climate
Updated September 13, 2023, 8pm
Crossing Earth’s borders marks a critical threshold for significantly increasing risks. © Getty Images/iStockphoto/Thaweesak Saengngoen
International researchers have for the first time quantified all nine planetary boundaries, which together define a safe operating space for humanity. One study demonstrated that six of these nine exposure limits were exceeded.
According to the information, scientists were able to provide a detailed view of the Earth’s dwindling resilience. The study was published by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
“The Earth is a patient who is not well.”
PIK Director Johan Rockström
It is unclear when the effects are irreversible
The six planetary limits that have been exceeded concern global warming, the biosphere, deforestation, pollutants or plastic, nitrogen cycles and fresh water. Even after they have been exceeded, the pressure of global processes on these limits continues to grow, according to the study, published in the journal “Science Advances”.
“This general update of planetary boundaries clearly shows that Earth is a patient who is not doing well,” said PIK director Johan Rockström, who is one of the study’s authors. It is unclear how long crucial limits could be exceeded in this way before the effects lead to irreversible changes and damage.
The risks have increased significantly
According to the information, crossing a border does not mean drastic changes that become immediately visible. However, it marks a critical threshold for significantly increasing risks.
“We can think of the Earth as a human body and planetary boundaries as a form of blood pressure,” explained lead author Katherine Richardson of the University of Copenhagen. “A blood pressure over 120 over 80 does not mean there is an immediate risk of heart attack, but it does increase the risk.” That’s why we’re working on lowering blood pressure.
Aerosol exposure limit not yet exceeded
For the first time, the threshold for so-called new entities – the introduction of new substances – was quantified for the study. The evaluation shows that it was exceeded. New entities therefore include the entry into the environment of all new man-made chemical compounds, such as microplastics, pesticides or nuclear waste.
Furthermore, scientific evidence for quantifying the limit of aerosol pollution in the atmosphere was evaluated for the first time. This limit has not yet been exceeded, but may be exceeded regionally. (Afp/mak)
Updated August 25, 2023, 11:52 am
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