Downscaling Planetary Boundaries: How Does the Framework’s Localization Hinder the Concept’s Operationalization?

Damien Rieutor (), Gwendoline De Oliveira-Neves, Guillaume Mandil () and Cecilia Bertozzi
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Damien Rieutor: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Inria, Grenoble INP, LJK, 38000 Grenoble, France
Gwendoline De Oliveira-Neves: Department of Geography, History and Phylosophy, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Seville, Spain
Guillaume Mandil: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Inria, Grenoble INP, LJK, 38000 Grenoble, France
Cecilia Bertozzi: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 41092 Seville, Spain

World, 2025, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: This article investigates issues in the local operationalization of the Planetary Boundaries concept (PBc), crucial for assessing human impacts on the Earth system and guiding sustainable development policies. Originally designed for the global scale, this concept requires local adaptation to align territorial actions with global environmental goals. Following a qualitative analysis of 34 review articles, a systematic categorization method is employed to identify recurrent localization and operationalization issues. Their analysis provides three main contributions that improve the understanding of PBc downscaling mechanisms. First, it identifies a prevalent quantification-based localization approach. Second, it categorizes local operationalization constraints into three distinct groups. Third, it reveals underlying patterns demonstrating that the prevalent approach, despite ensuring scientific rigor, generates methodological and practical constraints to effective local operationalization. This “operational paradox” reveals fundamental tensions between the PBc’s biophysical interpretation, localization by quantification, and local operationalization, contrasting measurement or meaning, precision or participation, and standardized solutions or locally adapted responses. For future research, the analysis of the interactions between these contributions suggests operating a paradigm shift based on a socio-biophysical interpretation of the PBc and the contextualization of the resulting components. This alternative approach could prioritize territorial anchoring, stakeholder inclusion, and the co-construction of sustainability trajectories.

Keywords: Planetary Boundaries framework; Planetary Boundaries concept; downscaling; operationalization; localization; quantification; contextualization; local governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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