“Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet”, a new Netflix documentary, featuring David Attenborough and Swedish climate scientist Johan Rockström, has been described as “… probably the most important documentary that has ever been filmed,” by Christiana Figueres, former head of the UN Climate Change team and a key architect of the Paris climate agreement. The 10-minute trailer for the film was shown to world leaders at Biden’s Climate Summit in April.
It presents a clear and compelling report card on the current state of the perils facing us across nine crucial planetary boundaries. But the film offers hope by mapping out what we can do to bring our planet back within safe operating limits.
Prof. Rockström, scientific director at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, is a rock-star among climate scientists, a clear communicator and one of the originators of the concept of planetary boundaries. He says, “Scientific evidence shows that we are putting the stability of the entire planet at risk and this is nothing less than a planetary climate emergency.” But crucially, “we have entered the most decisive decade for humanity’s future on Earth. The future is not determined, the future is in our hands.”
Professor Johan Rockström. Source: Netflix documentary, “Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet”
Planet Earth’s systems are inextricably linked, and each one needs to operate within safe limits for life to survive and prosper. Rockström and his colleagues around the world have identified nine such systems that regulate the planet including climate, biomes (forests, grasslands, wetlands), freshwater (“the lifeblood of the planet”) air quality and nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus which are key ingredients in fertilizers), and measured whether we are operating safely within them using an easy to understand green/yellow/red grading system.
Rockström’s work shows how these systems work together either in vicious or virtuous circles. The report card shows that we have already exceeded at least four boundaries and are in the red zones for climate, forest loss, biodiversity and nutrients, and are in danger of crossing tipping points after which change is irreversible.
But the film offers hope and prescriptions for solutions.
Choose renewable energy
Draw down carbon by planting billions of trees and promote silviculture which combines trees and crops in the same space
Use lower levels of fertilizers to protect water sources, biodiversity and marine life
Adopt a “healthy” diet
This last idea “is almost unbelievably simple but is key to staying within our planetary boundaries … and can be adopted by anyone with the freedom to choose what [they] eat,” Attenborough says.
Photo: Ella Olssen from Pexels
A “healthy” diet is defined as more flexitarian — more plant-based protein, more fruits and nuts and less red meat and starchy foods. If we embrace this diet, Rockström says “we can come back within safe operating limits not only on our climate, but on land, water, nitrogen and phosphorus and biodiversity. And that is quite exciting.”
Another key solution is a major mind-shift for policy and decision makers. Rockström says we need to re-frame our entire growth trajectory around planetary boundaries and “to reconnect our modern development, all our aspirations and dreams and what we value in life — with the stability of the planet.”
“Planetary boundaries have given us a clear path ahead,” says Attenborough. “Simple things like choosing renewable energy, planting trees, eating healthy food and eliminating waste — together will transform our future on this planet.”