Planetary Health Research Digest

In prevailing economies, the widespread satisfaction of basic human needs is associated with vast energy use, and thus runs up against planetary boundaries. To meet Sustainable Development Goals, countries must fundamentally reorganise their economies towards satisfying at low use. Jefim Vogel (University Leeds, UK) colleagues investigated relationship between consumption need satisfaction, how it varies national socioeconomic factors. They found that none 106 studied currently meets defined set within demand levels compatible limiting global warming to 1·5°C (roughly 27 GJ per capita). Factors such as high public service quality income equality were be beneficial for meeting lower levels, while extractive industries economic growth beyond moderate affluence have a detrimental effect. Hence, improving factors minimising ones could enable satisfy demand. Mitigating climate change will require combination policy actions individual behavioural changes. However, not clear whether engaging in sustainable behaviour strengthens support through consistency past or weakens individuals feeling they already done part. Gregg Sparkman (Princeton University, USA) designed pair experiments investigate this question. Compared control participants, those who asked reflect on behaviours generally did show reduction mitigation policies, except one case: carbon tax declined when was framed having costs fall solely (vs industry) only if reflection task relate values identity (though, effect clearly replicate second experiment). Furthermore, increased participants way connected identity. These findings notion campaigns increase would harmful broader approaches mitigate change, moreover can instrumental increasing policies. Post-harvest food value chains are important components system, but most analyses been limited farmers (or other producers) consumers, two ends chain. The scale composition chain these points less clear. Jing Yi (Cornell farm gate 61 from 2005 2015 by developing standardised data series share domestic consumer purchases received sale products. dataset, average home 27%, decreases incomes rise eaten away home. Given receive greatest expenditures, authors argue environmental workforce impacts also likely sizeable well worth future investigation. Although clothing understood significant, estimates focused production phase there substantial uncertainty them. Evidence use disposal more scarce. Joshua Sohn (Technical University Denmark, Denmark) used life cycle assessment method survey estimate footprints t-shirts jeans Germany, Poland, Sweden, USA. Across four countries, footprint purchasing, maintaining, disposing 70 kg CO2 equivalent person year 43 t-shirts. Production represented largest footprint. highly variable countries. While some inter-country differences stemmed power grids efficiency appliances, majority came frequency purchases, washing drying, highlighting importance mitigating clothing.