Planetary Boundaries Framework

The interconnection between human health and planetary health is more evident than ever. The planetary boundaries concept presents a set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. Six of the nine boundaries have now been crossed ².

Introduction to the problem and scale

Greenhouse gas emissions and the idea of a carbon footprint have dominated the environmental discussion for years and have been the primary corporate measures of sustainability. However, we need to look beyond greenhouse gas emissions alone and consider environmental degradations and opportunities from a planetary boundaries perspective.

The Planetary Boundaries Framework was developed by a group of scientists led by Johan Rockström from the Stockholm Resilience Centre and Will Steffen from the Australian National University.

The Framework provides a more nuanced understanding of planetary changes and system boundaries that can be employed to safeguard the stability and resilience of the Earth system. Based on scientific evidence, the framework explores the impact humanity has made on the planet since the Industrial Revolution and has become the ‘main driver of global environmental change’³.

• As of 2023, six of the nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed as a result of human activity:
  • Climate change
  • Land-system change
  • Freshwater change
  • Biosphere integrity (biodiversity loss)
  • Novel entities (artificial toxic and long-lived substances)
  • Biogeochemical cycles (phosphorus and nitrogen)
• This could drive the Earth System into a less hospitable state, threatening poverty reduction efforts and driving a deterioration of human well-being⁴.

How does factory farming affect planetary boundaries?

Factory farming threatens several planetary boundaries, including climate change (release of CO2 and other greenhouse gases), biogeochemical flows (nitrogen and phosphorus), land-system change, freshwater use, and biosphere integrity (the loss of biodiversity).

• Climate change: intensive livestock production contributes 18% of global anthropogenic greenhouse emissions; under a 'business as usual' scenario, in which meat and dairy consumption rises as expected with a growing global population and rising GDPs, the agriculture sector alone would emit enough greenhouse gases to take up the entire 2 degrees Celsius emissions budget by 2050⁵.
• It is estimated that the livestock industry is currently responsible for around 18% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions globally^6,7. If the livestock sector were to continue with business as usual, this sector alone could account for up to 50% of the emissions budget for 1·5°C by 2030⁸.
• Biogeochemical flows: intensive animal agriculture is inextricably linked with nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and pollution. Crops grown for animal feed require nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilisers that runoff into waterways, and animal waste (e.g., manure) contains high levels of reactive forms of nitrogen and phosphorus that leach into the ground and surface waters. Crop-livestock production systems are the largest cause of human alteration of global nitrogen and phosphorus cycles⁹.
• Land-system change: intensive animal agriculture has been a driving force in the conversion of grasslands, wetlands, and forests to crop and grazing fields, resulting in vast deforestation globally. Every year, 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed¹⁰. Beef and soya production (for animal feed) are the largest drivers of deforestation.
• Freshwater use: intensive animal agriculture requires vast quantities of freshwater to produce feed crops and for drinking water for animals. The production of grain to feed animals is implicated in the depletion of vital aquifers, such as the Ogallala aquifer in the High Plains region of the U.S.¹¹.
• Biosphere integrity: as a driving force of land-system change, animal agriculture also contributes to the loss of biodiversity. Overexploitation and agriculture are the two biggest causes of biodiversity loss¹² with 1 million different species threatened with extinction¹³.

Link to the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all¹⁴.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts¹⁵.
• SDG 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, sea, and marine resources for sustainable development¹⁶.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss¹⁷.