The Planetary Boundaries Framework, developed by Johan Rockström and colleagues at the Stockholm Resilience Centre in 2009, defines nine critical environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate. Crossing these boundaries increases the risk of destabilizing Earth’s systems, potentially leading to irreversible environmental changes.

The Nine Planetary Boundaries

  1. Climate Change • Boundary: Atmospheric CO₂ concentration should remain below 350 ppm. • Current Status: Exceeded (now above 420 ppm). • Impact: Rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and ice sheet melting.
  2. Biosphere Integrity (Biodiversity Loss) • Boundary: Less than 10 extinctions per million species per year. • Current Status: Exceeded (current rate 100-1,000 times natural background rates). • Impact: Loss of ecosystem services like pollination, water purification, and carbon storage.
  3. Land-System Change • Boundary: Less than 15% of global land should be converted for human use. • Current Status: Exceeded (over 30% of land used for agriculture and urbanization). • Impact: Deforestation, desertification, and habitat destruction.
  4. Freshwater Use • Boundary: Less than 4,000 km³ per year of freshwater withdrawal. • Current Status: Approaching the limit in many regions. • Impact: Water scarcity, droughts, and reduced agricultural productivity.
  5. Biogeochemical Flows (Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles) • Boundary: • Nitrogen: Less than 62 million tons per year. • Phosphorus: Less than 6.2 million tons per year. • Current Status: Exceeded (massive overuse in agriculture). • Impact: Ocean dead zones, soil degradation, and freshwater pollution.
  6. Ocean Acidification • Boundary: Ocean pH should not drop below pre-industrial levels (8.2 to 8.1). • Current Status: Nearing the limit (ocean pH has dropped to 8.05). • Impact: Coral reef bleaching, shellfish population decline, and marine ecosystem collapse.
  7. Atmospheric Aerosol Loading (Air Pollution) • Boundary: No clear global threshold, but regional limits exist. • Current Status: High in some regions (e.g., South Asia and China). • Impact: Respiratory diseases, altered weather patterns, and reduced agricultural yields.
  8. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • Boundary: Ozone concentration should remain above 275 Dobson Units. • Current Status: Improving (due to the Montreal Protocol). • Impact: Increased UV radiation exposure, skin cancer, and ecosystem disruptions.
  9. Novel Entities (Chemical Pollution & Plastics) • Boundary: No defined threshold, but risks are increasing. • Current Status: Worsening (microplastics, pesticides, heavy metals, and synthetic chemicals in the environment). • Impact: Toxicity in humans and animals, ecosystem disruptions, and bioaccumulation of harmful substances.

Why Planetary Boundaries Matter

Crossing these boundaries does not mean immediate disaster but increases the risk of abrupt, irreversible environmental changes. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and biogeochemical imbalances have already exceeded safe limits, requiring urgent action.

Johan Rockström

     **Netflix Documentary: Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet (2021) – Narrated by David Attenborough, based on Rockström’s research.** 

     **Interviews & Talks: Featured in TED Talks, World Economic Forum panels, and global sustainability conferences. Widely available on YouTube.** 

     **Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet (2021) – Co-authored with Owen Gaffney, book explaining planetary boundaries and sustainability solutions.**

Johan Rockström, Planetary Boundaries, youtube 40 minutes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KfWGAjJAsM