Concept of planetary

boundaries
The planetary boundaries approach is based on
three major scientific principles. The first principle
is to establish a safe global level for the depletion
of non-renewable fossil resources, such as coal, oil
and gas. The second is to address the need to
ensure a safe global level of use of the living
biosphere, and to establish limits to the
exploitation of ecosystems and consumption of
renewable resources. Thirdly, it asserts the need
to determine a safe global level for Earth’s
Planetary Boundaries1 capacity to absorb and dissipate human waste
flows, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous,
and toxic chemicals such as pesticides.2
Planetary boundaries Based on these three scientific principles, the nine

and population
planetary boundaries identified are:1,2

1. Climate Change (atmospheric CO2

The concept of ‘planetary boundaries’ serves to concentration of <350 ppm)
define the limits of a safe environmental space
2. Ocean Acidification (mean surface seawater
for human development on Earth by determining
saturation state with respect to aragonite <80
the risk of threshold effects of biophysical
per cent)
processes and identifying the key drivers that
could lead to them.1,2 3. Stratospheric Ozone (<5 per cent decrease in
ozone concentration from preindustrial level of
The overarching goal of identifying the planetary
290 Dobson units)
boundaries is to develop a plan for human
development on a planet that has limits, rather 4. Biochemical Nitrogen Cycle (limitation of
than simply focussing on minimising the industrial and agricultural nitrogen fixation to
individual environmental insults of greenhouse 35 Tg N year-1) and Phosphorous Cycle (annual
gas emissions and biodiversity loss.1 inflow of phosphorous into oceans not to
exceed ten times the natural background
A total of nine planetary boundaries, or nine
weathering of phosphorous)
biophysical processes, have been identified,
suggesting that human development is primarily 5. Global Freshwater Use (<4000 km3 year-1 of
dependent on these nine processes, and the consumptive use of run-off resources)
threshold limits defined by these boundaries
6. Land System Change (<15 per cent of ice-free
mark the ‘safe environmental space’.
land surface area under crop land)

7. Change in Biosphere Integrity (<10 per cent

annual rate of extinctions per million species)

Planetary boundaries | 1
8. Introduction of Novel Entities (organic human capital, income and infrastructure, their
pollutants, radioactive materials and micro- consumption patterns are set to increase within a
plastics) system with continuously declining resources.
With an ever-increasing demand for resources,
9. Atmospheric Aerosol Loading (microscopic
the concept of planetary boundaries is intended
particles in the atmosphere that affect climate
to safeguard our future by setting limits to our
and living organisms)
consumption, emissions and modification of the
These nine planetary boundaries differ in biosphere. These boundaries and their threshold
character, yet are interdependent, and the limits are necessary to arrest, if not reduce, the
approach builds on the approaches of ‘limits-to- current increase in greenhouse gas emissions,
growth’, ‘safe minimum standards’, ‘the melting of snow caps, rising atmospheric
precautionary principle’, and ‘tolerable windows’. temperature, extinction of species and loss of
biodiversity. More importantly, the concept
These boundaries possess self-regulating capacity: provides a shared global framework for ensuring a
crossing over the defined threshold limits of any sustainable future, thus overcoming the failures of
boundary means triggering non-linear changes in national policies of individual countries to
the functioning of the Earth system. In a way, the acknowledge mitigation strategies.
boundaries represent a ‘planetary playing field’ or
dynamic biophysical space on the Earth, the
crossing of which would challenge socio-ecological
resilience at regional as well as global levels.
Contrary to the general assumption, the concept
of planetary boundaries is not intended to put a
cap on human development: rather it provides a
‘safe space’ for technology, development and
growth in an increasingly-populated world.

