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SDGAcademyX: PB001 Planetary Boundaries

Core Course Readings

These are the readings assigned to inform the homework assignments.

Module 1. Introduction and the Big Picture

  1. Steffen et al. (2011). The Anthropocene: from global change to planetary stewardship.

Module 2. Welcome to the Anthropocene

  1. Galaz et al. (2014). Global Environmental Governance, Technology and Politics: The Anthropocene Gap. Preface. 
  2. Steffen et al. (2015). The trajectory of the Anthropocene: The Great Acceleration (NOTE: Read the summary of the article from the link provided. You do not need to purchase the article.)    

Module 3. Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience thinking

  1. Rocha et al. (2014). Regime shifts: what are they and why do they matter? 

Module 4: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 1

  1. Rockström et al. (2009). Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity. 
  2. IPCC (2014). Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report. Headline Statements.

Module 5: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 2

  1. Steffen et al. (2015) Planetary Boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. (NOTE: You may have to make an account, but the article is OPEN ACCESS and FREE.)    

Module 6. Planetary Boundaries and Global Equity

  1. Folke et al. (2011). Reconnecting to the Biosphere.    
  2. Raworth (2013). Donut economics. Youtube video.    

Module 7: Moving towards Global Sustainability within Biophysical and Social Boundaries

  1. Galaz et al. (2014). Connected Risks, Connected Solutions.
  2. Raworth (2013). Donut economics. YouTube video.   
  3. Westley et al. (2011). Tipping towards sustainability: Emerging pathways of transformation.

Module 8: Conclusion

  1. Griggs et al. (2012). Sustainable development for people and planet.
  2. Medellín Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (2014). Integrating Social-Ecological Resilience into the New Development Agenda.
  3. Ford (2015). Sustainable development goals: all you need to know.    

Supplementary Readings

These are additional materials for those students who might be interested! Note that some of these require subscriptions in order to access them.

Module 1: Introduction and the Big Picture

  1. Brito & Smith (2012). State of the Planet Declaration.

Module 2: Welcome to the Anthropocene

  1. Brito & Smith (2012). State of the Planet Declaration.
  2. Galaz et al. (2014). Global Environmental Governance, Technology and Politics: The Anthropocene Gap. Chapter 1. 

Module 3: Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience Thinking

  1. Gordon et al. (2008). Agricultural modifications of hydrological flows create ecological surprises.    
  2. Crépin et al. (2012). Regime shifts and management.    

Module 4: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 1

  1. Fahey and Hegglin (2010). Twenty questions and answers about the ozone layer: the 2010 update.    
  2. IGBP, IOC, SCOR (2013). Ocean Acidification Summary for Policymakers.    
  3. IPCC (2013). The Physical Science Basis. WG I AR5 Summary for Policy Makers. 
  4. Mackenzie (1999). Global Biogeochemical Cycles and the Physical Climate System.     
  5. Rockström et al. (2009). Supplementary Materials to Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity.      
  6. Steffen et al. (2005). Global Change and the Earth System. Read: Stratospheric ozone depletion – p. 235-237; Interactions between Earth system processes p.51-68.

Module 5: Planetary Boundaries Framework – Part 2

  1. Mace et al. (2014).  Approaches to defining a planetary boundary for biodiversity.     
  2. Mackenzie (1999). Global Biogeochemical Cycles and the Physical Climate System.  
  3. Rockström et al. (2009). Supplementary Materials to Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity.    
  4. Steffen et al. (2005). Global Change and the Earth System. Read: Land cover – p. 36-38, 43-47, 174-181; Biodiversity – p. 33-35; Aerosols – p. 164-168; Biogeochemical cycles – p. 119-122; Earth system interactions p. 189.  
  5. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010). Global Biodiversity Outlook 3: Executive Summary.    
  6. UN Environment Programme (2012). Global Chemicals Outlook: Towards Sound Management of Chemicals

Module 6: Planetary Boundaries and Global Equity

  1. Foley et al. (2011). Solutions for a cultivated planet.    
  2. IPCC (2014). Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. WG II AR5 Summary for Policy Makers.
  3. Jäger et al. (2012). An Earth System Perspective.
  4. Raworth (2012). A safe and just space for humanity: can we live within the doughnut?    

