Highlights29 scientists warn human activities near critical thresholds globally.Earth has exceeded critical safe thresholds in 6 planetary boundaries.Only the ozone layer remains unthreatened due to global efforts.

This situation poses a substantial risk of instigating significant alterations inEarth’s environmental conditions.

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Image credits:NASA

A TikToker took it upon herself to simplify the worrisome news

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

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In their examination, the scientists assessed nine interconnected “planetary boundaries,” which they categorize as the essential limits that must not be exceeded to maintain a stable and habitable planet.

The breached boundaries indicate that Earth’s systems strayed away from the stable conditions of the Holocene era

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

The breached boundaries signify that the Earth’s systems have been pushed significantly away from the secure and stable conditions that prevailed from the conclusion of the last ice age roughly 10,000 years ago until the onset of the Industrial Revolution.

This era, known as the Holocene, witnessed the emergence of modern civilization.

Originally introduced in a2009 paper,these nine boundaries are critical environmental thresholds that, if crossed, could lead to irreversible and potentially catastrophic changes in the Earth’s systems.

All four biological boundaries are at or near their highest risk levels

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

These boundaries encompassclimate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, freshwater use, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, and atmospheric aerosol loading.

According to the scientists, managing these boundaries is crucial for maintaining a stable andsustainable planet.

The ozone layer is the only boundary that remains unthreatened

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Nowadays, the sole boundary that remains unthreatened is atmospheric ozone, as concerted efforts in recent decades to eliminate harmful chemicals have resulted in the gradual healing of the ozone hole.

Even with just 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming, the world experienced extraordinary summer extreme weather

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Katherine Richardson, one of the report’s co-authors and a professor specializing in biological oceanography at the University of Copenhagen, highlighted the extraordinary summer of severe weather that the world recently witnessed with just 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming.

While some planetary boundaries remain within safe limits, ocean acidification and atmospheric levels are concerning

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

“We didn’t think it was going to be like this at 1 degree [Celsius],” Katherine toldCNN. “No human has experienced the conditions that we’re experiencing right now,” she added.

Among the three boundaries that researchers have identified as remaining within safe parameters, two of them, namely ocean acidification and atmospheric aerosol levels, are displaying concerning trends as they deviate from the desired direction.

Scientists have expressed concern for our future

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Nonetheless, there is a silver lining in this scenario. Katherine pointed out that the ozone layer had breached its boundary back in the 1990s. However, due to global efforts and international collaboration in phasing out ozone-depleting substances, the ozone layer is currently on a trajectory towards full recovery.

Exceeding planetary boundaries doesn’t signify an immediate plunge into a catastrophic tipping point, Katherine clarified. Hitting one of these boundaries isn’t akin to suddenly “falling off a cliff.” But, it does serve as an unmistakable cautionary signal.

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

To illustrate this concept, she drew an analogy with a bank account, where the currency isn’t monetary but rather Earth’s resources, essential for the survival of humanity and all living organisms. As we breach planetary boundaries, she explained, our “bank balance” is steadily decreasing.

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

She explained: “We can party, even though our money in the bank is getting less – we just can’t party forever.

“That’s the situation that we have brought ourselves into.”

Scientists emphasized the importance of getting back within the safe operating space

Image source:ProfBillMcGuire

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Professor Johan Rockström, the then-director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre who led the team that developed the boundaries framework, toldThe Guardian: “Science and the world at large are really concerned over all the extreme climate events hitting societies across the planet.

“But what worries us, even more, is the rising signs of dwindling planetary resilience.”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

You can watch Annie’s explanatory TikTok below

Johan went on to say that in order to have security, prosperity and equity for humanity on Earth, “you have to come back into the safe space”.

“We’re not seeing that progress currently in the world,” he added.

Scientists have agreed that essential measures entail the gradual elimination of fossil fuel combustion and the cessation of harmful agricultural practices.

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

Scientists Make “Most Worrying” Discovery That Earth “Well Outside The Safe Operating Space”

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Renan Duarte

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