Planetary boundaries or socio-ecological limits from below? Insights from port cities

This article examines the planetary boundaries framework for environmental governance in port cities, highlighting tensions between planetary metrics and situated socio-ecological limits. Based on ethnographic research in Colombo, Valencia, Genoa and Rotterdam, it shows that environmental issues are experienced as socio-ecological problems affecting livelihoods, public health and territorial identities. While planetary boundaries are useful for diagnosing ecological risk, they hold limited capacity for environmental governance in port cities. Meanwhile, grassroots articulations of socio-ecological limits integrate justice concerns and reveal transformative potential. Ultimately, the operationalisation of planetary boundaries depends on socio-political negotiation, only effective for governance when grounded in local struggles.