Planetary boundaries is an Earth systems science concept that aims to comprehensively assess human-caused disturbances on the planet. First developed in 2009, the basic premise is that there are thresholds for a series of Earth systems—such as ocean acidification, freshwater depletion, and climate change—that, if crossed, will cause abrupt and potentially catastrophic environmental change. As such, planetary boundaries is useful to frame sustainability objectives and practices. This review investigates the scholarly diffusion of planetary boundaries. How did it take off and spread? Using academic databases, I trace the growth of the concept over time, by the geographic location of scholars, as well as their disciplinary affiliations. Using citation counts, the most influential papers that have diffused the concept are identified. Moreover, the temporal expansion of planetary boundaries is compared to older, well-established sustainability concepts. The results indicate that the planetary boundaries concept has penetrated a wide variety of different academic disciplines, although such research is predominantly European. Fewer studies currently involve planetary boundaries compared to the related sustainability concepts Anthropocene and ecological footprint; however, the growth rate of planetary boundaries research is comparable to trends when those concepts were new. Most research that addresses planetary boundaries uses it as a background idea to frame their research questions. Although quantitatively fewer, some research studies continuously assess and refine the planetary boundary concept itself.

Spending time in nature has many benefits for older individuals’ health and well-being. When individuals age, their activity spaces typically become more geographically limited to the proximity of their homes. Having nature close by is therefore important for them to be able to maintain their habits of spending time in nature. In this study, we use a mixed-methods design, including a survey and interviews, to examine the level of importance older individuals living in Sweden place on closeness to nature in their moving decisions. The results show that closeness to nature is greatly appreciated by many respondents, especially those who currently have access to nature close to their homes, visit nature frequently and most often use an active form of travel to get there. The level of importance given to nature generally remains high even when constraints and challenges emerge, for instance health-related issues and widowhood. However, different constraints can limit the choice of housing and, consequently, the type of natural area close to one’s home can change. The results indicate that it is important to recognise older individuals as a heterogeneous group and to provide opportunities for them to live close to nature, regardless of whether they wish to age in place (in a rural or urban setting) or move to improve access to other amenities.

The essay discusses the failure of the author to theorise refusal in relation to the politics of migration. As I try to understand why theorising refusal failed, I am reminded of the all-too-familiar trope of ethnography: the romanticisation of the resistant subject. Taking Tina Campt’s definition of refusal as a starting point, I proceed with autoethnographic critique. I emphasise the stakes of the refusal to accept the terms of the system that “renders you illegible”, (Campt 2019, 83) while arguing against the instrumentalisation of detention experiences.

A systems approach is applied to the study of migration trends in Finland for the period 1971-1981, with particular attention to the period 1971-1978. The results indicate the existence of six permanent migration regions linked by a multilevel system. "The organization of this system varies from one part of the country to another, the most common modes being hierarchical tree flow networks belonging to a nodal system and polar and dendritic networks associated with a highly polarized system. The nodal system mode is seen to be increasing in currency."

Trends in the spatial distribution of the population of Finland from 1880 to 1980 are examined using official data from population registers and censuses. "Cumulative maps and graphs and concentration indices were applied as methodological tools, and the administrative communes were taken as the areal units for a chorological matrix." The results show an increasing concentration of the population beginning in the latter half of the nineteenth century, although urbanization levels remain low in comparison with most industrialized European countries. Differences in population distribution by occupation are also considered.