1. Introduction

Question 1

Name two drivers of biodiversity collapse

Answer 1

• Climate change
• Invasive species
• Land-use change
• Disturbance in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle

Question 2

What are the two parameters for the PB climate change?

Answer 2

• Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, measured in PPM
• Change in radiative forcing, measured in watts per meter squared

Question 3

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of atmospheric dioxide concentration? (roughly)

Answer 3

• Boundary: 350 ppm
• Current status: 387 ppm - 415 pmm (depends on date of study)
• Pre-industrial value: 280 ppm

Question 4

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of radiative forcing?

Answer 4

• Boundary: 1 W/m2
• Current status: 1.5 W/m2
• Pre-industrial value: 0 W/m2

Question 5

What is the parameter for the PB biodiversity loss?

Answer 5

The number of species per million going extinct annually (rate of biodiversity loss).

Question 6

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of rate of biodiversity loss?

Answer 6

• Proposed boundary: 10x
• Current status: >100x
• Pre-industrial value: 0.1-1x

Question 7

What is the parameter for the PB nitrogen cycle?

Answer 7

Amount of N2 removed from the atmosphere in millions of T per year for human use.

Question 8

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 8

• Proposed boundary: 35 million T/year
• Current status: 121 million T/year
• Pre-industrial value: 0 T/year

Question 9

Apart from agriculture, what is another driver of land use change?

Answer 9

• Urbanization
• Infrastructure development
• Deforestation
• Mining
• Industrial and commercial development
• Energy production

Question 10

Name the single driver of the food crisis in Madagascar

Answer 10

There is not one single driver

Question 11

Which two dimensions does the doughnut framework combine and what do they represent together?

Answer 11

The doughnut framework combines 9 ecological and 12 social dimensions. Together, they encompass human wellbeing.

Question 12

Describe the goal of the doughnut framework

Answer 12

The goal is to meet the needs of all people, withing the means of the living planet.

Question 13

What happens when we downscale the doughnut framework to countries?

Answer 13

Downscaling shows big national differences. Some countries overshoot more in ecological dimensions (German), and other overshoot more in social dimensions (China).

Question 14

What can de doughnut framework ultimately be used for?

Answer 14

Advising policy recommendations.

Question 15

Why is carbon offsetting often a myth?

Answer 15

90% of carbon offsetting schemes are worthless.

Question 16

Explain how in UHIs, populations are disproportionately affected by consequences of environmental change.

Answer 16

Urban heat islands: there is a trong correlation between poverty and the presence of UHIs.

Question 17

Describe the ‘leave no-one behind’ principle.

Answer 17

A principle of equity and fairness aiming to overcome inequalities and discrimination. Underpins the implementation of the SDGs.

Question 18

What is weak sustainability?

Answer 18

The Brundtland Report (1987) promoted weak sustainability, which assumes all capitals are equal and can be traded (e.g., money for society for nature). Weak sustainability degrades nature, inputs will be gone and society and economy will suffer.

Question 19

What is strong sustainability?

Answer 19

Giddings (2002) promoted strong sustainability, assuming that the economy exists within society, which exists within nature, and that one cannot be traded for the other. Strong sustainability guarantees inputs for society and economy.

Question 20

Which system can we use to address Earth System sustainability?

Answer 20

A socio-ecological system

Question 21

What are the four components of the socio-ecological system?

Answer 21

1. Actions & interventions (e.g. logging, fishing)
2. Ecosystem structure & functions
3. Ecosystem services (fuel, fibre, wood, water regulation, recreation)
4. Human system (individuals, groups, institutions)

Question 22

What are CLDs?

Answer 22

• Causal Loop Diagrams are models of dynamic systems.
• They are more holistic and a good alternative to traditional thinking.
• They use variables that influence each other.
• CLDs are useful for uncovering system’s underlying feedback structures and to identify leverage interventions.

Question 23

Name at least three tipping points that are a concern within the PB framework

Answer 23

1. Arctic sea ice
2. Permafrost Siberia
3. Greenland ice sheet
4. Great forests of the north
5. AMOC slowing
6. Amazing rainforest
7. Great Barrier Reef
8. West Antarctica
9. East Antarctica

Question 24

According to Rockström, two frontiers need attention. Which are these?

Answer 24

1. Planetary stewardship, consisting of recognizing the PBs and the Global Commons
2. Society: create an economic logic based on well-being; which means decarbonizing, transforming agriculture from source into sink, protecting oceans and land

Question 25

What is the parameter for the PB phosporus cycle?

Answer 25

Quantity of P flowing into the oceans in millions T/year

Question 26

What is the parameter for the PB stratospheric ozone depletion?

Answer 26

Concentration of ozone (Dobson unit)

Question 27

What is the parameter for the PB Ocean acidification?

Answer 27

Global mean saturation state of aragonite in surface sea water

Question 28

What is the parameter for the PB global freshwater use?

Answer 28

Consumption of freshwater by humans (km3 per year)

Question 29

What is the parameter for the PB change in land use?

Answer 29

% of global land cover converted to cropland

Question 30

What is the parameter for the PB atmospheric aerosol loading?

Answer 30

Overall particulate concentration in the atmosphere on a regional basis

Question 31

List all PBs.

Answer 31

* Climate change * Change in biosphere integrity (biodiversity loss and species extinction) * Stratospheric ozone depletion * Ocean acidification * Biogeochemical flows (phosphorus and nitrogen cycles) * Land-system change (for example deforestation) * Freshwater use * Atmospheric aerosol loading (microscopic particles in the atmosphere that affect climate and living organisms) * Introduction of novel entities