The 2025 Planetary Boundaries report is here

Released during NYC Climate Week, amid turbulent politics and shifting regulations. The message is clear: we must act now. Earth’s life-support systems are under severe stress. According to the 2025 Planetary Boundaries Report, we are crossing 7 of 9 planetary boundaries, with all showing worsening trends compared to 2024. Only ozone depletion and aerosol loading remain in the safe zone.

The 9 Planetary Boundaries define earth’s safe operating space

The Planetary Boundaries framework was developed in 2009 by 28 internationally renowned scientists led by former Stockholm Resilience Centre director Johan Rockström. It identifies 9 critical Earth system processes that regulate the stability and resilience of our planet. Staying within these boundaries is essential to maintain a “safe operating space for humanity.” Crossing boundaries increases the risk of generating large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes. In addition, planetary boundaries are interdependent: crossing one boundary will affect the risks of the other processes.

2025 update: Our signs are flashing red

According to the 2025 Planetary Boundaries Report, we are crossing 7 of 9 boundaries, with all showing worsening trends compared to 2024. Only ozone depletion and aerosol loading remain in the safe zone.

The Nine Planetary Boundaries and their status

🌡️ Climate change

Increased greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, raising global temperatures and altering climate patterns. This boundary is transgressed, with CO₂ concentrations continuing to rise.

🧪Novel entities

Synthetic chemicals, plastics, and genetically modified organisms disrupt natural processes and ecosystem functioning. The release of untested substances has pushed this boundary into the high-risk zone.

☀️Stratospheric ozone depletion

Ozone in the upper atmosphere shields Earth from harmful UV radiation. Thanks to international regulations, total ozone is slowly recovering, so this boundary is currently within the Safe Operating Space.

🌫️Atmospheric aerosol loading

Airborne particles from human activity and natural sources affect temperature, precipitation, and ecosystems. Globally, aerosol levels remain just within the Safe Operating Space, though localized pollution already causes harm.

🌊Ocean acidification

Absorption of CO₂ lowers ocean pH, harming shell-forming organisms and reducing carbon storage. For the first time, this boundary has been breached, signaling serious stress on marine ecosystems.

⚗️Modification of biogeochemical flows

Industrial and agricultural processes alter nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, disrupting ecosystems. Both global nitrogen fixation and phosphorus runoff have transgressed safe levels.

💧Freshwater change

Overuse and alteration of rivers, lakes, and soil moisture affect biodiversity, carbon storage, and precipitation patterns. Human-driven disturbances have exceeded safe limits.

🌳Land system change

Deforestation, urbanization, and landscape conversion reduce habitats, biodiversity, and ecological functions. Global forest areas in tropical, boreal, and temperate regions have fallen below safe levels.

🐾 Biosphere integrity

The diversity and health of living organisms support Earth’s energy balance and chemical cycles. Loss of genetic diversity and functional ecosystem integrity means this boundary is outside safe levels.

Transformation is urgent but still within reach

As Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, warns: “We are witnessing widespread decline in the health of our planet. Failure is not inevitable; failure is a choice. A choice that must and can be avoided.”

Cities, countries, businesses, and communities all have roles to play. A coherent and collective strategy is the only way forward. Here are some key priorities:

🏙️ Adopt planetary-boundary frameworks (including doughnut models)

Organizations can use the planetary-boundary framework as a compass to measure their environmental impact against Earth’s limits. The so-called doughnut model shows how urban development can thrive while respecting both ecological ceilings and social foundations. For example, the City of Amsterdam adapted the model to a 'City Portrait' as the basis for its post-COVID recovery strategy.

📊 Set science-based targets for nature

Just as climate targets align with the Paris Agreement, businesses and governments must set measurable goals for biodiversity, freshwater, and land use. These targets ensure decisions are grounded in science rather than short-term interests.

🏛️ Strengthen accountability & governance

Policies and corporate strategies must move beyond pledges to enforceable commitments. Strong governance creates the guardrails that hold organizations accountable for staying within ecological limits.

🤝 Drive cross-sector collaboration

No single actor can tackle planetary overshoot alone—solutions demand partnerships across industries, governments, communities, and public–private initiatives. For example, the LEAF Coalition brings together governments, companies, and NGOs to finance large-scale tropical forest conservation, combining public funds with private investment to reduce deforestation at scale. Collaboration accelerates innovation, unlocks financing, and helps scale proven approaches more effectively.

💡 Increase transparency in finance & disclosures

Capital flows shape the future of the planet, and financial decisions must reflect planetary risks. With regulations like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), transparency is becoming a baseline expectation—ensuring that investors and stakeholders can distinguish genuine sustainability action from greenwashing.

⚖️ Ensure a just transition

Sustainability must go hand in hand with equity. Workers, vulnerable communities, and developing nations need support to adapt. No one should be left behind. A just transition ensures that climate and nature policies strengthen social resilience rather than widen inequality.

🔄 Scale and integrate efforts

Isolated pilot projects are not enough; solutions must be embedded into entire value chains, policies, and communities. Scaling up ensures impact is systemic, not symbolic.

Our planet’s vital signs are flashing red. The time to act is not tomorrow. It’s today.

What steps is your organization taking to stay within planetary boundaries?

🔗 Link to the full report