Sohel, Md Sarwar Hossain, Dearing, John, Eigenbrod, Felix and Amoako Johnson, Fiifi (2017) Operationalizing safe operating space for regional social-ecological systems. Science of the Total Environment, 584-585, 673-682. (doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.095).
Abstract
This study makes a first attempt to operationalize the safe operating space concept at a regional scale by considering the complex dynamics (e.g. non-linearity, feedbacks, and interactions) within a systems dynamic model (SD). We employ the model to explore eight ‘what if’ scenarios based on well-known challenges (e.g. climate change) and current policy debates (e.g. subsidy withdrawal). The findings show that the social-ecological system in the Bangladesh delta may move beyond a safe operating space when a withdrawal of a 50% subsidy for agriculture is combined with the effects of a 2 oC temperature increase and sea level rise. Further reductions in upstream river discharge in the Ganges would push the system towards a dangerous zone once a 3.5 oC temperature increase was reached. The social- ecological system in Bangladesh delta may be operated within a safe space by: 1) managing feedback (e.g. by reducing production costs) and the slow biophysical variables (e.g. temperature, rainfall) to increase the long-term resilience, 2) negotiating for transboundary water resources , and 3) revising global policies (e.g. withdrawal of subsidy) that negatively impact at regional scales. This study demonstrates how the concepts of tipping points, limits to adaptations, and boundaries for sustainable development may be defined in real world social-ecological systems.
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- Faculties (pre 2011 reorg) > Faculty of Engineering Science & Maths (pre 2011 reorg) > Geography (pre 2011 reorg) > GeoData (pre 2011 reorg)
Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Geography (pre 2011 reorg) > GeoData (pre 2011 reorg)
School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Geography (pre 2011 reorg) > GeoData (pre 2011 reorg) - Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (pre 2018 reorg) > Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (pre 2018 reorg)
- Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Social Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Social Statistics & Demography (pre 2018 reorg)
Current Faculties > Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Economic Social and Political Science > Social Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Social Statistics & Demography (pre 2018 reorg)
School of Economic Social and Political Science > Social Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Social Statistics & Demography (pre 2018 reorg) - Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg)
Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg)
Institute for Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) - Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Environmental Change & Sustainability
School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Environmental Change & Sustainability - Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Geography & Environment (pre 2018 reorg) > Palaeoenvironment Laboratory (PLUS) (pre 2018 reorg)
Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Geography & Environment (pre 2018 reorg) > Palaeoenvironment Laboratory (PLUS) (pre 2018 reorg)
School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Geography & Environment (pre 2018 reorg) > Palaeoenvironment Laboratory (PLUS) (pre 2018 reorg) - Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Landscape Dynamics and Ecology
School of Geography and Environmental Sciences > Landscape Dynamics and Ecology
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