According to a new study, the world has breached six of the nine planetary boundaries necessary to maintain Earth’s stability and resilience.

In 2009, 28 internationally renowned researchers identified and quantified a set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and feel good in the future.
- If we cross these limits, abrupt or irreversible environmental changes can occur with serious consequences for humankind.
The boundaries include climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, ocean acidification, nutrient cycles, land-system change, freshwater use, aerosol loading, and introduction of novel entities.

An update to the 2009 planetary boundaries framework.
Researchers identified key Earth ecosystem processes for human well-being over the past 12,000 years.
Assessed how human activities are altering these processes.
Identifying the level at which human activities raise the risk of dramatic and irreversible environmental changes.

Six of the nine boundaries breached.
Breached boundaries include climate change, biodiversity loss, land system change, freshwater use, nutrient cycles, and introduction of novel entities.
Atmospheric CO2 concentration exceeded the safe limit.
Extinction rates are far higher than the safe limit.
Human impacts on water resources surpassed safe boundaries.
Phosphorus and nitrogen cycle limits exceeded.
Introduction of new substances into the environment has transgressed the boundary.
Stratospheric ozone depletion, aerosol loading, and ocean acidification are within safe limits but pose increasing risks.

Breaching boundaries increases the risk of irreversible environmental changes.
These changes could disrupt the Earth’s ecosystems and threaten human civilization.