Tracing the pathways and drivers of imbalances in global land system pressures

The continuous expansion of globalization and rising consumption demands have imposed mounting pressures on global land systems. Yet, the complexity and heterogeneity of these pressures, transmitted through international trade networks, remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we systematically characterize land system pressures, quantify their spatiotemporal dynamics from 1995 to 2022, and examine how cross-border trade reshapes the unequal distribution of these pressures across countries and regions. Our results show that global land system pressures have, on average, increased by 88% since 1995. Driven by structural differences in national economies, variations in trade patterns, and the interplay between scale and structure, the transfer of land system pressures between regions exhibits pronounced disparities and remains highly uneven. This study sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of land system pressure transmission, thereby advancing our understanding of global land-use dynamics and providing critical insights for promoting sustainable development.