Policy principles for sustainable and just land systems

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Policy Studies
• Sustainability Science

Background:

• Land systems are central to global sustainability and justice issues.
• Existing land policies often face challenges in alignment and effectiveness.
• A structured approach to policy development is needed for complex land system challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present eight guiding principles for improving land system policies.
• To evaluate policy alignment with these principles in climate mitigation and agriculture.
• To identify effective policy mixes for sustainable land management.

Main Methods:

• Development of eight heuristic principles for the policy cycle.
• Case study analysis of land-based climate mitigation and biodiversity-friendly agriculture policies.
• Assessment of policy alignment with principles at agenda-setting and formulation stages.

Main Results:

• Poor alignment with principles at early policy stages leads to further misalignment.
• Embracing recognitional justice early promotes diverse goals and co-development but may neglect political strategy.
• Promising policy mixes integrate multiple goals, actors, and adaptive capacities.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to guiding principles is crucial for effective land system policies.
• Early integration of justice and strategic considerations can improve policy outcomes.
• Further research into these principles can guide pathways for sustainable land systems.