The Planetary Boundaries Framework defines 9 boundaries that humanity needs to stay under, in order for the Earth to regulate itself, and provide a “safe operating space” for humanity [2,3]. For the first time, all 9 boundaries have been assessed, and the results show that we have breached 6 of them[1]. This year, researchers were able to quantify functional diversity (which is fancy talk for the variety of different species in an ecosystem that contributes to the health and balance of that ecosystem)[5]. Not only did they quantify it, they found out that we have already exceeded the safe operating space for it [1]. New scientific discoveries have also allowed us to assess atmospheric aerosol loading, or the limit of how many tiny particles are in the air[1]. So far, this limit hasn't been exceeded, but there are signs that the pressure on this boundary is increasing[1,4]. Planetary boundaries are not equivalent to a global threshold or tipping point: transgressing a boundary will not instantly lead to an unwanted outcome, but the farther we cross, the higher the risk of generating abrupt or irreversible changes, and fewer the opportunities to prepare for them [1,3]. Although we have surpassed 6 boundaries [1], there is still hope. When we transgressed the ozone-depletion boundary, we acted TOGETHER and managed to return the process back to within the boundary and repair the ozone hole [2]! Let’s hope humanity can work together once more and fix these 6 boundaries, so we can live in harmony with our fellow species and ecosystems! What planetary boundary is most interesting to you and why? Let us know in the comments! Share @climate_science 🌎 Authors: Carla Germani, JP Arellano, Mia Foulkes Artists: Bruna Hernandes References: [1]: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adh2458 [2]https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855 [3] https://doi.org/10.1038/461472a [4]:https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/research-news/2023-09-13-all-planetary-boundaries-mapped-out-for-the-first-time-six-of-nine-crossed.html [5]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16706917/#:~:text=Functional%20diversity%20is%20a%20component,mechanistic%20link%20between%20the%20two. (fb)

More energy is being made from clean sources than ever before…but emissions from energy are rising [1,2]. What gives?! Well: ⚡Energy demand is still growing [1,3,4]⚡ ⚙️Energy transition can be complicated, time-consuming and expensive [5,6,7]⚙️ 🔌 Energy doesn't JUST mean electricity - energy used in industry, transport and agriculture needs to decarbonise too [8,9] 🔌 Despite all these challenges, we have to speed up the transition to clean energy [10]. What do you think is the most effective way to do this? Let us know in the comments below. Share @climate_science 🌎 Authors: Mia Foulkes Artists: Bruna Hernandes #ClimateScience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Environment #CleanEnergy #Climate #RenewableEnergy #Renewable #Renewables #Energy #SustainableFuture #Sustainable #Sustainability #FossilFuels #Green #Solution #Emission #Electrical #Electric #Educação #Education #Educational #Sustainability #Sustainable #Transport #Innovation References: 1:https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review 2: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/3c8fa115-35c4-4474-b237-1b00424c8844/CO2Emissionsin2022.pdf @internationalenergyagency BOTH 3:https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-market-report-2023/executive-summary @internationalenergyagency BOTH 4: https://www.iea.org/news/low-emissions-sources-are-set-to-cover-almost-all-the-growth-in-global-electricity-demand-in-the-next-three-years @internationalenergyagency BOTH 5:https://carbontracker.org/reports/gone-with-the-wind/ 6:https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Coordinatedactionreport.pdf @brookingsinst / @brookings 7: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/81959/2/Kuzemko%20et%20al%20ERSS.pdf @sussexuni / @uniofsussex 8: https://www.wri.org/data/world-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2019 @worldresources BOTH 9:https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2019/Jan/IRENA_RE-Electrification_SGCC_2019_preview.pdf @irenaimages / @irena.org 10: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-cycle/ (fb)