Societies globally are under significant threat from the human destabilisation of a number of earth systems. This InBrief uses the recently developed planetary boundaries framework to examine whether environmental stress generated by consumption in the Republic of Ireland oversteps these boundaries.
Humanity faces a key and potentially existential challenge: namely, how to satisfy human needs and other goals without disrupting key planetary processes. This InBrief compares consumption in the Republic of Ireland to a number of global boundaries (adjusted per person) which represent estimates of equitable and safe operating space for humanity. The analysis concludes that consumption in ROI exceeds planetary boundaries in six of seven cases, often by significant margins. Consumption will have to change significantly if activity in Ireland is to respect biophysical limits.