Topology of sustainable management of dynamical systems with desirable states: from defining planetary boundaries to safe operating spaces in the Earth system

Heitzig, J.; Kittel, T.; Donges, J. F.; Molkenthin, N.

doi:10.5194/esd-7-21-2016

Articles | Volume 7, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-7-21-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Special issue:

Social dynamics and planetary boundaries in Earth system...

https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-7-21-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 7, issue 1

Research article

|

18 Jan 2016

Research article |

| 18 Jan 2016

Topology of sustainable management of dynamical systems with desirable states: from defining planetary boundaries to safe operating spaces in the Earth system

J. Heitzig, T. Kittel, J. F. Donges, and N. Molkenthin

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Jul 2015	35	29	1	65
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Oct 2015	24	7	3	34
Nov 2015	33	15	15	63
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Jan 2016	186	51	10	247
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Apr 2016	18	11	1	30
May 2016	21	10	5	36
Jun 2016	15	15	7	37
Jul 2016	15	10	6	31
Aug 2016	12	4	4	20
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Oct 2016	18	9	4	31
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Jan 2017	36	12	1	49
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Jul 2024	25	12	4	41
Aug 2024	59	7	5	71
Sep 2024	18	5	1	24
Oct 2024	31	13	1	45
Nov 2024	20	15	6	41
Dec 2024	19	14	2	35
Jan 2025	32	26	1	59
Feb 2025	38	33	1	72
Mar 2025	22	27	1	50
Apr 2025	44	16	1	61
May 2025	26	11	1	38
Jun 2025	70	22	1	93
Jul 2025	71	27	9	107
Aug 2025	54	13	3	70
Sep 2025	52	12	3	67
Oct 2025	42	28	2	72
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Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 12 Mar 2015)

Month	HTML	PDF	XML	Total
Mar 2015	59	72	3	134
Apr 2015	36	20	1	57
May 2015	25	14	2	41
Jun 2015	32	26	0	58
Jul 2015	35	29	1	65
Aug 2015	20	21	3	44
Sep 2015	21	12	2	35
Oct 2015	24	7	3	34
Nov 2015	33	15	15	63
Dec 2015	18	16	8	42
Jan 2016	186	51	10	247
Feb 2016	99	31	4	134
Mar 2016	71	24	4	99
Apr 2016	18	11	1	30
May 2016	21	10	5	36
Jun 2016	15	15	7	37
Jul 2016	15	10	6	31
Aug 2016	12	4	4	20
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Feb 2017	19	5	5	29
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Aug 2025	54	13	3	70
Sep 2025	52	12	3	67
Oct 2025	42	28	2	72
Nov 2025	9	12	0	21

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Short summary

The debate about a safe and just operating space for humanity and the possible pathways towards and within it requires an analysis of the inherent dynamics of the Earth system and of the options for influencing its evolution. We present and illustrate with examples a conceptual framework for performing such an analysis not in a quantitative, optimizing mode, but in a qualitative way that emphasizes the main decision dilemmas that one may face in the sustainable management of the Earth system.