Boundaries
Simplifying the science
In 2009, a world-leading team of Earth system scientists created the planetary boundaries framework. They identified nine processes that regulate Earth’s stability and resilience. Crossing the planetary boundaries increases the risk of generating large-scale abrupt and potentially irreversible environmental changes that would be detrimental to our society. The planetary boundaries framework has had a profound effect on how we understand sustainable development.
The perspective emerging from the planetary boundaries framework and the subsequent “doughnut” model–that sustainability is about enabling a good life for all within the planetary boundaries–has defined how we think about and approach contemporary sustainability challenges.
But the planetary boundaries framework has remained underutilised in the private sector–until now. While some companies have started to refer to the boundaries in their sustainability strategies, there is a huge potential for using this excellent scientific basis to accelerate positive change through actions from the private sector.
That is what Planetary Possibilities is here to catalyse.
The planetary boundaries
Nine Earth system processes
Read the original planetary boundaries article to dive even deeper: