Earth system economics: a biophysical approach  to the human component of the Earth system

Abstract. The study of humans has largely been carried out in isolation from the study of the non-human Earth system. This isolation has encouraged the development of incompatible philosophical, aspirational, and methodological approaches that have proven very difficult to integrate with those used for the non-human remainder of the Earth system. Here, an approach is laid out for the scientific study of the global human system that is intended to facilitate seamless integration with non-human processes by striving for a consistent physical basis, for which the name Earth system economics is proposed. The approach is typified by a foundation on state variables, central among which is the allocation of time amongst activities by human populations, and an orientation towards considering human experience. A framework is elaborated which parses the Earth system into six classes of state variables, including a neural structure class that underpins many essential features of humanity. A working example of the framework is then illustrated with a simple numerical model, considering a global population that is engaged in one of two waking activities: provisioning food or doing something else. The two activities are differentiated by their motivational factors, outcomes on state variables, and associated subjective experience. While the illustrative model is a gross simplification of reality, the results suggest how neural characteristics and subjective experience can emerge from model dynamics. The approach is intended to provide a flexible and widely applicable strategy for understanding the human–Earth system, appropriate for physically based assessments of the past and present, as well as contributing to long-term model projections that are naturally oriented towards improving human well-being.

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Earth System Economics: a bio-physical approach to the human component of the Earth System

10.5194/esd-2020-65 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Galbraith

Keyword(s):

Time Allocation ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Population Level ◽

Well Being ◽

Simple Relationship ◽

Earth System ◽

State Variables ◽

The Earth ◽

Physically Based ◽

Suitable Framework

Abstract. The study of humans has largely been carried out in isolation from the study of the non-human Earth system. This isolation has encouraged the development of incompatible philosphical, aspirational, and methodological approaches that have proven very difficult to integrate with those used for the non-human remainder of the Earth system. Here, an approach is laid out for the scientific study of humans that is intended to facilitate integration with non-human processes by striving for a consistent physical basis, for which the name Earth System Economics is proposed. The approach is typified by a foundation on bio-physical state variables, quantification of time allocation amongst available activities at the population level, and an orientation towards measuring human experience. A suitable framework is elaborated, which parses the Earth system into four classes of state variables, including a neural class that would underpin many societal features. A working example of the framework is then illustrated with a simple numerical model, considering a global population that is engaged in one of two waking activities: provisioning food, or doing something else. The two activities are differentiated by their motivational factors, outcomes on state variables, and associated subjective experience. Although the illustrative model is a gross simplification of reality, the results suggest a simple relationship to predict first order changes in the human population size, and how neural characteristics and subjective experience can robustly emerge from model dynamics, including transient golden ages. The approach is intended to provide a flexible and widely-applicable strategy for understanding the human-Earth system, appropriate for physically-based assessments of the past and present, as well as long-term model projections that are oriented towards improving human well-being.

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Topology of sustainable management of dynamical systems with desirable states: from defining planetary boundaries to safe operating spaces in the Earth system

Earth System Dynamics ◽

10.5194/esd-7-21-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 21-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

J. Heitzig ◽

T. Kittel ◽

J. F. Donges ◽

N. Molkenthin

Keyword(s):

State Space ◽

Classical Mechanics ◽

Climate Science ◽

Well Being ◽

The State ◽

System Modelling ◽

Earth System ◽

Planetary Boundaries ◽

Management Options ◽

The Earth

Abstract. To keep the Earth system in a desirable region of its state space, such as defined by the recently suggested "tolerable environment and development window", "guardrails", "planetary boundaries", or "safe (and just) operating space for humanity", one needs to understand not only the quantitative internal dynamics of the system and the available options for influencing it (management) but also the structure of the system's state space with regard to certain qualitative differences. Important questions are, which state space regions can be reached from which others with or without leaving the desirable region, which regions are in a variety of senses "safe" to stay in when management options might break away, and which qualitative decision problems may occur as a consequence of this topological structure? In this article, we develop a mathematical theory of the qualitative topology of the state space of a dynamical system with management options and desirable states, as a complement to the existing literature on optimal control which is more focussed on quantitative optimization and is much applied in both the engineering and the integrated assessment literature. We suggest a certain terminology for the various resulting regions of the state space and perform a detailed formal classification of the possible states with respect to the possibility of avoiding or leaving the undesired region. Our results indicate that, before performing some form of quantitative optimization such as of indicators of human well-being for achieving certain sustainable development goals, a sustainable and resilient management of the Earth system may require decisions of a more discrete type that come in the form of several dilemmas, e.g. choosing between eventual safety and uninterrupted desirability, or between uninterrupted safety and larger flexibility. We illustrate the concepts and dilemmas drawing on conceptual models from climate science, ecology, coevolutionary Earth system modelling, economics, and classical mechanics, and discuss their potential relevance for the climate and sustainability debate, in particular suggesting several levels of planetary boundaries of qualitatively increasing safety.

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Living with Global Change: Consequences of Changes in the Earth System for Human Well-Being

Global Change and the Earth System - Global Change — The IGBP Series ◽

10.1007/3-540-26607-0_5 ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 203-254

Keyword(s):

Global Change ◽

Well Being ◽

Earth System ◽

The Earth

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Introduction: The Age of Complexity

Governing Complex Systems ◽

10.7551/mitpress/9780262035934.003.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Oran R. Young

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Stratospheric Ozone ◽

Well Being ◽

Earth System ◽

New Era ◽

The Earth ◽

Governance Systems ◽

The Social ◽

Anthropogenic Drivers

The Earth is moving into a new era, frequently referred to as the Anthropocene, in which anthropogenic drivers have become major determinants of the trajectory of the Earth system. Compared to the Holocene, a relatively benign era from the perspective of human well-being, the Anthropocene is emerging as a more turbulent era featuring processes of change that are often nonlinear, frequently abrupt, typically surprising, and generally challenging from a human perspective. Our basic understanding of governance, derived from the effort to solve largescale environmental problems like the depletion of stratospheric ozone remains relevant in this setting. But now we must supplement this understanding with new perspectives on meeting needs for governance that will augment the social capital available to those responsible for creating and implementing governance systems that will prove effective in addressing problems like climate change and the loss of biological diversity.

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Supplemental Material for Coherence Between Subjective Experience and Physiology in Emotion: Individual Differences and Implications for Well-Being

Emotion ◽

10.1037/emo0000579.supp ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Well Being

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A REVIEW ON THE BENEFITS OF HORTICULTURAL THERAPY FOR RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA

Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment ◽

10.24191/myse.v2i1.5573 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Amirul Amin Ismail ◽

Ismail Samsuddin ◽

Azman Zainonabidin ◽

Harlina Mohd Ali

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Retirement Community ◽

Analysis Method ◽

Horticultural Therapy ◽

Seamless Integration ◽

Ageing Society ◽

After Effects ◽

Malaysian Population ◽

The Impact

By the year 2030, Malaysian population will experience the after effects of the rapid growth of ageing society. This paper investigates the impact of seamless integration of horticultural activity in the new residential typology of retirement community. It is believed that horticultural therapy is not only beneficial for physical and psychological but also promotes socialisation opportunities among the elderly. Comparative analysis method on selected precedent studies has been carried out and analysed in accordance with Malaysian context. Initial findings indicate that a retirement community with horticultural activity gives therapy for healthier well-being. This therapeutic activity can be apositive change in elderly lifestyle and essential towards the establishment of retirement community in Malaysia.

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Konsep dan Praktik Pelestarian Lingkungan dalam Hukum Islam

10.31219/osf.io/twvxp ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Evra Willya ◽

Sabil Mokodenseho ◽

Muh. Idris ◽

Nasruddin Yusuf

Keyword(s):

Social Movements ◽

Islamic Law ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Generations ◽

Social Activities ◽

Environment Pollution ◽

Human Relations ◽

Basic Principles ◽

Human Actions ◽

The Earth

In the Al Qur’an, Allah SWT describes the damages and destructions caused by human actions on land and sea. Therefore, humans are obliged to maintain and preserve their environment for future generations. This obligation aims at protecting their interests, due to the various beneficial sources of life attributed to humans existence on earth. In order to maintain the balance and harmony of human relations with nature, and to realize order and social well-being, Islamic Law upholds some basic principles of social activities, to guarantee an orderly, balanced, and harmonious life for the development and social movements life in a stable and orderly manner. Subsequently, environment pollution and damage to the earth are eradicated, thereby, restoring balance and harmony.

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