Can Earth system interactions be governed? Governance functions for linking climate change mitigation with land use, freshwater and biodiversity protection

The paper argues that Earth system interactions can be governed through comprehensive governance packages across different sub-systems and levels. It identifies three primary governance functions to manage these interactions: reducing system stress, risks, and vulnerabilities; navigating the transformation of economic activity; and developing a diversity of options. The analysis specifically considers the challenges of applying the planetary boundaries framework to the EU region to avoid shifting environmental problems from one sub-system to another.

• Governing Earth system interactions is possible but requires integrated governance responses that span multiple sub-systems and different levels of governance.
• The authors propose three overarching governance functions to address Earth system interactions: reducing system stress, risks, and vulnerabilities; managing the transformation of economic activity; and creating a variety of options.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2012). Can Earth system interactions be governed? Governance functions for linking climate change mitigation with land use, freshwater and biodiversity protection. https://www.sei.org/publications/can-earth-system-interactions-be-governed-governance-functions-for-linking-climate-change-mitigation-with-land-use-freshwater-and-biodiversity-protection/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Can Earth system interactions be governed? Governance functions for linking climate change mitigation with land use, freshwater and biodiversity protection. 2012. https://www.sei.org/publications/can-earth-system-interactions-be-governed-governance-functions-for-linking-climate-change-mitigation-with-land-use-freshwater-and-biodiversity-protection/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Can Earth system interactions be governed? Governance functions for linking climate change mitigation with land use, freshwater and biodiversity protection |date=20 January 2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/can-earth-system-interactions-be-governed-governance-functions-for-linking-climate-change-mitigation-with-land-use-freshwater-and-biodiversity-protection/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2012can, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Can Earth system interactions be governed? Governance functions for linking climate change mitigation with land use, freshwater and biodiversity protection}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/can-earth-system-interactions-be-governed-governance-functions-for-linking-climate-change-mitigation-with-land-use-freshwater-and-biodiversity-protection/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }