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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/21/planetary-boundaries-breached-scientists-warn-climate-crisis>
"The planetary life support systems relied upon by humans have deteriorated to
their worst levels ever recorded amid ongoing pollution and habitat
destruction, according to a key yet grim annual update by scientists.
Of the nine “planetary boundaries” that help determine whether life can
flourish on Earth, seven are being breached at their highest ever levels of
transgression, according to the latest planetary health check, a process that
was established in 2009.
The seven key indicators in the danger zone include climate change, change in
biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, modification of
biogeochemical flows, introduction of novel entities and, for the first time
last year, ocean acidification.
Only two of the assessed areas, stratospheric ozone depletion and atmospheric
aerosol loading, have shown improvement over the last decade, although
researchers warn that atmospheric aerosols, which can form air pollution, are
still a problem in several regions of the world.
The coalition of 60 scientists who conducted the analysis of the key guardrails
for human life under the auspices of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research warned that the consequences of breaching these planetary boundaries
is “becoming increasingly clear all around us”.
“The diagnosis is unambiguous – pressure is rising across every planetary
boundary already outside the safe operating space,” said Boris Sakschewski,
lead author of the report. “It means that the risk of large-scale, persistent
and potentially irreversible change is increasing, while our margin for error
in tackling these problems is shrinking.”
While there is little time to reverse this parlous situation, humanity does
still possess the knowledge and capacity to do so, according to Johan
Rockström, a climate scientist and report co-author. “Accelerating action to
return to the safe operating space across all planetary boundaries is essential
to protect lives and livelihoods, and to deliver on the promise of shared
future prosperity,” he said."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
