Ecological Planetary Models and Future Geography as a World of Meaning

Abstract

Echoes of and debates around modelling Earth and human activity using system dynamics principles to analyze impact of industrial capitalism and consumer society over ecology, and possible futures thereof, has always found a platform extending beyond academia. In this article, three most well-known planetary models produced in different contexts since 1970’s, Limits to Growth, Ecological Footprint and Planetary Boundaries has been comparatively discussed together with criticisms and their reflection in political debate as well as their particular meaning for today’s context of a highly determining anthropogenic global climate change. Efforts of interpreting and adjusting these global models in a local and regional scale and their existing and potential interactions with physical and human geography present significant opportunities for most needed societal transformations and sense-making processes.