About the Planetary Health Check
The Planetary Health Check has been created to provide a regular, comprehensive, scientific assessment of the state of the Earth system based on the Planetary Boundaries Science, to better monitor changes, gauge risks, identify urgent actions, develop solutions, and assess our progress in maintaining a safe operating space for humanity.
Our goal is that the PHC becomes a regularly visited resource for policymakers, business leaders, media and the general public to understand the status and latest science on the health of our planet.
The Scientists
The Planetary Health Check is grounded in the ongoing work of many scientists from around the world. The foundational Earth science research and ongoing efforts are led by:
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Johan Rockström
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Johan Rockström has played a crucial role in conceptualizing and advocating for Planetary Boundaries Framework, ceaselessly highlighting the importance of defining safe operating spaces for humanity to avoid destabilizing the Earth system. His leadership and vision were instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of scientists to identify and quantify the Planetary Boundaries. Today, he leads the Planetary Boundary Science Initiative, and has overseen the production of its first annual Planetary Health Check.
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Katherine Richardson
University of Copenhagen
Katherine Richardson is a core researcher in an international research team on Planetary Boundaries. She contributed significantly to the development of the Planetary Boundary framework, particularly in the areas of climate change, ocean acidification and biosphere integrity of the marine ecosystems. The focus of her research is on the role of biological processes and biodiversity for ocean functioning, as part of the global carbon cycle and the entire Earth system. Richardson's interdisciplinary approach provided valuable insights into the boundaries and helped to integrate various scientific perspectives into the framework.
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Will Steffen
Australian National University
Will Steffen was one of the spiritual fathers of the Planetary Boundary Framework. Steffen's work focused on understanding the complex interactions within the Earth system and the impacts of human activities, which were critical in defining the boundaries and their thresholds. He provided the evidence of the "Great Acceleration" of the human enterprise on Earth from the 1950s, laying the foundation for the conclusion that we are now in the Anthropocene Epoch. Will Steffen passed away in January 2023.
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The Planetary Health Check has been created by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Collaborators
The Planetary Health Check is supported by a growing network of collaborators.
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Planetary Boundaries Science
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