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Related Experiment Videos

Mind the sustainability gap.

Joern Fischer1, Adrian D Manning, Will Steffen

  • 1The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. joern.fischer@anu.edu.au

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|November 13, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Global sustainability efforts are failing due to inadequate research and policy focus. This study proposes a hierarchical approach, prioritizing Earth's biophysical limits and integrating humanities in transdisciplinary research to set realistic sustainability targets.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental science
  • Sustainability studies
  • Social science

Background:

  • Key global biophysical indicators like climate change and biodiversity loss are worsening despite sustainability efforts.
  • Current research and policy approaches are insufficient to achieve global sustainability goals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose effective strategies for achieving global sustainability.
  • To re-evaluate the conceptualization and implementation of sustainability initiatives.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptualizing sustainability as a hierarchy with biophysical limits as the ultimate boundaries.
  • Advocating for transdisciplinary research programs that include the humanities.
  • Recommending the establishment of ambitious, realistic targets based on Earth's life-support system capacity.

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Main Results:

  • Current sustainability strategies are failing to improve critical global indicators.
  • A hierarchical framework prioritizing biophysical limits is essential for effective sustainability.
  • Integrating normative questions and humanities into research is crucial for modern societies.

Conclusions:

  • Sustainability requires a paradigm shift, recognizing Earth's biophysical limits as non-negotiable boundaries.
  • Transdisciplinary research, incorporating humanities, is vital for addressing complex societal and environmental challenges.
  • Setting and pursuing ambitious, realistic sustainability targets is imperative for long-term planetary health.