The planetary boundaries concept presents a set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come.
Our planet is a complex, interconnected system which has supported life for billions of years. However, human activities are now pushing the Earth beyond its limits.
To understand planetary boundaries, we first need to understand that life on Earth is only possible due to optimal functioning of nine environmental processes.
These processes regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system and have maintained the conditions that humanity has enjoyed for the last ~10,000 years.
In 2023 all nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system were quantified by scientists for the first time. The result? That human activities have created environmental disruption to such an extent that six of these nine processes are no longer functioning at an optimal rate with unknown consequences for humanity. We have never experienced the break down of these processes at any point in the whole ~10,000 years of human history.
The point at which one of these nine processes no longer functions optimally is called a 'planetary boundary', as the crossing of this point risks destabilising the planet's systems and threatening our own survival.
The Nine Planetary Boundaries
- Climate Change: This boundary relates to Earth's temperature balance and the risks associated with global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation are the main reasons we have exceeded this boundary.
- Biosphere Integrity: This boundary related to biodiversity loss and is based on species extinction rate. We have crossed this boundary due to habitat destruction, over-exploitation of resources and climate change.
- Land-System Change: This boundary addresses the conversion of forests, grasslands, and other natural landscapes for human use. This boundary has been transgressed due to deforestation for agriculture, urbanisation, and resource extraction.
- Freshwater Use: This boundary looks at the global hydrological cycle and the availability of fresh water. We have surpassed this boundary primarily through excessive water withdrawal for agriculture, industry, and urban use.
- Biogeochemical Flows: This boundary primarily focuses on the excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus of fertilisers in agriculture, which has serious ecological consequences.
- Ocean Acidification: This boundary relates to the increasing acidity of our oceans due to absorbed carbon dioxide. This is one of the three boundaries which haven't yet been crossed but we are close to crossing it due to increasing CO2 emissions.
- Atmospheric Aerosol Loading: This boundary looks at the particulate matter in the atmosphere caused by air pollution and its effects on climate and human health. This boundary hasn't been globally quantified yet, but it is likely it has been crossed in many regions.
- Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: This boundary addresses the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere and is set at less than 5% reduction from pre-industrial levels. Thanks to international efforts to ban ozone-depleting substances, this is one boundary we currently have not exceeded.
- Novel Entities: This boundary covers the release of human-created substances like plastics, chemicals, radioactive materials, and invasive species into the environment. We have crossed this boundary due to the increasing production and release of plastics, synthetic chemicals, and other novel substances.
The diagram below illustrates which planetary boundaries have transgressed and how severely so.
The good news?
We can change this. The planetary boundaries concept gives us a clear picture of the environmental challenges we face and the limits we need to respect.
Furthermore the majority of the human activities that have resulted in planetary boundaries transgression are business activities. Thus, business has a GIGANTIC role to play in reversing our current trajectory.
Want to learn more about how your business can contribute to positive change? Contact us at hello@bemari.co.uk
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