Global-local governance for generating transformative pathways towards sustainable food provisioning and nature conservation

Concurrent delivery of food and nature conservation is challenged by a global context where analyses indicate that we have exceeded planetary boundaries on many biophysical parameters, including multiple aspects of nature conservation (for example biodiversity loss, land-use change, excessive freshwater use), and have failed to achieve a foundation on many social parameters such as fair and equitable supplies of food and water (Rockström et al. 2009; Leach et al. 2013). While the concepts, thresholds and appropriate measures of these boundaries are contested (Running 2012; Mace et al. 2014), updated analyses have further quantied and reinforced the conclusion that we have already exceeded several boundaries (Steen et al. 2015). The current global social-ecological trajectory does not conform to what Leach et al. (2013) describe as ‘safe and just pathways’ for humanity (Figure 15.1). Synchronous delivery of food provision and nature conservation, therefore, requires, and forms part of, a broader sustainability transformation wherein humanity begins to operate within planetary and social boundaries (Figure 15.2) (Rockström et al. 2009; Leach et al. 2012; Dearing et al. 2014).