The document discusses several key topics related to economic growth on a finite planet. It notes that (1) the Earth is a closed system with limited resources, (2) human activity has pushed the planet into a new geological epoch called the Anthropocene through impacts on land, ecosystems, and the atmosphere, and (3) human impacts have grown exponentially driven by population growth and increasing consumption. It also discusses measuring human impact through ecological footprints and correlations with GDP, challenges around energy use given finite resources and the laws of thermodynamics, and major environmental objectives for reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption to achieve sustainable levels.

1. Economic growth on a finite
planet – status quo and
perspectives
Irmi Seidl
Swiss Research Institute WSL

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Content
1. Earth – a materially closed system
2. Anthropocene: transgression of planetary boundaries
3. Exponential growth in human impacts
4. Footprint - measurement of human impact
5. The energy question
6. Major environmental objectives
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1. Earth – a materially closed system
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Radiation of sun Heat
Stock of energy and materials is limited

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From an empty to a full world
Herman Daly

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2. Anthropocene

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2. Anthropocene
Human activities
- have significant global impact on the Earth's ecosystems
- influence land use, ecosystems, biodiversity, and atmosphere
- impact irreversibly
- constitute a new geological epoch
1873 first evocation of 'anthropozoic era‘ by Italian geologist
Antonio Stoppani

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Rockströmetal.2009,Nature,Vol461,24Sept.,p.472ff.

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www.newscientist.com/article/dn14950-special-report-the-facts-about-overconsumption.html(13.11.13)
3. Exponential growth in human impacts

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www.newscientist.com/article/dn14950-special-report-the-facts-about-overconsumption.html(13.11.13)

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UNEP 2011, following Krausmann et al. 2009

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Limits to growth – scenarios verified?
Turner,2012

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4. Footprint - Measurements of human impacts
in EEA countries

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R² = 0.6408
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0
GPDperhead[US$]
Ecological Footprint [Gha]
Correlation GDP/head and ecological footprint/head
Asien
Afrika
Europa
Südamerika/Karibik
Nordamerika
Ozeanien
Welt
1.8 Gha (Total Biocapacity/cap)
Data: Ecological Footprint (www.footprintnetwork.org), World Bank; Data for 2010
(http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD)
Ita

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5. The energy question

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Murphy/Hall2010,S.109

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Law of Entropy

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Prices in last century
Source: McKinsey Global Institute, Resource Revolution. Tracking global commodity markets, Sept. 13, S. 6

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6. Major environmental objectives
Rise in global temperature max 2-2.4 C
Reduce European CO2-emission by 85-95% by 2050
Sustainable resource use
Reduce European resource consumption by 80-90% by 2050
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Challenge and task: Produce and consume for a
future within limits
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