Why the concept of planetary Limits to planetary

boundaries is crucial for a boundaries
sustainable future According to recent research, four of the nine
planetary boundaries have already been crossed
We have entered a new geological era, the
as a result of human activity. These four
Anthropocene, in which humans are the largest
boundaries are: climate change, change in
geological force on Earth, wherein our
biosphere integrity, land system change, and
consumption patterns have a greater impact than
altered biochemical nitrogen and phosphorous
natural biophysical and geological processes. We
cycles. The suggested boundary of 350 ppm CO2
have increased our ecological footprint to one-
was crossed several years ago, and the current
and-a-half times what the earth produces and, as
level is around 400 ppm.4 According to certain
a result, have jeopardised our future by putting
estimates, the planet was ice free at a CO2
innumerable species, including our own, at
concentration above 450 ppm.4 Thus, we will
significant risk.3 As the developing countries with
jeopardise our future if we do not take necessary
high population growth seek to catch up with the
steps to mitigate the increasing level of CO2. With
developed countries in the areas of technology,

Planetary boundaries | 2
the currently-increasing CO2 levels, there is towards a sustainable future. The implementation
already an increase in the shift in weather of the land-system boundary will halt the
patterns, wherein drier regions are becoming conversion of tropical rainforests into grassland,
even drier as a consequence of extreme weather. help to avoid soil erosion, ensure sufficient
Similarly, water availability and food security are groundwater levels and availability of natural
already a problematic issue in several regions. resources, and protect diversity. The threshold
Ocean acidification and biochemical nitrogen and limits for introduction of novel entities and
phosphorus cycle inflows into the oceans are aerosol loading is not defined: however, they have
reducing these carbon sinks’ capacity to absorb a direct influence on climate change as well as
the rising levels of CO2. Thus, climate change, human health at a regional and global scale. The
ocean acidification and the biochemical nitrogen increase in aerosol loading is responsible for rising
and phosphorous cycle are considered as three incidences of cardiopulmonary diseases, crop
different, yet interdependent, planetary damage and changes in global precipitation
boundaries. patterns. Similarly, the increasing concentration of
chemical pollutants as novel entities in the
atmosphere results in deleterious consequences
in the food chain and climate.

Population and planetary

boundaries
Although population is not one of the nine
planetary boundaries, the rising level of human
The limit to stratospheric ozone is important, population undermines our efforts to limit human
because it protects marine biodiversity and development to the above-mentioned nine
human health by filtering the ultraviolet radiation planetary boundaries. The rate of the world’s
from the sun. The increase in the concentration of population growth has slowed down; however,
anthropogenic ozone-depleting substances like according to the UN population projections, the
chlorofluorocarbons is responsible for ozone holes absolute number of people added each year will
and the overall depletion of the ozone layer. Since not begin to fall until mid-century.6 The higher the
the advent of the Anthropocene, the rate of population, the higher the risk of climate change
species extinction has out-paced the rate of through overconsumption of resources, increased
speciation, and, as a result, loss of species is the greenhouse gas emission, land-use change and
primary driver of catastrophic changes to chemical pollution. It is thus evident that
biodiversity. Likewise, global anthropogenic achieving population stabilisation is central to our
manipulations of freshwater resources has attempts to restrict human development to within
resulted in the drying of an estimated 25 per cent the nine planetary boundaries. Efficient family
of the world’s river basins before reaching the planning services, voluntary fertility reduction,
ocean.5 The land system change that occurs adequate access to healthcare services,
primarily as a result of agricultural expansion and education, poverty alleviation and promotion of
intensification contributes to global smaller families are some of the necessary
environmental change, and impedes any progress measures to minimise population growth.

Planetary boundaries | 3
Conclusion
It is clear that planetary boundaries offer a
common global framework to reduce, minimise
and neutralise the anthropogenic manipulations
of the natural environment, in support of our
hope to have a sustainable future. Although more
research is needed to ascertain the severity of the
defined threshold effects of the nine planetary
boundaries, it is clear that immediate measures
must be taken at the regional and global scale to
repair our relationship with planet Earth.

___________

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Inocencio, M. Lannerstad, N. Manning, F. Molle, B. Smedema, and D. Vallee.2007. Trends in water and agricultural
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