Seven of nine planetary boundaries breached, and other nature and climate stories you need to read
A summary of four status updates on the climate, along with a summary of the planetary boundaries as they stand now.
Micaiah Will
1. Planetary health check shows Earth nearing many critical thresholds
Scientists have issued a red alert for the health of the planet, in a first-of-its-kind report.
There are nine key systems and processes that contribute to stable, healthy life on Earth for all organisms, according to the report's authors at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
At present, six of them have crossed the threshold to a point where they are deemed to not be able to function properly.
Just three planetary boundaries remain within the "safe operating space": ocean acidification; atmospheric aerosol loading; and stratospheric ozone depletion.
"The interconnectedness of planetary boundary processes means that addressing
one issue, such as limiting global warming to 1.5°C, requires tackling all of them collectively."
—Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
2. SDIM24: Coverage on Climate and Nature
Coinciding with the general debate of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Climate Week NYC, the World Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Impact Meetings (SDIM) took place last week in New York, from 23-27 September.
Climate and nature were under the spotlight at this year's meeting, in a critical period where elections, geopolitical tension and economic challenges could slow momentum for climate action.
Global decision-makers are set to convene at three COPs this year, focusing on Biodiversity, Climate and Desertification. With this in mind, an expert panel discussed how public- and private-sector stakeholders can overcome current geo-economic tensions and take essential actions to curb carbon emissions, halt biodiversity loss and foster a more inclusive economy.
3. News in brief: Other top nature and climate stories this week
Windfall taxes on fossil fuels, ending harmful subsidies and a wealth tax on billionaires, could enable rich countries to raise five times the amount of money developing nations need in climate finance, a new report shows.
In California, a new measure will see all plastic bags banned at grocery stores across the state from 2026, The Guardian reports. As an alternative, shoppers will only be offered paper bags.
The COP28 agreement to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 is "within reach", thanks to favourable economics, ample manufacturing potential and strong policies, according to a new International Energy Agency report.
The European Central Bank is now issuing fines to banks that do not meet expectations on disclosing and managing climate risk, Reuters reports.
A recent study reveals that global warming doubled the likelihood of the extreme flooding experienced in Europe throughout September, which affected nearly two million people.
The UK has appointed Rachel Kyte as its new climate envoy. In this role, she will represent the nation at major global climate talks, leveraging her decades of experience in the field.
In the summers of 2022 and 2023, the Hebrides saw the highest numbers of minke whales and the lowest numbers of basking sharks for 20 years, new research shows, suggesting a possible association between these two species.
According to Generation Investment Management's Sustainability Trends Report 2024, which analyzes the state of the world's fight against the climate crisis, "Climate promises are starting to resemble New Year’s resolutions: easy to make, hard to keep". While the report acknowledges progress made in recent years, in the form of global climate agreements and the rise of renewable energy capacity, it stresses the need for greater accountability.
