Planet in peril: Urgent action needed to avert catastrophe

It is no secret that we are currently facing an enormous ecological crisis. Global warming, droughts, fires, and floods are becoming common occurrences, something people are beginning to get used to, which should not be the case. Immediate action is necessary, as regularly reminded by activists and campaigners around the globe. The Planetary Health Check report underscores this message.

Planetary Health Check is an initiative bringing together many researchers from various fields of Earth sciences, artificial intelligence, and observational data. Its goal is to provide a detailed and comprehensive assessment of key aspects of planetary health that ensure humanity's functioning. Experts evaluate 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 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.

"Until now, environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution have been considered separately, but these problems are interconnected and together affect the health of our planet and human health. The Planetary Health Check report documents the latest scientific information on various processes, identifies underlying causes and interconnections, and links critical points, emphasizing the need for a planet-wide approach to ensure humanity's future," states the PHC report.

According to the data presented in the PHC report, humanity has exceeded six of the nine boundaries above. Experts stress that we are close to breaching the seventh boundary, which is ocean acidification. Only two processes remain within safe limits: ozone depletion and atmospheric aerosol pollution.

“Our report shows that key elements of the Earth's system are weakening, leading to a loss of resilience and an increased risk of crossing critical thresholds. Local actions have global impacts, and a planet under pressure affects everyone, everywhere. Protecting it must become a priority if we want to ensure social stability and well-being," emphasized Dr. Levke Caesar, co-author of the publication.