This work tries to answer the question of Germany’s contribution to agricultural sources, through the total consumption of products and services. An environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output (“MRIO”) analysis is applied to track and account, direct and indirect, N-fertilizer use through international supply chains in 2007.
From the resulting 31 kg N/cap consumption based N-fertilizer use, 60% are embodied in imports and 40 % used internally. Comparing consumption based and production based val-ues shows, that Germany is a net-importing country of embodied N-fertilizer use with + 9 kg N/cap. The total amount of N-fertilizer used for domestic production, imports and exports is 41 kg N/cap. Due to low long-term storage of Nr in the agricultural system, Nr sources cor-respond approximately to Nr losses (Rockström et al. 2009, Bodirsky et al. 2014) that can cause (multiple; but not linearly-dependent) environmental impacts (Galloway et al. 2003, Bodirsky et al. 2014). Complexities from the nitrogen cascade (Galloway et al. 2008) and social-economic dynamics puts also locally manifested N- boundary processes on a global scale (Häyhä et al. 2014, 7), challenging (consumption based) national bottom up boundaries in view of external N-flows. A “footprint”/boundary perspective that compares current na-tional consumption based shoe sizes, per capita, with an equal, per capita, share of the PB N could provide a relevant estimation of the needed reductions to return to the safe operating space. For Germany a transgression of 270-310%, of which approximately two thirds is ex-ternal, and one third internal Nr from human intended fixation processes, is found.
It can be concluded that German consumption drives substantial local nitrogen pollution in other countries and mitigation, especially through sufficiency approaches, is necessary to return to the safe operating space.
Table of Contents
1 The Planetary Boundary framework and the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary
1.1 The Planetary Boundary framework
1.2 The Planetary Nitrogen Boundary
1.2.1 Foundation of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary
1.2.2 Definition and quantification of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary
2 Operationalization of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary for Germany
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Current literature
2.3 Opportunities vs. critique
2.3.1 Boundaries for production based Nr
2.3.2 Boundaries for consumption based Nr
2.3.3 Summary
3 Germany’s internal and external contribution to the transgression of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary
3.1 Research questions
3.2 Research design
3.3 Method
3.3.1 Indicator
3.3.2 Accounting principles and terminology
3.3.3 MRIO analysis
3.3.4 Legume BNF
3.3.5 Downscaling the PB N and assessing the transgression
3.4 Data
3.5 Results
3.6 Discussion
Research Objectives and Themes
The main objective of this thesis is to quantify the extent to which Germany's final demand for goods and services, both domestically and internationally, contributes to the transgression of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary. The study utilizes an environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis to estimate national nitrogen footprints and assess them against a downscaled, per-capita share of the global safe operating space.
- Application of the Planetary Boundary framework to national nitrogen management.
- Assessment of internal vs. external nitrogen footprints through global supply chains.
- Methodological development for downscaling planetary-level thresholds to national scales.
- Evaluation of Germany's performance regarding sustainable nitrogen consumption and production.
- Discussion of sufficiency approaches as a means to return to safe operating spaces.
Excerpt from the Book
3.6 Discussion
The first approximations of Germany’s consumption based account of N from human intended fixation processes through this MRIO analysis can be enhanced and verified by using the full EORA version and EXIOBASE with similar methodology. Existing knowledge on the comparison and harmonization of MRIO models can be used (cf. Owen & Moran 2014). Like other MRIO analysis, N-footprint (and shoe size) analysis with EORA and its N-satellite bears errors. The very comprehensive analysis of N embodied in trade and N footprints of Oita et al. (2015), that, next to N-fertilizer, included other N-flows in their analysis, note a standard deviation of about 8 kg/cap for the German N footprint of multiple assessed N-losses. The standard deviation from the here presented results should be well below this standard deviation, because only one of the Nr-flows was considered. Although less Nr-flows were analyzed, double-counting of Nr can be avoided and a measure of newly introduced Nr suggested, that marks the start of the N cascade with (multiple) environmental pressures and is comparable to the PB N.
Bodirsky et al. (2014) in line with Rockström et al. 2009 and De Vries et al. 2013, state that since there is little long-term storage of Nr in the agricultural sector, Nr sources correspond approximately to Nr losses (of which next to N-fertilizer use and BNF also atmospheric deposition and Nr form soil organic matter depletion is counted (ibid.)), and are an easily communicable indicator for the disturbance of environmental systems by Nr pollution. It should be noted that for a complete account of anthropogenic consumption based Nr sources also the unintended Nr fixation, due to the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from transport and industry should be counted, that are excluded in the PB N approach (Rockström et al. 2009, Steffen et al. 2015).
Summary of Chapters
1 The Planetary Boundary framework and the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary: This chapter introduces the theoretical concept of Planetary Boundaries and focuses specifically on the Nitrogen cycle as a critical driver of environmental change.
2 Operationalization of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary for Germany: This section reviews existing literature on benchmarking national performance and discusses the potential for using consumption-based perspectives to inform policy.
3 Germany’s internal and external contribution to the transgression of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary: This central chapter outlines the research design, the MRIO methodology applied, and presents the empirical results regarding Germany's nitrogen footprints and their comparison to the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary.
Keywords
Planetary Boundaries, Nitrogen Cycle, MRIO Analysis, Germany, Nitrogen Footprint, Sustainability, Consumption-based Accounting, Haber-Bosch Process, Environmental Policy, Legume BNF, Downscaling, Safe Operating Space, Supply Chains, Nitrogen Pollution, Resource Efficiency
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this thesis?
The thesis investigates Germany's contribution to the transgression of the global Planetary Nitrogen Boundary by analyzing the nitrogen impact of its domestic and international consumption of goods and services.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The work integrates environmental science, specifically the Planetary Boundary framework, with economic input-output modeling and policy analysis regarding nitrogen sustainability.
What is the main goal or research question?
The overarching goal is to determine how German final demand contributes to global nitrogen disruption and whether this consumption keeps the nation within its "fair share" of the global nitrogen budget.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research primarily uses an environmentally-extended multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis, specifically utilizing the EORA 26 database, to trace nitrogen fertilizer and legume nitrogen fixation through international supply chains.
What topics are discussed in the main part?
The main part covers the operationalization of the nitrogen boundary, the distinction between production-based and consumption-based accounting, and the empirical results of Germany's national nitrogen "shoe size" and its transgression of safe limits.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Planetary Boundaries, Nitrogen Footprint, MRIO Analysis, Germany, Sustainable Consumption, and Nitrogen Cascade.
Why is consumption-based accounting important here?
Consumption-based accounting reveals the external nitrogen impacts generated in other countries to satisfy German demand, highlighting the potential for shifting environmental burdens abroad.
What is the significance of the "shoe size" concept?
The term "shoe size" is used as a proxy for a nitrogen footprint, representing the amount of reactive nitrogen required directly and indirectly to meet a specific level of consumption, facilitating comparisons against global limits.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Justus Eggers (Autor:in), 2016, The Transgression of the Planetary Nitrogen Boundary. What is Germany's Internal and External Contribution?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/514877
