Abstract
In resource economics, decoupling from environmental impacts is assumed to be beneficial. However, the success of efforts to increase resource productivity should be placed within the context of the earth’s resources and ecosystems as theoretically finite and contingent on a number of threshold values. Thus far relatively few analyses exist of policies which have successfully implemented strategies for decoupling within these limits. Through ex-post evaluation of a number of real world policy mixes from European Union member states, this paper further develops definitions of the concept of decoupling. Beyond absolute (and relative) decoupling, “absolute decoupling within limits” is proposed as an appropriate term for defining resource-productivity at any scale which respects the existing real world limits on resources and ecosystems and as such, contributes to meeting sustainability objectives. Policy mixes presented here cover a range of resources such as fish stocks, fertilizers, aggregates and fossil based materials (plastics). Policy mixes demonstrating absolute decoupling and at least one where absolute decoupling within limits has occurred, provide insights on developing resource efficiency policies in Europe and beyond.
Highlights
Earth Overshoot Day, the 13 August 2015 was the day upon which humanity’s annual demand for resources exceeded the Earth’s ecosystem ability to regenerate within a year
This article draws upon the results of the DYNAMIX—DYNAmic policy MIXes for absolute decoupling of the environmental impact of EU resource use from economic growth
Supported by the analysis presented here, absolute decoupling within limits is proposed as a conceptually superior elaboration of decoupling: with resource use and environmental impacts declining in absolute terms irrespective of economic growth and respecting the earth as a closed system
Summary
Earth Overshoot Day, the 13 August 2015 was the day upon which humanity’s annual demand for resources exceeded the Earth’s ecosystem ability to regenerate within a year. The consequences of the “overshoot” amongst other indicators of unsustainable resource consumption are increasingly well understood, for example in climate change, biodiversity loss and water stress as well as related societal and economic pressures This kind of analysis gives a powerful motivation to better understand the relationship between human development, our planet’s resources and related environmental impacts. This article draws upon the results of the DYNAMIX—DYNAmic policy MIXes for absolute decoupling of the environmental impact of EU resource use from economic growth. This is a European Union-funded research project which included ex-post analysis on a number of policies to further develop the conceptualisation of decoupling and to contribute valuable insights based on existing policies. Future needs are considered to support academic and policy development in the application of decoupling
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