Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries
University of Copenhagen · Australian National University · +14 more institutions
Abstract
This planetary boundaries framework update finds that six of the nine boundaries are transgressed, suggesting that Earth is now well outside of the safe operating space for humanity. Ocean acidification is close to being breached, while aerosol loading regionally exceeds the boundary. Stratospheric ozone levels have slightly recovered. The transgression level has increased for all boundaries earlier identified as overstepped. As primary production drives Earth system biosphere functions, human appropriation of net primary production is proposed as a control variable for functional biosphere integrity. This boundary is also transgressed. Earth system modeling of different levels of the transgression of the…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 314.10
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 157
Authors
29- KRKatherine RichardsonCorresponding
University of Copenhagen
- WSWill SteffenCorresponding
Australian National University
- WLWolfgang Lucht
Leibniz Association, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- JBJørgen Bendtsen
University of Copenhagen
- SCSarah Cornell
Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
Topics & keywords
- Biosphere
- Planetary boundaries
- Context (archaeology)
- Earth system science
- Boundary (topology)
- Environmental science
- Geology
- Earth science
- Life below water