Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity

Johan Rockström; Björn Nykvist; Åsa Persson; Louise Karlberg

Journal article

Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity

Identifying and quantifying planetary boundaries that must not be transgressed could help prevent human activities from causing unacceptable environmental change.

Johan Rockström, Björn Nykvist, Åsa Persson, Louise Karlberg / Published on 8 January 2010

Citation

Rockström, J.; Steffen, W.; Noone, K.; Persson, Å.; Chapin, S.; Lambin, E.F.; Lenton, T.M.; Scheffer, M.; Folke, C.; Schellnhuber, H.J.; Nykvist, B.; de Wit, C.A.; Hughes, T.; van der Leeuw, S.; Rodhe, H.; Sörlin, S.; Snyder, P.K.; Costanza, R.; Sved (2009). Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Rockström, J., W. Steffen, K. Noone, Å. Persson, F. S. Chapin, E. Lambin, T.M. Lenton, M. Scheffer, C. Folke, H.J. Schellnhuber, B. Nykvist, C.A. de Wit, T. Hughes, S. van der Leeuw, H. Rodhe, S. Sörlin, P.K. Snyder, R. Costanza, U. Svedin, M. Falkenmark, L. Karlberg, R.W. Corell, V.J. Fabry, J. Hansen, B. Walker, D. Liverman, K. Richardson, P. Crutzen, J.A. Foley (2009). Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and Society, 14 (2).

New approach proposed for defining preconditions for human development
Crossing certain biophysical thresholds could have disastrous consequences for humanity
Three of nine interlinked planetary boundaries have already been overstepped

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Johan Rockström