The risks associated with the transgression of planetary limits are increasingly recognized by policymakers around the world, including in Belgium. As highlighted in the first National Security Strategy for Belgium, climate change and environmental degradation pose a variety of threats to Belgium's citizens, economy and nature. The impacts are already being felt today and will be increasingly so in the future. Policymakers therefore have a growing need to understand the consequences of global warming and the transgression of all other planetary boundaries, not only the physical consequences but also the socio-economics consequences of those. In the light of a just transition to a more sustainable society, policies aimed at living within the environmental limits of our planet should also take into account what is known as the social foundation, i.e. the social effects on fundamental human rights such as access to affordable housing, energy, food or gender equality. A short-term vision focused solely on reducing environmental impact can lead to social crises and increased inequality.
It's why Cerac won’t only focus on physical risks of transgressing the planetary boundaries but will also look at the social impacts of those risks.
One of the model assessing the social floor of transgressing planetary boundaries is the Doughnut Model.
Belgium has also a dedicated “High committee for Just transition” made of 24 experts specializing in social issues, economics, democratic innovation and environment issues.
More information about the social impact of transgressing the planetary boundaries in Belgium coming soon (autumn 2024).
Some essential reading
Belgium
- Climate change and Social Security (Dutch | French)
- Belgian High Committee for a Just Transition
Europe
- Economic losses from weather- and climate-related extremes in Europe
- EU Study 2023: The cost of climate change on households and families