Knowing the limits of the planet's ability to provide resources and absorb pollutants is directly linked to debates on the limits to growth. Together with their partners from SERI, Ecologic Institute analysed environmental thresholds and associated indicators for monitoring unsustainable trends caused by human activity that could lead to the crossing of environmental thresholds in Europe. The areas covered are freshwater quality and quantity, soil erosion, and nonrenewable resource consumption. The report is available for download.

Environmental tresholds ("tipping points") show at which point an ecologic system is likely to collapse due to external disruption. To avoid such  an outcome it is necessary to indentify the factors that lead to such developments. Especially policy makers need to know those tipping points to be able to react the best way at the right time.

Environmental tresholds have to be identified to provide a good definition. This is important because each tipping point needs to be addressed differently. They depend on the ecologic system that is involved as well as on the services it offers for the environment.

Indicators help to monitor and create treatments for tipping points. Currently there are few indicators established dealing with these problems. Indicators are an important aspect regarding the environmental and sustainable development policy of the European Union because they are necessary to identify "danger zones" - regions that might reach tipping points in the future.

The study tries to support EU policy by making progress on selected key tresholds. Furthermore it shows ways how thresholds can be identified, defined and monitored via indicators. It is focused on specific indicators and how they can be used.

The aim of the study was to detect unsustainable trends in the EU that could lead to treshold- or collapse-phenomena. For four chosen tipping points (health, fisheries, water, soil) indicators were established to support European policy decision makers in their work. The study also provides an interpretation for each indicator regarding its usability and efficiency.