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

This research paper explores how to govern the interactions between climate change, freshwater, land use, and biodiversity to prevent problem shifting. Using the EU as a case study, it argues that such governance is possible through comprehensive response packages and identifies three key governance functions: reducing system stress, navigating economic transformation, and developing diverse options.

• The paper examines the multi-level governance challenge of managing interactions between four Earth sub-systems—climate change, land use, biodiversity, and freshwater use—while attempting to avoid 'problem shifting'.
• Analysis of the EU region suggests that governing Earth system interactions is possible, though it likely necessitates comprehensive governance response packages that span different levels and sub-systems.
• The authors propose three tentative governance functions to address Earth system interactions: reducing system stress, risks, and vulnerabilities; navigating the transformation of economic activity; and developing 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} }