"Trajectories into the Anthropocene: redefining research and education within Planetary Boundaries". Target audience: KU Leuven Professors and postdocs from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. The lecture (in English) summarises the evidence base with respect to the Planetary Environmental Emergency situation (9-9-2019, 9.45h, La Foresta, Vaalbeek)

1. Trajectories into the Anthropocene:
redefining research and education
within Planetary Boundaries
Dr. Ir. Peter Tom Jones (IOF Manager, SIM² KU Leuven & SOLVOMET)
Onderwijsdag KU Leuven, 9-9-2019, La Foresta
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09/09/2019

2. “… if we don’t take
action, the collapse
of our civilisations
and the extinction of
much of the natural
world is on the
horizon”
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3. Sir David
Attenborough
“… if we don’t take
action, the collapse
of our civilisations
and the extinction of
much of the natural
world is on the
horizon”
(Katowice, UN Climate
Conference, December 2018)
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4. Sir David
Attenborough
“… if we don’t take
action, the collapse
of our civilisations
and the extinction of
much of the natural
world is on the
horizon”
(Katowice, UN Climate
Conference, December 2018)
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5. Trajectories into the Anthropocene:
redefining research and education
within Planetary Boundaries
Dr. Ir. Peter Tom Jones (IOF Manager, SIM² KU Leuven)
Onderwijsdag KU Leuven, 9-9-2019, La foresta
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6. I. Setting the scene
The kids are right
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7. Jones-OnderwijsdagKULeuven
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Stockholm,
8 February 2019

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9. "Only if humanity acts quickly and resolutely can we limit global
warming, halt the ongoing mass extinction of animal and plant
species, and preserve the natural basis for the food supply and
well-being of present and future generations. This is what the young
people want to achieve. They deserve our respect and full support.“
(Science, 2019: signed by more than 3,000 scientists)
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10. “… global climate
breakdown is not an
isolated problem but
rather a symptom of a
much wider, systemic
crisis [of global
overshoot]”
[Panel voor Klimaat en
Duurzaamheid, 14-5-2019]
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11. II. A dangerous trajectory
into the Anthropocene
The Great Unraveling
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12. Understanding sustainability in the
20th century
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3P-model (20th Century)

13. Understanding (strong)
sustainability in the 21st century
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3P-model (20th Century) Embedded model (21st Century)
(credits: WWF, 2014)

14. Understanding (strong)
sustainability in the 21st century
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Embedded model (21st Century)
(credits: WWF, 2014)

15. About sources, sinks and life-support
functions…
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Source: UNEP, 2010

16. About sources, sinks and life-
support functions…
A
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Source: UNEP, 2010

17. Resource extraction has tripled since
1970 and continues to grow
50% of greenhouse gas emissions
90% of biodiversity loss
90% of water stress
Source: Global
Resources Outlook
2019 (UN-IRP)
A
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18. A quarter of humanity faces looming
water crisis
Source: WRI, 2019
A
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19. Belgium is confronted with “high
baseline water stress”
Source: WRI, 2019
A
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20. About sources, sinks and life support
functions…
Source: UNEP, 2010
B
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21. Global (micro)plastics crisis…
B
Source & credits images: (left) South Carolina Aquarium, 2019 - (right) Pestpillis.hu
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22. Global (micro)plastics crisis…
B
Source: The
Guardian, 2019
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23. Global greenhouse gas emissions
continue to rise
Source: Guardian
Graphic based on
data from Global
Carbon Project
B
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24. IPCC SRCCL (2019) reveals impact
on warming…
Source: SPM Figure 1, IPCC SRCCL (2019)
B
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25. IPCC SRCCL (2019) shows links between deforestation,
climate change and meat consumption…
Source: Nature, 2019
B
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09/09/2019
Source: The Guardian,
Aug. 30, 2019

26. IPCC SR15 (2019) indicated why 2°C
warming is already too much
Source: Figure
3.20, IPCC SR15
[Special Report
Global Warming of
1.5 ºC]
B
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27. …on course of global warming of
more than 3°C by 2100
B
Source:
Climate Action
Tracker
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28. What is needed to limit global
warming to max. 1.5°C by 2100?
B
Source:
SR15 SPM
IPCC, 2018
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29. About sources, sinks and life-
support functions…
A
C
B
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Source: UNEP, 2010

