Planetary Boundaries framework gains traction in sustainability science

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The Planetary Boundaries (PB) framework is a pivotal tool for tackling the climate crisis and safeguarding humanity's future on Earth. For the first time, the full story of the Planetary Boundaries is now being told from its beginning.

In a review published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, researchers highlight the growing influence of the framework across disciplines and its impact on society and policy. The paper offers a unique overview of how the framework has been adopted across sectors. It also underscores how, 15 years after its initial proposal, PB science has become widely recognized as crucial for advancing the global sustainability agenda in an era of rising planetary risks.

"Monitoring and governing Earth's stability and resilience is no longer optional—it is an urgent necessity to restore Earth's balance and stay within safe boundaries," says Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact research PIK and lead author of the paper.

Together with an international team of 28 scientists, he first proposed the PB framework in 2009. "Thanks to the science of the Planetary Boundaries, we have clear evidence that there is no solution to the climate crisis and no way of holding the 1.5°C boundary, without coming back to the safe operating space within the Biosphere boundaries: biodiversity, water, land, ocean, nutrients, aerosols. We need to consider all boundaries together to safeguard Earth's health."

"Understanding our relationship with the planet is a form of empowerment, and the Planetary Boundaries framework provides a clear way to understand how much we are taking from Earth. In this sense, it is essential for guiding the development of sustainable societies," says Katherine Richardson from the University of Copenhagen, author of the review and of all the PB assessments.

The authors of the review trace the development of the PB framework, describing how evidence of tipping points, the Anthropocene and Holocene led to the proposal of this pioneering holistic model of Earth's health. Today, it provides a scientific basis for guiding global development toward life-supporting conditions akin to those of the Holocene.

The PB framework identifies nine global biophysical boundaries that are essential for regulating the Earth system, such as climate change and biosphere integrity. The third update in 2023 not only quantified all boundaries, it also concluded that six of the nine boundaries have been transgressed, highlighting the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate further risks.

A roadmap for the future

In their review, the researchers reflect on the significant impact of the PB framework on Earth system governance and its role in bridging the gap between Earth system science and sustainability science. They show how PBs have paved the way for innovative concepts like planetary health and doughnut economics.

Their conclusion is that PB science has become mainstream in global sustainability science, and increasingly adopted across business, finance, policy and civil society, as a framework guiding sustainable development in the Anthropocene.

Examples of the adoption of PB science are mapped in the article, including country studies like for New Zealand, operationalizing attempts in cities like Amsterdam, business networks like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and global science assessment mechanisms like the Earth Commission.

The paper also explores the continued development of PB science in advancing the global sustainability agenda. Looking ahead, the authors stress the importance of ongoing progress in PB science, particularly through higher-resolution Earth monitoring, more frequent PB assessments, and innovative solutions that address issues of equity and justice in the context of global sustainability.

In light of rising planetary risks, PB science provides a roadmap for a future where human development can thrive on Earth. By adopting strategies that operate within Planetary Boundaries, society can foster resilience and equity across generations, ensuring a sustainable legacy.

More information: Johan Rockström et al, Planetary Boundaries guide humanity's future on Earth, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43017-024-00597-z

Journal information: Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

Provided by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research