Planetary Boundaries News

All life on Earth, and human civilizations, are sustained by vital biogeochemical systems, which are in delicate balance. However, our species — due largely to rapid population growth and explosive consumption — is destabilizing these Earth processes, endangering the stability of the “safe operating space for humanity.” As noted by the main feature in this special Mongabay series, scientists have defined nine planetary boundaries: climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol pollution, freshwater use, biogeochemical flows of nitrogen and phosphorus, land-system change, and the release of novel chemicals.

Japan, EU & UK biomass emissions standards fall short and are full of loopholes, critics say

Companies eye ‘carbon insetting’ as winning climate solution, but critics are wary

Amazon deforestation linked to reduced Tibetan snows, Antarctic ice loss: Study

Russian invasion hinders global biodiversity conservation, study shows

Pollinator declines linked to half million early human deaths annually: Study

Temperature extremes, plus ecological marginalization, raise species risk: Studies

Re-carbonizing the sea: Scientists to start testing a big ocean carbon idea

Biodiversity, human rights safeguards crucial to nature-based solutions: Critics

Protecting canids from planet-wide threats offers ecological opportunities

The Netherlands to stop paying subsidies to ‘untruthful’ biomass firms

Tobacco: Vaping and smoking drive environmental harm from farm to fingertip

Plastic pellet pollution can end through coordinated efforts, report shows

Japan’s example: Can forest planting reduce climate disaster risk?

Counterintuitive: Large wild herbivores may help slow climate change

Climate change is hammering insects — in the tropics and everywhere else: Scientists

Animating the Carbon Cycle: Earth’s animals vital allies in CO2 storage

As EU finalizes renewable energy plan, forest advocates condemn biomass

Whistleblower: Enviva claim of ‘being good for the planet… all nonsense’

COP27 boosts carbon trading and ‘non-market’ conservation: But can they save forests?

Blue jeans: An iconic fashion item that’s costing the planet dearly

Arctic sea ice loss to increase strong El Niño events linked to extreme weather: Study

Plastic impacts a grossly underestimated ‘one-two punch’ for seabirds: Study

Wild cats threatened by ‘underrecognized’ risk of spillover disease

‘One more thing’ about plastics: They could be acidifying the ocean, study says

Putting a price on water: Can commodification resolve a world water crisis?

Experts decry ‘funny math’ of plastics industry’s ‘advanced recycling’ claims

Haiti: An island nation whose environmental troubles only begin with water

2022: Another consequential year for the melting Arctic

Agulhas Current enigma: An oceanic gap in our climate understanding

Acid test: Are the world’s oceans becoming too ‘acidic’ to support life?

‘Mind-blowing’ marine heat waves put Mediterranean ecosystems at grave risk

Wildlife lover and artist records 5 decades of change on iconic U.K. river

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