30. 1 million of species are facing
extinction (IPBES, 2019)
“The biosphere, upon
which humanity as a
whole depends, is
being altered to an
unparalleled degree
across all spatial
scales. Biodiversity
(…) is declining faster
than at any time in
human history.”
(6-5-2019, SFP-
IPBES, 2019
C
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31. Source: SFP IPBES, 2019
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32. Source: SFP IPBES, 2019
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33. Connecting sources, sinks & life-support
functions  Planetary boundaries
A
C
B
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Source: UNEP, 2010

34. “Planetary boundaries” transgressed
A
C
B
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Source:
Adaptation of Steffen et al.,
Science, 2015 - Update from
Rockström et al, Nature, 2009

35. We do not live in an
“epoch of change” but
in a “change of
[geological] epoch”
Cf. Jan Rotmans, Verandering van tijdperk, 2014
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36. 09/09/2019Jones-OnderwijsdagKULeuven
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Source infographic:
Steffen et al., 2005 [IGBP]

37. The Great Unraveling towards the
Hothouse Earth state
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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38. Tipping points and cascades – is
there a planetary threshold?
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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39. Trajectories from the Holocene into the
Anthropocene… and hothouse earth
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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“(..) the Earth System may be approaching a
planetary threshold that could lock in a
continuing rapid pathway toward much hotter
conditions—Hothouse Earth.
(…) a pathway that could not be reversed,
steered, or substantially slowed.
Where such a threshold might be is uncertain,
but it could be only decades ahead at a
temperature rise of ∼2.0 °C above
preindustrial, (…).

40. Trajectories from the Holocene into the
Anthropocene… and hothouse earth
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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09/09/2019
“(..) the Earth System may be approaching a
planetary threshold that could lock in a
continuing rapid pathway toward much hotter
conditions—Hothouse Earth.
(…) a pathway that could not be reversed,
steered, or substantially slowed.
Where such a threshold might be is uncertain,
but it could be only deacades ahead at a
temperature rise of ∼2.0 °C above
preindustrial, (…).

41. Trajectories from the Holocene into the
Anthropocene… and hothouse earth
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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09/09/2019
“(..) the Earth System may be approaching a
planetary threshold that could lock in a
continuing rapid pathway toward much hotter
conditions—Hothouse Earth.
(…) a pathway that could not be reversed,
steered, or substantially slowed.
Where such a threshold might be is uncertain,
but it could be only decades ahead at a
temperature rise of ∼2.0 °C above
preindustrial, (…).

42. III. Towards Earth
System stewardship
The Great Turning
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43. Planetary Stewardship  Stabilised
Earth state
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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09/09/2019
“The Stabilized Earth trajectory requires
deliberate management of humanity’s
relationship with the rest of the Earth
System (..).
We suggest that a deep transformation
based on a fundamental reorientation of
human values, equity, behavior,
institutions, economies, and technologies
is required.”

44. Planetary Stewardship  Stabilised
Earth state
Source: Steffen et al.,
PNAS, 2018
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09/09/2019
“The Stabilized Earth trajectory requires
deliberate management of humanity’s
relationship with the rest of the Earth
System (..).
We suggest that a deep transformation
based on a fundamental reorientation of
human values, equity, behavior,
institutions, economies, and technologies
is required.”

45. What does
Earth
Stewardship
entail?
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46. What does
Earth
Stewardship
entail?
Absolute
decoupling !
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Source: IRP, 2019

47. Planetary boundaries & UN SDG’s
Source: K. Raworth, A safe and
just space for humanity: can we
live within the doughnut, Oxfam
Discussion Paper, 2012
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48. Planetary boundaries & UN SDG’s
Source: K. Raworth, A safe and
just space for humanity: can we
live within the doughnut, Oxfam
Discussion Paper, 2012
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09/09/2019

49. Ingredients for an equitable transition
towards Planetary Stewardship
Klimaatneutrale
energie en
industrie
Samenlevings
-opbouw
Natuurlijke
ecosystemen
beschermen en
uitbreiden
Omslag in
landgebruik
voor wonen,
mobiliteit &
voeding
Duurzame
productie en
consumptie
Samenhangend
beleid
Wetenschap &
innovatie
140 researchers
120 pages
27 measures
https://www.klimaatpanel.be/nl
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50. IV. The role of
technology, research
and education
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51. Beyond (naive) technological
optimism
• Technology alone will not save us !
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52. Beyond (naive) technological
optimism
• Technology alone will not save us !
• Clean technologies are required,
avoiding lock-ins
• Resistance from incumbent
technologies will be fierce as they
are intertwined with dominant:
 Business models
 Values chains
 Institutions and financial support systems
 Cultural practices
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57Source: LPR 2014, WWF

