Are We Pushing the Planet Too Far? A Look at the Planetary Boundaries Crisis

Have we passed the point of no return when it comes to Earth’s ecological stability? In her in-depth piece, Pushing the Boundaries – Is there still time to respect our planet’s limits?, Lark Scientific Researcher Summer Rylander explores the latest scientific findings on the health of our planet and the sobering truth that we may be running out of time.

The planetary boundaries framework, first introduced in 2009 and recently updated by researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, outlines nine essential Earth systems that support life. These include:

1. Climate change

2. Biosphere integrity

3. Land system change

4. Freshwater change

5. Modification of biogeochemical flows

6. Novel entities

7. Ocean acidification

8. Stratospheric ozone depletion

9. Atmospheric aerosol loading

Click HERE to learn more about the definitions of each. 

Here’s the alarming part: 6 of these 9 boundaries have already been crossed, and a seventh is dangerously close.

Image Credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Richardson et al, 2023. Attribution: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

What Planetary Boundaries Have Been Crossed?

• Climate Change: CO₂ levels continue to rise with no sign of global caps.

• Biosphere Integrity: We’re losing species and ecosystems at unsustainable rates.

• Land System Change: Deforestation and development are fragmenting critical habitats.

• Freshwater Use: Overuse and pollution have disrupted water cycles.

• Biogeochemical Flows: Industrial and agricultural practices are flooding ecosystems with nitrogen and phosphorus.

• Novel Entities: New synthetic chemicals like PFAS are being released faster than we can assess or regulate them.

Ocean acidification, while not yet fully crossed, is accelerating and could soon join the list.

What Does This Mean?

The planetary boundaries framework isn’t just about nature. It’s about us. The more we push these systems, the more we risk things like food shortages, extreme weather, freshwater scarcity, and public health crises. It’s not one domino. It’s a web. And when one thread snaps, the whole system unravels.

Is It Too Late?

Some experts, like environmentalist David Suzuki, believe we’ve already crossed the tipping point. In a 2025 interview, Suzuki said bluntly: “It’s too late,” citing decades of climate talks with little action. Still, he and other advocates push for a revolutionary shift that’s fast, community-driven, and large-scale. He points to Finland, where the government is preparing its citizens for worsening emergencies, as a model of urgent, transparent planning.

Can We Still Turn Things Around?

Not everything is reversible. Extinction is forever. But some boundaries can still be pulled back through rapid, unified action. This includes:

• Transitioning to renewable energy

• Restoring forests and wetlands

• Reforming agriculture

• Banning harmful chemicals

• Protecting oceans and freshwater systems

  
  

Ultimately, planetary boundaries offer a science-backed roadmap, not for returning to an untouched Earth, but for staying within a livable one. Whether we act in time remains to be seen.