Planetary Health Check 2024: A Scientific Assessment of the State of the Planet

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments 3
• Table of Contents 4
• JOHAN ROCKSTRÖM 5
• Foreword 5
• Glossary 6
• Executive Summary 7
• Executive Summary 8
• Executive Summary 9
• 1. Planetary Boundaries 10
• 1.1 Nine Planetary Boundaries 12
• Freshwater Change 12
• Climate Change 12
• Change in Biosphere Integrity 12
• Land System Change 12
• Modification of Biogeochemical Flows 13
• Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 13
• Ocean Acidification 13
• Increase in Atmospheric Aerosol Loading 13
• Introduction of Novel Entities 13
• 1.2 Planetary Boundaries Diagram 14
• 1.3 Planetary Health - Latest Assessment 2024 15
• 1.4 Planetary Boundaries Assessments Over Time 16
• Scientific Updates 16
• Planetary Boundaries Assessments Over Time 16
• 2. A Safe Operating Space for Humanity 18
• Humanitys Journey on Earth 18
• Human Population Size and Global Temperature from 500000 Years BP Until 2100 18
• 2.1 The Great Acceleration 20
• Socio-Economic Trends Since 1750 20
• Recent Dramatic 20
• Trends in the 20
• Earth System 20
• Earth System Trends Since 1750 21
• 3. Interconnections Drivers 22
• The Complex Net of Planetary Boundary Processes 22
• 1. Biogeochemical Flows How Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Diminish the 23
• Oceans Biodiversity Fuel Climate Change 23
• 2. Land System Change How Deforestation Creates a Vicious Cycle of Forest Loss 24
• Fueling Freshwater Overuse Biodiversity Loss Climate Change 24
• 4. Measuring Planetary Boundaries 25
• Tipping Points in Ecological Systems 26
• 5. Tipping Points 26
• The Link Between Tipping Points And The Planetary Boundaries Framework 28
• Planetary Boundary Processes and Their Tipping Points 29
• Definition Current State 32
• 6.1 Climate Change 32
• 2024 Status 32
• Global Map of Changes in Energy Balance 32
• 6.1 Control Variables 33
• The Rise of CO 33
• 6.1 Control Variables 34
• Disturbance of Our Planets Energy Balance 34
• 6.1 Key Drivers 35
• 6.1 Data Sources 35
• Definition Current State 36
• 6.2 Change in Biosphere Integrity 36
• 2024 Status 36
• Global Risk Map of the Change in Biosphere Integrity 36
• Boundary Trangression - HANPP 36
• 6.2 Control Variables 37
• Species Extinctions Accelerating Globally 37
• 6.2 Control Variables 38
• The Energy We Take From Nature and Use for Our Purposes 38
• 6.2 Control Variables 39
• Change in Land Plant Energy Used by Humanity 39
• 6.2 Key Drivers 40
• 6.2 Data Sources 40
• Definition Current State 41
• 6.3 Land System Change 41
• 2024 Status 41
• Global Risk Map of the Land System Change Boundary Transgression 41
• Forest Area 41
• 6.3 Control Variable 42
• Global Forest Decline 42
• 6.3 Control Variable 43
• Global Map of Recent Forest Changes 43
• 6.3 Data Sources 43
• 6.3 Key Drivers 44
• Definition Current State 45
• 6.4 Freshwater Change 45
• 2024 Status 45
• Global Map of Increases in Dry and Wet Episodes for Blue Water 45
• 6.4 Control Variables 46
• Disturbance of Earths Freshwater Systems I - Blue Water 46
• 6.4 Control Variables 47
• Disturbance of Earths Freshwater Systems II - Green Water 47
• 6.4 Control Variables 48
• Global Map of Increases in Dry and Wet Episodes for Green Water 48
• 6.4 Data Source 48
• 6.4 Key Drivers 49
• Definition Current State 50
• 6.5 Modification of Biogeochemical Flows 50
• 2024 Status 50
• Global Risk Map of the Biogeochemical Cycles Boundary Transgression 50
• Phosphorus Cycle 50
• 6.5 Control Variables 51
• Rising Phosphorus Inputs for Agriculture 51
• 6.5 Control Variables 52
• Global Map of Change in Phosphorus Use Rate for Agriculture 52
• Global Risk Map of the Biogeochemical Cycles Boundary Transgression 53
• Nitrogen Cycle 53
• 6.5 Control Variables 53
• 6.5 Control Variables 54
• Rising Nitrogen Inputs for Agriculture 54
• Global Map of Change in Nitrogen Use Rate for Agriculture 55
• 6.5 Data Sources 55
• 6.5 Control Variables 55
• 6.5 Key Drivers 56
• 6.6 Ocean Acidification 57
• 2024 Status 57
• Definition Current State 57
• Global Map of Ocean Acidification Indicator 57
• Aragonite Saturation State Change 57
• 6.6 Control Variable 58
• Ocean Acidification Approaching its Boundary 58
• 6.6 Key Drivers 59
• 6.6 Data Source 59
• Definition Current State 60
• 6.7 Increase in 60
• Atmospheric Aerosol Loading 60
• 2024 Status 60
• Global Map of Recent Change in Aerosol Loading 60
• Bridging the Divide 61
• Declining Interhemispheric Difference in Aerosol Loading 61
• 6.7 Control Variable 61
• 6.7 Data Source 62
• 6.7 Key Drivers 62
• Definition Current State 63
• 6.8 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 63
• 2024 Status 63
• Global Map of Recent Ozone Layer Changes 63
• 6.8 Control Variable 64
• Ozone Layer Recovery A Success Story 64
• 6.8 Key Drivers 65
• 6.8 Data Source 65
• Definition Current State 66
• 6.9 Introduction of Novel Entities 66
• 2024 Status 66
• From Conception to Contamination The Rise of Novel Entities 66
• 6.9 Control Variable 67
• 6.9 Data Source 67
• 6.9 Key Drivers 67
• 6.9 Key Drivers 68
• 7. Early Symptoms of Transgressing 70
• Planetary Boundaries 70
• Global Map of Countries that Declared Drought Emergencies in 2022-2023 70
• Extreme Weather Events and Wildfires 70
• More Severe and More Likely 71
• Extreme Weather Events Under Human-Induced Climate Change 71
• Changes in Vegetation Productivity 71
• Increase in Waste 72
• Declining Global Carbon Sink 72
• Water Scarcity 72
• Resilience Loss Early Warning Signals in Earth System Processes 73
• Profound Consequences for Humanity 73
• Conclusion 73
• Conclusion 74
• 8. The Food System Present Impacts Future Transformation Requirements 74
• The Necessary Food System Overhaul for a 10 Billion-Person World Within 75
• 9. Solution Space Towards Effective Earth System Stewardship 76
• 10. Learn More 79
• The work of PBScience has only just begun. 79
• The moment is now to partner up and 80
• 11. Outlook 80
• Table 1 Latest Planetary Boundary PB Assessment in Numbers 81
• 12. Tables 81
• Table 1 Latest Planetary Boundary PB Assessment in Numbers Cont. 82
• Table 2 Planetary Boundary Control Variable Information 83
• Table 3 Planetary Boundary PB Processes and Their Tipping Points 84
• Table 3 Planetary Boundary Processes and their Tipping Points Cont. 85
• References 86