Planetary boundaries as a guide for EU policy

Join us for this in-person members-only lunchtime meeting, where Katherine Richardson will present an analysis of the September 2023 update of the Planetary Boundaries Framework. This analysis indicates that the goals of the Paris Agreement are unlikely to be met unless deforestation is stopped or (preferably) reversed. The inextricable nature of the climate and biodiversity crises points towards ‘system-oriented’ policy that respects human societies as components of a larger ecosystem, i.e., the Earth. The analysis also identifies photosynthetic products as the ultimate limited resource. This suggests that a ‘bio-economy’ is best supported through both efficient use of products (bio-refining rather than combustion) and innovation designed to increase the total amount of photosynthesis occurring on Earth.