Aurélien Boutaud holds a PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Ecole des Mines in Saint-Etienne, France. (Thesis: "Sustainable development: thinking about change or changing the bandage?) Since 2004, he works as an independent consultant, but also as a lecturer in several French universities and engineering schools, and as associated researcher with the UMR 5600 Environnement Ville et Société. He is the author of numerous reports and articles related to the ecological transition and is also the co-author with Natacha Gondran of books on "L’empreinte écologique" and "Les limites planétaires" (La Découverte).