be great. Welcome for all opinions and inputs.

Answer 1

I will first start with a discussion on Planetary Boundaries and Sustainbale Development and then we can see the affect and connection between the two concepts.

Planetary Boundaries are environmental boundaries. There are a total of ten such boundaries as proposed by various people from 2009-12. They are climate change, biodiversity loss,biogeochemical, ocean acidification, land use, freshwater availability, ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosols, chemical pollution and primary production of all terrestrial plant (the most recently identifie boundary). The prime reason behind the identification of this boundaries is for all humanity to operate safely without hampering the foundation (earth) of our existence. This boundaries are a precondition for Sustainable Development.

Sustainable Development sets the goals and standards of human development while simultaneously sustaining our natural environment which provides us with the natural resources. The primary goal is to foccus on economic and social development while maintain environment protection so that future generations are not deprived of the natural resources. Hence we must move towards a human-ecosystem equilibrium.

The planetary boundaries are the limitations within which sustainable development should take place. This limitations exists becuase earth's resources are not infinite. Planetary boundaries do not limit human development, rather they provide a safe zone within which the society could innovate, grow and prosper without harming the basis on which all development is based (mother earth and her resources) The boundaries are important because it prevents human society from causing an irreversible environmental change or a catacylsmic event in their pursuit for development. Planetary boundaries can create a proper guideline for order and cooperation between human society and the environment. Those boundaries can induce a more foccused search for innovation and technology which can sustain our growth as well as mother natures growth.

The concept of Sustainable Development was first derived and brought into foccus in the 1987 Brundtland report. Ever since newer sustainable goals have been taken up. However that has not reduced pollution or stopped the melting of polar ice caps. The planetary boundaries helps us define our goals in a more accurate manner. A general idea is that to sustain our environment for future use, the developed nations must reduce production and income levels, the less developed nations must remain at their levels to continue sustaining their environments. However the proposal of planetary boundaries provide some major structural changes and innovations which can enhance our sustainable development goals without hampering economic development goals. Some of them are-

• Energy Transformation- Innovation and Research to find and implement low carbon emitting energy sources. The transformation if occurs on a large scale in multiple fields and sectors can advance our sustainable development goals to the future. This transformation will have to occur with keeping the limitations of our planet in mind.
• Food Security Transformation- With overpopulation and depleting climatic conditions and crop failures has made this transformation of prime esssence along with energy transformation. This transformation is not possible by any one or two method but requires a collective effort. Some important steps would be enhance food productivity keeping in mind the impact on land use, reduce bad farming practices, intensifying agro practices without extensifying land use and most importantly a reduction in food waste.
• Urban Transformation- urban cities are main hubs of dense population as well as brilliant infrastructure. Urban cities are main sources of air pollution and global warming. An urban transformation must keep in mind the planetary boundaries and putforth investment and structural planning and efficiency which can sustain the development process for future generations.
• Popuation Transformation- This goal is of essence to all the above transformations. A population transformaation by proper birth control, family management and reducing ill-practices in marriage can help sustain the population. A population transformation will reduce the pressure on most of the environmental resources.
• Biodiversity Management Transformation- This refers to a transformation which can protect the various species of plants and animal in various regions of the worlds.
• Private and Public Governance Transformation- This is the most difficult transformation that must take place so that the private and public decision take into consideration the environmetal impact of their decisions. Some ways to do so would be to integrate sustainability into business ideas, reflecting upon long term environmental impacts of private and public decisions, internalize externalities and most importantly do no harm to the environment.

Based on this transformations which have arised as a combination of planetary boundaries and sustainbale development, it is easier to see now that those boundaries define the area within which sustainable development should occur. it provides a check on the efficacy of the goals of sustainable development.