So I was naturally drawn to a research effort that surfaced in 2009 defining a «safe operating space for humanity» by estimating a set of nine «planetary boundaries» for vital - sign - style parameters like levels of greenhouse gases, flows of nitrogen and phosphorus and loss of biodiversity. (dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com)
Based on equal - per - capita allocation of the global safe operating space, the EU does not appear to be «living within the limits of our planet»; it significantly exceeds its per capita «fair share» with respect to the climate change and biogeochemical flows (nitrogen and phosphorus flows) boundaries. (sei.org)
Translating the Planetary Boundaries to EU level involves normative (political) decisions about how to apportion responsibilities and fairly allocate the global safe operating space. (sei.org)