Environmental sustainability assessment from planetary boundaries perspective – A case study of an organic sheep farm in Finland

Abstract

Food production processes may have both positive and negative environmental sustainability impacts. This makes decision-making challenging in the transition towards more sustainable food production systems. In this paper, a new method for presenting environmental impacts in the context of planetary boundaries is demonstrated. This will help food and agricultural producers compare the magnitudes of various environmental impacts.The environmental sustainability impacts of an organic sheep farm in the boreal climate zone in Finland are studied herein first using a life cycle assessment method. The results are then normalized and presented in a planetary boundary framework to ascertain the extent of different environmental impacts.The results show that in the planetary boundary context, there are positive impacts of sheep grazing on biosphere integrity (genetic diversity) and biogeochemical flows and negative impacts on climate change, land use or freshwater use. Magnitudes of the impacts greatly dependent on the assumptions made especially regarding biosphere integrity impacts. In the future, it is crucial that decision-making be based on the evaluation of various environmental impacts and that the focus be more on complex sustainability thinking, rather than on one single environmental impact. This research demonstrates that results from a life cycle assessment can be modified and presented in a planetary boundaries context. A planetary boundary framework approach similar to that proposed herein could be further used to identify different environmental sustainability perspectives and to help one better recognize the multifunctional aspects of the ecosystem processes.

A bibliometric study of sustainable technology research

“…The key to sustainable technology is attaining an economic advantage for environmental developments (Eckert et al, 2000). Over the past few decades, the number of publications about sustainability has increased dramatically (Khan, 2020;Uusitalo et al, 2019;Wang & Zhan, 2019;Zhang et al, 2019). Sustainable technology is a major aim in environmental sciences and the growth of global economies, usually associated with the design and analysis of sophisticated, integrated management systems and sustainable development.…”

The Boundaries of the Planetary Boundary Framework: A Critical Appraisal of Approaches to Define a “Safe Operating Space” for Humanity

“…At the global level, examples include those on the planetary boundary for phosphate supply (76). At national to subnational levels, research projects focused on a wide range of areas, from entire sectors such as energy ( 77) to businesses and other commercial entities such as farms (78). As one exemplary insight, Algunaibet et al (77) estimated that in the United States "the least cost energy mix that would meet the Paris Agreement 2°C target still transgresses five out of eight planetary boundaries" (p. 1890).…”

“…As one exemplary insight, Algunaibet et al (77) estimated that in the United States "the least cost energy mix that would meet the Paris Agreement 2°C target still transgresses five out of eight planetary boundaries" (p. 1890). In general, such studies point out the importance of "complex sustainability thinking" and consider the impact on multiple interdependent planetary boundaries rather than on one single environmental impact (78).…”

A Planetary Perspective of Earth Systems Sustainability: Reframing Climate Change Implications from Agricultural Adaptations in Maya Milpa Farming Communities in Belize

“…The nature of SES, especially from a planetary perspective, is inherently holistic and involves multi-disciplinary factors (Méndez, Bacon, & Cohen, 2013). Applying SES principles from one small region to the larger SES can and inform reasonably foreseeable climate change impacts (on both micro and macro levels) and promote mitigation policies in other regions of the globe (Uusitalo, et. al., 2019), with implications on resilience and food and livelihood security in more vulnerable and marginalized communities (Drexler, 2020;Tandon, 2014).…”