Towards meaningful consumption-based planetary boundary indicators: The phosphorus exceedance footprint

摘要: Abstract The idea of measuring humanity’s footprint against planetary boundaries has attracted wide academic attention but methods to implement the theory in sustainability accounting remain underexplored. To help nations take collective actions stay within a safe operating space, footprinting approaches need be revised accommodate biophysical limits. Here we develop novel indicator, phosphorus exceedance (PEF) that measures countries’ contributions transgression for phosphorus. Adopting consumption-based perspective reveals how contribute environmentally unsustainable pollution their trading partners. This captures country-specific through supply chains way complements conventional footprinting. In 2011, 27% world’s PEF was associated with international trade flows. Wealthier countries tend reduce domestic fertiliser exceedance, thus preserving own natural environment, while increasing share imported P-embodied products trade. A pattern highly uneven distribution phosphorus-compromised economies is revealed, 76% worldwide exceeded embodied exports supplied by only four countries: China (42%), Brazil (19%), India (10%) and New Zealand (54%). All transgress boundaries, even those do not exceed territorial boundaries. Our findings highlight mitigation strategies include cooperation on efficiency use reducing demand cause exceedance.