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L5 Sustainability Frameworks and Models

IB ESS - 1.3 Sustainability

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The Planetary Boundaries Model

SOURCE: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Richardson et al 2023

TASK:

Choose one planetary boundary to research. Outline what has led to us crossing that boundary.

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The Planetary Boundaries Model

Uses:

  • Identifies science-based limits to human disturbance of Earth systems;
  • Highlights the need to focus on more than climate change (which dominates discussion);
  • Alerts the public and policymakers about the urgent need for action to protect Earth systems.

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Limitations:

  • Focuses only on ecological systems and does not consider the human dimension necessary to take action for environmental justice
  • The model is a work in progress—assessments of boundaries are changing as new data becomes available;
  • The focus on global boundaries may not be a useful guide for local and country-level action.

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TASK: The Circular Economy

What is the circular economy model? Make a comparison to the linear economy.

What realistic steps can we take on an individual level and community/national level to implement the circular economy?

Create a presentation and share your ideas with another group.

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The Linear Economy (NOT a model for sustainability)

Take

Make

Use

Waste

Extract natural resources

Manufacture to make something we need/want

Consumers buy and use the item

Bin it

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Circular economy

Take

Make

Use

Recycle

(Oversimplified!)

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Circular economy

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Circular economy

This aims to minimise the waste, and minimise the need to extract more materials.

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Doughnut Economics

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Doughnut Economics model

Uses:

  • The model includes both ecological and social elements, so it supports the concept of environmental justice
  • It has reached popular awareness and is being used at different scales (for example, countries, cities, neighbourhoods, businesses) to support action on sustainability

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Limitations:

  • The model is a work in progress—different groups are trying to apply the model for concrete action
  • It advocates broad principles of regenerative and distributive practice but does not propose specific policies.