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Scientists warn planetary boundaries have been massively breached

scienceSep 22, 2026231,123

A coalition of 60 scientists convened by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reports that seven of nine planetary boundaries are being breached at their highest recorded levels, jeopardizing Earth’s life support systems. The seven transgressed boundaries are climate change, biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, modification of biogeochemical flows, introduction of novel entities, and ocean acidification, which joined the others last year. Stratospheric ozone depletion and atmospheric aerosol loading have shown improvement over the last decade, although aerosols remain problematic in some regions. Lead author Boris Sakschewski said the diagnosis is unambiguous and warned that the risk of large-scale, persistent and potentially irreversible change is increasing while the margin for error shrinks. The assessment notes forests and oceans that have absorbed much human carbon are showing signs of faltering and that landscapes and water bodies are weakening as buffers. Johan Rockström, a report co-author, said humanity still possesses the knowledge and capacity to return to the safe operating space but must accelerate action across all boundaries. The planetary health check process was established in 2009 and the report links the breaches to ongoing fossil fuel emissions, plastic and other pollution, and habitat destruction.

Prof Bill McGuire
@profbillmcguire.bsky.social

We are systematically and consciously destroying the natural world So that a tiny elite can become ever richer There WILL be a reckoning www.theguardian.com/environment/...

28718d ago
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