How much land, water, and other resources do we need to support our way of life? And how can we adjust our lifestyles to remain within the Earth’s limits? A recent article addresses these vital questions.
With a global population of eight billion, our use of the Earth’s resources is becoming unsustainable. Klaus Hubacek, a Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, evaluates our current situation. He asks: how much land, water, and other resources do we actually require? Moreover, how can we modify our lifestyles to align with what the Earth can sustainably provide? According to Hubacek, it is indeed feasible, but it necessitates the implementation of policies grounded in scientific research.
We are well aware that our consumption habits impact the environment. A prime example is the rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, which has been accelerating since the 1960s and is a significant contributor to global warming and its accompanying severe effects. The planet has its limitations when it comes to consumption, and in 2009, researchers identified nine ‘planetary boundaries’ that serve as benchmarks for these limits. Exceeding these boundaries can result in permanent harm to the planet’s stability and resilience. Some of these boundaries include factors like ocean acidification and the global utilization of fresh water. As of 2023, six of these crucial boundaries have already been surpassed.
Hubacek has dedicated his career to analyzing humanity’s performance with respect to these planetary boundaries and determining the necessary changes to avoid further breaches. He notes, ‘the fundamental question is: given a certain population and the existing planetary boundaries, how much can we consume without exceeding those limits?’
The divide between rich and poor
Currently, the wealthiest one percent of the global population produces 50 times more greenhouse gases than the four billion individuals in the poorest 50 percent. The disparity between the rich and the poor is a recurring theme in Hubacek’s research. He contributed to a paper published on November 13 in the journal Nature, which delves into this issue. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset that encompasses up to 201 consumer groups across 168 countries, the paper assesses how spending behaviors affect six critical environmental indicators.
The study findings illustrate how varying consumer practices contribute to environmental breaches, concluding that if the wealthiest 20 percent of consumers altered their spending to adopt the more sustainable practices already evident within their demographic, they could reduce their environmental impact by 25 to 53 percent. Moreover, it shows that adjusting consumption habits in just the food and services sectors could help restore crucial planetary boundaries to safe levels.
Changing our lifestyle to stay within the boundaries
In earlier studies, Hubacek examined specific solutions that could help us align our lifestyles with the planetary boundaries. A study he published last August demonstrated that by shifting to a diet with less red meat and more legumes and nuts, the wealthier segments of the population could cut food-related emissions by 17 percent, even if people in poorer nations increase their meat intake.
Just last month, Hubacek co-authored another paper that highlights the livestock industry’s serious violations of several planetary boundaries. The research argues for ‘region-specific’ strategies to mitigate these negative impacts: ‘Clearly, there will be variations. A plant-based diet may not be practical for traditional Mongolian nomads, who rely on yaks and their milk.’
Hubacek consistently illuminates potential solutions when he identifies breaches of planetary boundaries. However, he emphasizes the need to move away from solely seeking new technological solutions, as many existing options remain underutilized. ‘Most governments, unfortunately, support detrimental practices.’ For instance, global subsidies for fossil fuels vastly outweigh the benefits achieved through efforts like carbon pricing, including carbon taxes and trading schemes. Additionally, there are several inconsistent policies, such as promoting the use of heat pumps while simultaneously increasing electricity prices.
It is possible
Hubacek’s research shows that there is still hope: humanity can indeed stay within the planetary boundaries. However, the lack of political motivation to address issues like climate change is concerning. ‘This is troubling, and it creates genuine fear among younger generations.’ Hubacek emphasizes that his research is not driven by activism. ‘I pursue this work primarily due to academic curiosity. However, I also want to invest my energy in meaningful efforts. What we truly need are policies rooted in evidence.’
Peipei Tian, Honglin Zhong, Xiangjie Chen, Kuishuang Feng, Laixiang Sun, Ning Zhang, Xuan Shao, Yu Liu & Klaus Hubacek: Keeping the global consumption within the planetary boundaries. Nature, 13 November 2024.
