Scientists reveal the planetary boundaries

Illustration: Nature.

Talking about sustainability is seldom a very precise thing. When it comes to curbing  greenhouse gases, for example, percentages often come out of negotiations between different interests instead of what is actually needed. But now 28 internationally renowned scientists, led by Swedish scientist Johan Rockström from Stockholm Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Centre have calculated how big our elbow room actually is, if we want to avoid causing catastrophic environmental change.

Not hopeless

Earth has been in a relatively stable state during the last 10 000 years, giving humanity a possibility to develop and thrive. But if we want to stay in this stable state there are boundaries that we shouldn’t pass, the scientific group says.
They call it “planetary boundaries” and recently a feature about this was published in Nature. There the scientists explain that if one boundary is transgressed, then safe levels for other processes could also be under serious risk.
But, they also point out, there is hope. If we respect these boundaries we have a bright future for centuries ahead.

Already outside the circle

Look at the picture above again. The green circle represents the safe operating space for humanity, that is where we should be. The red wedges show were we actually are, already having exceeded the limits in three areas: the rate of biodiversity loss, climate change and human interference with the nitrogen cycle.

Sara Jeswani - Sustainability

September 29, 2009

• planetary boundaries
• science
• sustainability