Boundaries for a healthy planet.

Author Affiliations: Full Text Word Count: ISSN: Accession Number: Database: Record: 1 BOUNDARIES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET. Foley, Jonathan Scientific American; Apr2010, Vol. 302 Issue 4, p54-57, 4p Article *ENVIRONMENTAL degradation -Prevention *NATURE -Effect of human beings on *OCEAN acidification *CLIMATIC changes -Environmental aspects *WEALTH *ENVIRONMENTAL aspects *GREEN Revolution *INDUSTRIAL revolution *SUSTAINABLE agriculture *CARBON dioxide mitigation SOCIAL aspects The article discusses thresholds set by scientists regarding key environmental processes and how it could threaten Earth's habitability if the threshold limits are crossed. Advances in public health, the industrial revolution, and the green revolution have caused a surge in the human population. The author suggests that the use of resources is fueled by affluence and has caused the expansion of pollution across the globe. Topics include an in-depth discussion on how humans can avoid the catastrophic changes that would have dangerous consequences for humankind, such as ocean acidification, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. The need to switch to low-carbon energy sources, reduce land clearing, and practice sustainable agriculture is also discussed. INSET: PUSHING THE LIMIT. director, University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment 2390 00368733 48452443 Academic Search Premier BOUNDARIES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET Scientists have set thresholds for key environmental processes that, if crossed, could threaten Earth's habitability. Ominously, three have already been exceeded For nearly 10,000 years--since the dawn of civilization and the Holocene era--our world seemed unimaginably large. Vast frontiers of land and ocean offered infinite resources. 1