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Human impacts on planetary boundaries amplified by Earth system interactions

Author

Listed:
  • Steven J. Lade

    (Stockholm University
    The Australian National University
    Stockholm University)

  • Will Steffen

    (Stockholm University
    The Australian National University)

  • Wim Vries

    (Wageningen University and Research
    Wageningen University and Research)

  • Stephen R. Carpenter

    (University of Wisconsin)

  • Jonathan F. Donges

    (Stockholm University
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association)

  • Dieter Gerten

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Holger Hoff

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association
    Stockholm Environment Institute)

  • Tim Newbold

    (University College London)

  • Katherine Richardson

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Johan Rockström

    (Stockholm University
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Member of the Leibniz Association)

Abstract

The planetary boundary framework presents a ‘planetary dashboard’ of humanity’s globally aggregated performance on a set of environmental issues that endanger the Earth system’s capacity to support humanity. While this framework has been highly influential, a critical shortcoming for its application in sustainability governance is that it currently fails to represent how impacts related to one of the planetary boundaries affect the status of other planetary boundaries. Here, we surveyed and provisionally quantified interactions between the Earth system processes represented by the planetary boundaries and investigated their consequences for sustainability governance. We identified a dense network of interactions between the planetary boundaries. The resulting cascades and feedbacks predominantly amplify human impacts on the Earth system and thereby shrink the safe operating space for future human impacts on the Earth system. Our results show that an integrated understanding of Earth system dynamics is critical to navigating towards a sustainable future.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven J. Lade & Will Steffen & Wim Vries & Stephen R. Carpenter & Jonathan F. Donges & Dieter Gerten & Holger Hoff & Tim Newbold & Katherine Richardson & Johan Rockström, 2020. "Human impacts on planetary boundaries amplified by Earth system interactions," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 119-128, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0454-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0454-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Migo-Sumagang, Maria Victoria & Tan, Raymond R. & Aviso, Kathleen B., 2023. "A multi-period model for optimizing negative emission technology portfolios with economic and carbon value discount rates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    2. Xuemei Bai & Syezlin Hasan & Lauren Seaby Andersen & Anders Bjørn & Şiir Kilkiş & Daniel Ospina & Jianguo Liu & Sarah E. Cornell & Oscar Sabag Muñoz & Ariane Bremond & Beatrice Crona & Fabrice DeClerc, 2024. "Translating Earth system boundaries for cities and businesses," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 108-119, February.
    3. Birgitta Nordén & Helen Avery, 2021. "Global Learning for Sustainable Development: A Historical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-31, March.
    4. Selene Cobo & Ángel Galán-Martín & Victor Tulus & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez, 2022. "Human and planetary health implications of negative emissions technologies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Patrick Moriarty & Damon Honnery, 2020. "Feasibility of a 100% Global Renewable Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Anna Chrysafi & Vili Virkki & Mika Jalava & Vilma Sandström & Johannes Piipponen & Miina Porkka & Steven J. Lade & Kelsey Mere & Lan Wang-Erlandsson & Laura Scherer & Lauren S. Andersen & Elena Bennet, 2022. "Quantifying Earth system interactions for sustainable food production via expert elicitation," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 830-842, October.
    7. Langridge Nicholas & Buchs Milena & Howard Neil, 2023. "An Ecological Basic Income? Examining the Ecological Credentials of Basic Income Through a Review of Selected Pilot Interventions," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 47-87, June.
    8. Livia Marchetti & Valentina Cattivelli & Claudia Cocozza & Fabio Salbitano & Marco Marchetti, 2020. "Beyond Sustainability in Food Systems: Perspectives from Agroecology and Social Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-24, September.
    9. Sebastiano Trevisani & Pietro Daniel Omodeo, 2021. "Earth Scientists and Sustainable Development: Geocomputing, New Technologies, and the Humanities," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Mark Sanders, 2022. "Enter the Prince of Denmark: Entrepreneurship for a Resilient and Sustainable Economy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 773-779, October.
    11. Shona K. Paterson & Ilan Chabay, 2024. "Navigating the currents of coastal narratives in search of sustainable futures," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(5), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Fanzo, Jessica & Haddad, Lawrence & Schneider, Kate R. & Béné, Christophe & Covic, Namukolo M. & Guarin, Alejandro & Herforth, Anna W. & Herrero, Mario & Sumaila, U. Rashid & Aburto, Nancy J. & Amuyun, 2021. "Viewpoint: Rigorous monitoring is necessary to guide food system transformation in the countdown to the 2030 global goals," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    13. Mandeep Mahendru & Vibha Arora & Ravi Chatterjee & Gagan Deep Sharma & Irum Shahzadi, 2024. "From Over-Tourism to Under-Tourism via COVID-19: Lessons for Sustainable Tourism Management," Evaluation Review, , vol. 48(1), pages 177-210, February.
    14. Cook, David & Davíðsdóttir, Brynhildur & Malinauskaite, Laura, 2023. "The role of ecosystem services in the doughnut economy – The example of whale ecosystem services in Disko Bay, Greenland," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    15. Sofia Ribeiro & Viriato Soromenho-Marques, 2022. "The Techno-Optimists of Climate Change: Science Communication or Technowashing?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-11, April.
    16. Theodore P. Lianos & Anastasia Pseiridis, 2021. "Adjusting GDP for ecological deficit: the Index of Debt to the Future (IDF)," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 1-22, March.
    17. Beineán Conway & Keelin Leahy & Muireann McMahon, 2021. "Design Education for Sustainability: Identifying Opportunities in Ireland’s Second Level Education System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Martin Bohle & Eduardo Marone, 2021. "Geoethics, a Branding for Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    19. Susanne Kubisch & Sandra Parth & Veronika Deisenrieder & Karin Oberauer & Johann Stötter & Lars Keller, 2020. "From Transdisciplinary Research to Transdisciplinary Education—The Role of Schools in Contributing to Community Well-Being and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Gebara, C.H. & Laurent, A., 2023. "National SDG-7 performance assessment to support achieving sustainable energy for all within planetary limits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    21. Larrinaga, Carlos & Garcia-Torea, Nicolas, 2022. "An ecological critique of accounting: The circular economy and COVID-19," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    22. Kelly Wanser & Sarah J. Doherty & James W. Hurrell & Alex Wong, 2022. "Near-term climate risks and sunlight reflection modification: a roadmap approach for physical sciences research," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 1-20, October.
    23. Shaikh, M. Abdullah & Hadjikakou, Michalis & Geyik, Ozge & Bryan, Brett A., 2024. "Assessing global agri-food system exceedance of national cropland limits for linking responsible consumption and production under SDG 12," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    24. Louis J. Kotzé & Rakhyun E. Kim, 2022. "Towards planetary nexus governance in the Anthropocene: An earth system law perspective," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(S3), pages 86-97, December.

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