Planetary health in crisis: Urgent action needed to avert disaster

Unfortunately, it is no secret that we face a significant ecological crisis. Global warming, droughts, fires, and floods worldwide are becoming our norm, something to become accustomed to, which should not be the case. Immediate action is crucial, as regularly reminded by activists and campaigners around the globe. The Planetary Health Check report also emphasises this.

Planetary Health Check is an initiative that brings together many researchers representing various fields of Earth sciences, artificial intelligence, and observational data. Its goal is a detailed and comprehensive assessment of key aspects of planetary health that ensure humanity's functioning. Experts check how well the planet is coping with the current ecological crisis. Unfortunately, researchers have no good news.

The Planetary Health Check report is based on the concept of so-called planetary boundaries, which define a safe operating space for humans, allowing for the stability of ecosystems. The nine key processes include:

• climate change,
• biodiversity loss,
• ocean acidification,
• ozone depletion,
• land use changes,
• atmospheric aerosol pollution,
• biogeochemical flows,
• unsustainable freshwater use,
• chemical pollution.

"Typically, environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution have been addressed separately but these issues are interconnected and collectively impact our planet’s health, as well as human health. Moreover, breaching safe planetary levels for these boundaries causes feedback that amplifies the impacts on people and can push Earth closer to tipping points," we read in the PHC report.

According to the data presented in the PHC report, humanity has exceeded six of the nine aforementioned boundaries. Furthermore, experts emphasise that it is close to breaching the seventh, which is ocean acidification. Only two processes remain safe: ozone depletion and atmospheric aerosol pollution.

- Our updated diagnosis shows that vital organs of the Earth system are weakening, leading to a loss of resilience and rising risks of crossing tipping points. Six of the nine planetary boundaries are transgressed, put into context in the report by high-resolution spatial maps of local and regional trends for all nine boundaries. The message is clear, local actions impact the planet, and a planet under pressure can impact everyone, everywhere. Securing human wellbeing, economic development, and stable societies requires a holistic approach where the protection of the planet takes center stage - emphasised co-author of the publication Dr Levke Caesar.