The concept of ecological debt: some steps towards an enriched sustainability paradigm

Authors: Goeminne, Gert¹; Paredis, Erik²

Source: Environment, Development and Sustainability, Volume 12, Number 5, October 2010 , pp. 691-712(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

In this paper, we elaborate on the concept of ecological debt. Starting from the enriching environmental justice perspectives, this grass-roots concept has to offer to sustainability discourse, a broad conceptual discussion is presented resulting in a working definition for ecological debt. In elaborating on this definition, we try both to accommodate these enriching perspectives and to offer a more robust conceptualisation that is applicable in international sustainability discourse. Also, a scientifically sound methodology is presented which allows quantifying different aspects of ecological debt. Finally, both the conceptual analysis as well as the quantification method is applied to the case of climate change.

Keywords: Ecological debt; Equity; Sustainability; Developing countries; Environmental justice; Carbon debt

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10668-009-9219-y

Affiliations: 1: Centre Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies (CLEA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Krijgskundestraat 33, 1160, Brussels, Belgium, Email: gert.goeminne@vub.ac.be 2: Centre for Sustainable Development (CDO), Ghent University, Poel 16, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

Publication date: 2010-10-01