Module 7: Moving towards Global Sustainability within Biophysical and Social Boundaries

  1. Biermann (2012). Planetary boundaries and earth system governance: Exploring the links.
  2. Galaz et al. (2014). Global Environmental Governance, Technology and Politics: The Anthropocene Gap.
  3. Gordon et al. (2008). Agricultural modifications of hydrological flows create ecological surprises.
  4. Foley et al. (2011). Solutions for a cultivated planet.   
  5. IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: AR5 Synthesis Report.
  6. Seitzinger et al. (2012). Planetary stewardship in an urbanizing world: beyond city limits.    

Module 8: Conclusion

  1. United Nations (2014). Global Sustainable Development Report.   

Full references

Here are the citations for the articles above. 

·      Biermann, F. 2012. Planetary boundaries and earth system governance: Exploring the links. Ecological Economics 81:4–9. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800912000808 

·      Brito, L. and Smith, M.S. 2012. State of the Planet Declaration. http://www.igbp.net/download/18.6b007aff13cb59eff6411bbc/1376383161076/SotP_declaration-A5-for_web.pdf

·      Crépin, A.-S., Biggs R., Polasky, S., Troell, M., de Zeeuw, A. 2012. Regime shifts and management. Ecological Economics 84:15–22. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0921800912003618

·      Fahey, D.W. and Hegglin, M.I. 2010. Twenty questions and answers about the ozone layer: the 2010 update. UNEP

·      Foley, J.A., Ramankutty, N., Brauman, K.A., Cassidy, E.S., Gerber, J.S., Johnston, M., Mueller, N.D., O’Connell, C., Ray, D.K., West, P.S., Balzer, C., Bennett, E.M., Carpenter, S.R., Hill, J., Monfreda, C., Polasky, S., Rockström, J., Sheehan, J., Siebert, S., Tilman, D., D. P.M. Zaks. 2011. Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature 478:337–342. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v478/n7369/full/nature10452.html

·      Folke, C., Jansson, Å., Rockström, J., Olsson, P., Carpenter, S., Chapin, F., Crépin, A.S., Daily, G., Danell, K., Ebbesson, J., Elmqvist, T., Galaz, V., Moberg, F., Nilsson, M., Österblom, H., Ostrom, E., Persson, Å., Peterson, G., Polasky, S., Steffen, W., Walker, B., Westley, F. 2011. Reconnecting to the Biosphere. Ambio 40:719–738. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357749/ 

·      Galaz, V. 2014. Global Environmental Governance, Technology and Politics: The Anthropocene Gap. Preface. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, UK. http://www.elgaronline.com/view/9781781955543.00004.xml

·      Galaz, V., Galafassi, D., Tallberg,  J., Boin,  A., Hey,  E., Ituarte-Lima, C., Dunagan, J., Olsson,  P., Österbergh,  R.  and Westley,  F. (2014). Connected Risks, Connected Solutions. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, and the Global Challenges Foundation, Stockholm. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=CBCB9552C33392C4FAA92F7EFCDEBC0D?doi=10.1.1.674.7991&rep=rep1&type=pdf

·      Gordon, L.J., Peterson, G.D. and Bennett, E.M. 2008. Agricultural modifications of hydrological flows create ecological surprises. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 23:211–9. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016953470800058X

·      Griggs, D., Stafford-Smith, M., Gaffney, O., Rockström, J., Öhman, M.C., Shyamsundar, P., Steffen, W., Glaser, G., Kanie, N., Noble, I. 2013. Sustainable development for people and planet. Nature 495: 305-307. http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=844&menu=1301

·      IGBP, IOC, SCOR. 2013. Ocean Acidification Summary for Policymakers – Third Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World. International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Stockholm, Sweden. http://www.igbp.net/publications/summariesforpolicymakers/summariesforpolicymakers/oceanacidificationsummaryforpolicymakers2013.5.30566fc6142425d6c9111f4.html

·      IPCC 2013. Summary for Policy Makers. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Stocker, T. et al., eds. Cambridge University Press. http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/report/WG1AR5-SPM_FD_Final.pdf

·      IPCC 2014. Climate Change 2014: Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report. Headline Statements. http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ar5/ar5_syr_headlines_en.pdf

·      IPCC 2014. Climate Change 2014: Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_LONGERREPORT.pdf

·      IPCC 2014.  Summary for Policy Makers. Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Field, C. et al., eds. Cambridge University Press. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/ar5_wgII_spm_en.pdf

·      Jäger, J. and Patel, N., et al. 2012. An Earth System Perspective. Chapter 7 in: Global Environment Outlook 5, UN Environment Programme. http://www.unep.org/geo/pdfs/geo5/GEO5_report_C7.pdf

