05. Transformation processes and planetary boundaries

This week has two main focal points: fist how transformation processes work. This is a historical overview on the relationship between energy and societal development and includes a glimpse on multi-level-perspective (MLP) as of the most relevant approaches for analysing transformation processes


I. Great transformation processes

i) relationship between energy consumption and societal (and economic) development and have a look at main features of so-called “great transformations”

ii) The role of different actors and regimes in great transformation processes

From a historical perspective we first have a look at the link between energy consumption and econonmic (and social) development. Thereafter, also following a historic analysis from the WBGU (scienfitic comittee on global environmental changes) from the German Government, we analyse the main characteristic of great transformation processes. And the energy and mobility transitions can be seen as examples of those!

Here you can finde the Video and Slides.


II. Planetary boundaries

2. Planetary boundaries: for this topic we will have a live lecture on the seminar room. And here come the slides


III. Critical materials

Here come the slides


Relevant Literature

1.Great Transformation Processes

2. Planetary Boundaries

  • W. Steffen et al., Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science 347, 1259855 (2015). DOI: 10.1126/science.1259855
  • Powering sustainable development within planetary boundaries – PubMed (nih.gov), Algunaibet IM, Pozo C, Galán-Martín Á, Huijbregts MAJ, Mac Dowell N, Guillén-Gosálbez G. Powering sustainable development within planetary boundaries. Energy Environ Sci. 2019 Jun 1;12(6):1890-1900. doi: 10.1039/c8ee03423k. Epub 2019 Jan 24. PMID: 31303892; PMCID: PMC6592157.

3. Critical Materials

Material flow analysis (MFA) is a great tool for the analysis of critical materials use. Here you find a great book on industrial ecology with one full chapter devoted to MFA. Material Flow Analysis | SpringerLink. You should have access to the book via the university library. This source may be interesting for those of you willing to do your project for the module on this field.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *