LAYER 1: PLANETARY FOUNDATIONS
Planetary Foundations
The nine boundaries – the operating system of the economy.
IN THIS SECTION
In 30 Seconds
Layer 1 is the foundation everything else depends on. The nine planetary boundaries, defined by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, map the Earth systems that make human activity – and the economy – possible.
Six boundaries already crossed: Climate change, biosphere integrity, biogeochemical flows, land-system change, novel entities, freshwater change.
Three within safe limits: Stratospheric ozone, ocean acidification, atmospheric aerosols.
This is not abstract environmentalism. These are the conditions that enable agriculture, stable supply chains, predictable weather, and functioning societies. Breach them, and everything above collapses.
Where This Fits
Planetary Foundations is Layer 1 in our 5-layer sustainability model:
L1 is the foundation – not a nice-to-have, but the precondition for everything else. Landscapes (L2), ecosystem services (L3), governance frameworks (L4), and corporate action (L5) all depend on L1 remaining within safe operating limits.
The Nine Planetary Boundaries
Developed by Johan Rockström and colleagues at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, this framework defines the safe operating space for humanity.
Boundaries Already Crossed (6)
Climate Change
HIGH RISKCO2 concentration at 420+ ppm (safe limit ~350 ppm). Global temperature already +1.1°C above pre-industrial.
Business relevance: Extreme weather, sea level rise, agricultural disruption, ecosystem collapse.
Biosphere Integrity
HIGH RISKExtinction rate 100-1000x natural background. Genetic diversity declining across species.
Business relevance: Pollination collapse, food system risk, pharmaceutical loss, ecosystem instability.
Biogeochemical Flows
CROSSEDNitrogen and phosphorus cycles disrupted by fertiliser use. Safe limits significantly exceeded.
Business relevance: Dead zones, algal blooms, freshwater contamination, soil degradation.
Land-System Change
CROSSEDForest cover below safe threshold in many biomes. Tropical forest conversion continuing.
Business relevance: Carbon release, biodiversity loss, water cycle disruption, indigenous displacement.
Novel Entities
CROSSEDPlastics, chemicals, synthetic biology released faster than assessment capacity.
Business relevance: Microplastics in food chains, endocrine disruption, unknown long-term effects.
Freshwater Change
CROSSEDGreen water (soil moisture) and blue water (rivers, lakes) systems under stress.
Business relevance: Agricultural risk, ecosystem degradation, water conflict, food security.
Within Safe Limits (3)
Stratospheric Ozone
SAFERecovery underway following Montreal Protocol.
Ocean Acidification
INCREASING RISKCurrently within limits but tracking CO2 increase.
Atmospheric Aerosols
REGIONAL VARIATIONGlobal boundary not yet quantified; regional issues.
Why Business Should Care
Planetary boundaries aren't environmental abstraction. They're risk parameters for every business model.
Physical Risks
- • Supply chain disruption from extreme weather
- • Agricultural yield collapse from pollinator loss
- • Water scarcity affecting operations
- • Infrastructure damage from sea level rise
Transition Risks
- • Carbon pricing and climate regulation
- • Stranded assets in fossil fuel sectors
- • Market shifts to sustainable alternatives
- • Reputational damage from inaction
The strategic question: How does your business model depend on planetary systems remaining stable – and what happens if they don't?
Who Operates at L1
Science & Research
Defining the boundaries
Stockholm Resilience Centre, IPCC, IPBES, universities
What are the safe operating limits?
International Bodies
Coordinating response
UN agencies, UNFCCC, CBD, treaty secretariats
How do we govern global commons?
Conservation Orgs
Protecting foundations
WWF, Conservation International, WCS, local trusts
How do we maintain planetary integrity?
The Pandion View
We start from Layer 1 – because everything else depends on it. Every corporate strategy, every investment decision, every policy intervention ultimately depends on planetary systems continuing to function.
Protecting and restoring the natural systems that underpin everything else isn't just good ethics – it's the foundation of a functioning economy. Companies that understand this will outperform those that don't.
As a hybrid professional, we connect planetary science to corporate decision-making. We help clients understand their dependencies on L1 systems, assess risks, and build strategies that work with natural limits rather than against them.