·      Mace, G.M., Reyers, B., Alkemade, R., Biggs, R., Chapin, F.S., Cornell, S.E., Diaz, S., Jennings, S., Leadley, P., Mumbyl, P.J., Purvism, A., Scholes, R.J., Seddon, A.W.R., Solan, M., Steffen, W., Woodward, G. 2014. Approaches to defining a planetary boundary for biodiversity. Global Environmental Change 28:289–297.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378014001368

·      Mackenzie, F. 1999. Global Biogeochemical Cycles and the Physical Climate System. Global Change Instruction Program, UCAR/NCAR, Colorado, USA. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/F-Mackenzie/publication/264552282_Global_Biogeochemical_Cycles_and_the_Physical_Climate_System/links/5671dd9b08ae54b5e45fb1fc/Global-Biogeochemical-Cycles-and-the-Physical-Climate-System.pdf

·      Medellín Multi-stakeholder Dialogue. 2014. Integrating Social-Ecological Resilience into the New Development Agenda. Co-Chairs’ Report of the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue, Medellín, Colombia 2-4 December 2013. Stockholm Resilience Centre and Von Humboldt Institute for Research on Biological Resources. http://www.stockholmresilience.org/download/18.3186f824143d05551adde8/1391619036195/Medellin+Dialogue+Co-chairs+report.pdf

·      Raworth, K. 2012. A safe and just space for humanity: can we live within the doughnut? Oxfam Discussion Papers. http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/dp-a-safe-and-just-space-for-humanity-130212-en.pdf

·      Raworth, K. 2013. Doughnut Economics.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqJL-cM8gb4

·      Rocha, J.C., Biggs, R., Peterson, G. 2014. Regime shifts: what are they and why do they matter? Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden. /static/Regime_Shifts..pdf

·      Rockström, J. et al. 2009. Supplementary Materials to Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity. https://pubs.giss.nasa.gov/docs/2009/2009_Rockstrom_ro06010m.pdf

·      Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin, III, F.S., Lambin, E., Lenton, T.M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H., Nykvist, B., De Wit, C.A., Hughes, T., van der Leeuw, S., Rodhe, H., Sörlin, S., Snyder, P.K., Costanza, R., Svedin, U., Falkenmark, M., Karlberg, L., Corell, R.W., Fabry, V.J., Hansen, J., Walker, B.H., Liverman, D., Richardson, K., Crutzen, C., Foley, J. 2009. Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Ecology and Society 14. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art32/

·      Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2010. Global Biodiversity Outlook 3: Executive Summary. CBD, Montreal, Canada. http://www.cbd.int/gbo/gbo3/doc/GBO3-Summary-final-en.pdf

·      Seitzinger, S.P., Svedin, U., Crumley, C.L., Steffen, W., Abdullah, S.A., Alfsen, C., Broadgate, W.J., Biermann, F., et al. 2012. Planetary stewardship in an urbanizing world: beyond city limits. Ambio 41:787–94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3158103/

·      Steffen, W., Persson, Å., Deutsch, L., Zalasiewicz, J., Williams, M., Richardson, K., Crumley, C., Crutzen, P., Folke, C., Gordon, L., et al. 2011. The Anthropocene: from global change to planetary stewardship. Ambio 40:739–761. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357752/

·      Steffen, W., Sanderson, A., Tyson, P.D., Jäger, I., Matson, P.A., Moore III, B., Oldfield, F., Richardson, K., Schellnhuber, H.J., Turner II, B.L., Wasson, R.J. 2004. Global Change and the Earth System. Springer Verlag. http://www.igbp.net/download/18.56b5e28e137d8d8c09380001694/Springer+IGBP+Synthesis+Steffen+et+al+%282004%29_web.pdf

·      UN Environment Programme. 2012. Global Chemicals Outlook: Towards Sound Management of Chemicals. Synthesis Report, UNEP. Nairobi, Kenya. http://www.unep.org/pdf/GCO_Synthesis Report_CBDTIE_UNEP_September5_2012.pdf

·      United Nations. 2014. Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report - Executive Summary. Online edition. New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social. Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development. http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1449GSDR Executive Summary-Updated-June 2014-FINAL-rev.pdf

·      Westley, F., Olsson, P., Folke, C., Homer-Dixon, T., Vredenburg, H., Loorback, D., Thompson, J., Nilsson, M., et al. 2011. Tipping towards sustainability: Emerging pathways of transformation. Ambio. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22338714