2 - Understanding the State of Our Environment Part I: Scientific Perspectives

Explain what planetary boundaries are, and name who first coined the term.

How many planetary boundaries have been transgressed, and which one’s specifically?

Have we reached a high risk zone?

Not yet, we approaching it though.

What are the 9 planetary boundaries?

1. Climate Change

2. Change in Biosphere Integrity

3. Modification of Biogeochemical Flows

4. Introduction of Novel Entities

5. Land System Change

6. Freshwater Change

7. Ocean Acidification

8. Increase in Atmospheric Aerosol Loading

9. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Define the Climate Change planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Change in Biosphere Intregrity planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Modification of Biogeochemical Flows planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Introduction to Novel Entities planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Land Systems Change planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Freshwater Change planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Ocean Acidification planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Increase in Atmospheric Aerosol Loading planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Define the Stratospheric Ozone Depletion planetary boundary, and what zone risk it is.

Explain why human activities have driven the Earth beyond its Safe Operating Space (according to the Planetary Health Check 2025).

What is another name for the Holocene.

Explain the different stages of the Earth.

Explain the relationship between human activity and the well-being of Earth.

Negative relationship (as human activity increases, Earth’s well-being decreases). You can see this in the graphs.

Explain what the Holocene state means. What is only that state capable of?

Explain the core differences between tipping points and planetary boundaries.

Explain why we have planetary boundaries.

What mechanisms help us identify which pressures can trigger a tipping point in our climate?

Feedback loops.

Explain what a negative feedback loop is.

Explain what a positive feedback loop is.

Explain an example of a positive feedback loop.

What are control variables used for with respect to our environment?

Explain how planetary boundaries are assessed.

What are the causes, effects and impacts of Climate Change?

What are the control variables for climate change?

What are the goals of the Paris Agreement?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of Change in Biosphere Integrity?

What are the control variables for Change in Biosphere Integrity?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of the Modification of Biogeochemical Flows?

What are the control variables for the modification of biogeochemical flows?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of the introduction of novel entities?

What are the control variables for the introduction of novel entities?

What did Rachel Carson do?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of land system change?

What is the control variable for land system change?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of freshwater use?

What are the control variables for freshwater use?

What are the causes, effects and impacts of ocean acidification?

What are the control variables for ocean acidification?

What is some positive news about the climate and planetary boundaries?

What does IPCC stand for, and how does it work?

What are some key findings from the IPCC?

What is the IPCC definition of mitigation?

What is the IPCC definition of adapatation?

According to the IPCC, is mitigation of adaptation more important? And are we doing well with implementing such strategies?

What is the key point the IPCC is trying to make?

AND!!

“Every increment of avoided warming matters.”

What is the IPCC definition of vulnerability?

What is the IPCC and Kate Raworth calling for?

Is it possible to reach the targets set by the Paris Agreement? If not, what do we do now?