What has caused the transgression of planetary boundaries?

Arild Vatn

Chapter 13 in Rethinking Ecological Economics, 2026, pp 218-228 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Chapter 4 described the status of the environment by referring to the transgression of six of the nine planetary boundaries. The aim of this chapter is to go beyond these observations and discuss possible explanations for the developments, distinguishing between a physio-technological and an institutional analysis. In this way the distinction between an empiricist and a critical realist-based analysis of changes in the economic metabolism is illustrated. While the former emphasizes relationships between environmental impacts observed and factors like population, technology and affluence, the latter goes beyond these empirics and tries to come to grips with the underlying structures, powers and mechanisms. Regarding the latter, three explanations are discussed: impatient consumers; a profit-oriented economic system; and welfare-oriented state policies.

Keywords: IPAT framework; Environmental impacts; Gross domestic product; Capitalist structures; Consumer impatience; Welfare state (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803921839
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