53. Beyond (naive) technological
optimism
• Technology alone will not save us !
• Clean technologies are required,
avoiding lock-ins
• Resistance from incumbent
technologies will be fierce as they
are intertwined with dominant:
 Business models
 Values chains
 Institutions and financial support systems
 Cultural practices
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54. The role of chemists, physicists (& engineers)
 low-carbon, green & circular
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New battery
technologies for
e-mobility &
energy storage
New resource-
efficient e-motors
for bikes, buses,
cars & ships
Carbon Capture
and Utilisation
Biobased,
recyclable
plastics
Magnetic cooling
devices
Advanced solar
cells & CSP

55. This challenge-driven research is
richly funded: I. Horizon Europe
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Source: EC, Horizon Europe, 2019

56. This challenge-driven research is
richly funded: I. Horizon Europe
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Source: EC, Horizon Europe, 2019
€ 100 billion
35% for
climate-
related R&I

57. This challenge-driven research is
richly funded: I. Horizon Europe
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Source: EC, Horizon Europe, 2019
€ 100 billion
35% for
climate-
related R&I

58. This challenge-driven research is
richly funded: I. Horizon Europe
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Source: EC, Horizon Europe, 2019

59. This challenge-driven research is richly
funded: II. ETS Innovation Fund
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Source: EC, Climate
Action, 2019
€ 10 billion
100% for
climate &
energy-
related R&I

60. This challenge-driven research is richly
funded: III. Moonshot Programme (FL)
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Source: Catalisti, 2019
€ 200 million
100% for climate &
energy-related R&I

61. Education for sustainability in the
Anthropocene
• How should education respond to the
sustainability challenge?
• What should people (students) be learning
and how?
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62. Education for sustainability in the
Anthropocene
• How should education respond to the
sustainability challenge?
• What should people (students) be learning
and how?
• How should Professors in the field of
chemistry and physics respond in their own
courses? [The challenge for today’s
workshop…]
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63. Education for sustainability in the
Anthropocene
• Key questions:
 How should education respond to the
sustainability challenge?
 What should people (students) be learning
and how?
 How should Professors in the field of
chemistry and physics respond in their own
courses?
• The challenge for today’s workshop…
• Sustainability education @ KU
Leuven:
 OPO “Grand Challenges”
 International micromaster ‘From facts
to policy’ with UNA Europe
 Micro MOOC’s on SDG’s
 (…)
 (cf. “Pakket duurzaamheid in onderwijs”,
NOTA Dienst Duurzaamheid, 2019)
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64. V. There is (active)
hope…
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65. V. There is (active)
hope… and we are part of the
story
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66. Contact:
Peter Tom Jones (IOF/SIM² KU Leuven)
Dept Materials Engineering
peter.jones@kuleuven.be
[Book: P.T. Jones & V. De Meyere, Terra
Reversa, De Transitie naar rechtvaardige
duurzaamheid, EPO, 2016.
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09/09/2019
Now let’s get cracking!
Together we can make a difference
Thanks to these & all other initiatives where KU
Leuven is contributing to the sustainability transition

67. On the knowledge-behaviour gap
“As scientists, we tend to operate under an unspoken assumption – that our
job is to provide the world with factual information, and if we do so our
leaders will use it to make wise decisions. But what if that assumption is
wrong? (…) But while we’re now well informed, we haven’t actually changed
course.
“As scientists we have spent years telling policymakers that we must change
course, but they haven’t taken action. They may be starting to now, but only
because people have engaged in open rebellion, making it clear that we will no
longer accept inaction. Surely scientists have a moral duty to join the masses,
and rebel for life.”
[Charlie Gardner and Claire Wordley, The Guardian, Sep. 6, 2019]
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68. @KU Leuven The Times They Are
Changing - connecting the dots (& pixels)
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Resolution (credits: https://nextshark.com/photography-china-gigapixel/
Etc.