Provocative New Study Warns of Crossing Planetary Boundaries

Talene Tse

Zimmer, C. (2009, September 23). Provocative New Study Warns of Crossing Planetary Boundaries. Retrieved January 28, 2018, from http://e360.yale.edu/features/provocative_new_study_warns_of_crossing_planetary_boundaries

1. I knew that carbon dioxide emissions, ocean acidification, and species extinction were important environmental problems.

2. 27 environmental scientist published a paper outlining nine environmental thresholds that our earth would not be able to recover from. The threshold were in the areas of climate change, ocean acidity, the ozone layer, freshwater use, the movement of nitrogen and phosphorus, the amount of land used for crops, aerosols, biodiversity, and chemical pollution. We have already passed the thresholds on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, and species extinction. While some scientist lauded the article, many pointed out that it is difficult to evaluate tipping points exactly. It is unlikely we have the knowledge available to accurately predict these measures. Furthermore, the authors note that their publication could be a source of optimism because humans were able to halt ozone depletion when it was identified as a global problem. Others argue that we cannot halt other environmental issues like melting ice caps even if we stopped all pollution at this moment.

3. This article allows us to identify important areas of environmental change and evaluate the risk that continued pollution in these areas poses to the ability for humans to support ourselves on this planet. Further, we can think about the nine areas identified in terms of resilience. The ozone has high resilience as it is able to grow back. On the other hand, it is impossible to refreeze icebergs or bring back extinct species.

4. I wish the article contained more information about how the scientists reached their conclusions. It only details their findings. Further, the article was written 9 years ago, and I would be interested to know if the scientists have published a follow up to their research.