A visualization of sustainability represented by concentric rings (hence the doughnut). At the center are twelve factors necessary to support life that array outward. The first ring closest to the center is the minimum required for society to function, but as it extends outward it reaches the ‘ecological ceiling’ such as climate change, pollution, etc.
The purpose of the model is to use it as a framework for making economic decisions. For example, an economic policy could encourage more oil drilling, but that would cause an overshoot of the energy needs of society causing harmful effects (e.g. greenhouse gases, pollution, and land conversion). Using this framework, one could better make decisions that are grounded in sustainability.
See also:
- Civilization is composed of fast layers and slow layers to absorb shocks which draws a similar conclusion about change.
- People are bad at long-term thinking, this model might help make the long term more immediate
- This is similar to the concept of deep time in that it helps show effects that occur over many years.
- Pareto optimal would be the space between the social foundation and ecological ceiling.
Links to this note
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Civilization Is Composed of Fast Layers and Slow Layers to Absorb Shocks
Resilient systems that can absorb shocks (short peaks of rapid change) have multiple layers that move at different speeds. For example, technology is a fast moving layer—it changes very quickly. In contrast, culture is a slower moving layer which, over the course of time, is nudged along over a longer time period.