Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries

This peer-reviewed study updates the planetary boundaries framework, which identifies nine critical Earth system processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the planet. The researchers assess the extent to which human activities are disrupting these processes and threatening the environmental conditions that have supported human societies.

The assessment concludes that six of the nine planetary boundaries have been transgressed, including climate change, biosphere integrity, land-system change, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows and novel entities such as synthetic chemicals. It also examines ocean acidification, atmospheric aerosol loading and stratospheric ozone depletion.

The findings demonstrate how pressures on interconnected Earth systems can undermine planetary resilience and increase the risk of large-scale environmental change. The study provides a scientific framework for understanding humanity's environmental impacts and the importance of reducing pressures on Earth's life-support systems.

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Citation: Richardson K, Steffen W, Lucht W, Bendtsen J, Cornell SE, Donges JF, et al. Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries. Science Advances. 2023;9(37). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adh2458