Translating Earth system boundaries for cities and businesses


Bai X., Hasan S., Andersen L. S., Bjørn A., KILKIŞ Ş., Ospina D., ...More

Nature Sustainability, vol.7, no.2, pp.108-119, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 7 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1038/s41893-023-01255-w
  • Journal Name: Nature Sustainability
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Food Science & Technology Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.108-119
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Operating within safe and just Earth system boundaries requires mobilizing key actors across scale to set targets and take actions accordingly. Robust, transparent and fair cross-scale translation methods are essential to help navigate through the multiple steps of scientific and normative judgements in translation, with clear awareness of associated assumptions, bias and uncertainties. Here, through literature review and expert elicitation, we identify commonly used sharing approaches, illustrate ten principles of translation and present a protocol involving key building blocks and control steps in translation. We pay particular attention to businesses and cities, two understudied but critical actors to bring on board.