THE PLANETARY QUOTAS
Our ten global limits
The Planetary Quotas are ten global limits for human activity that will allow us to return to and remain within safe environmental limits - the Planetary Boundaries.
The Planetary Quotas complement rather than replace the Planetary Boundaries. The Planetary Boundaries can be seen as a health check for the planet - they give us a sense of the magnitude and urgency of the situation.
However they do not translate into figures that make sense for policy or action.
The Planetary Quotas answer the very important question: “What can you do to help?” You as a person, you as an employee, you as a city government, you as a CEO.
The Quotas can be scaled and then compare to the environmental impacts of human activity from individual and community activities, to business and sectorial operations, and city and national governments.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
CO2 is a greenhouse gas which means it traps heat into the atmosphere.
Methane & Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Methane and nitrous oxide are two other “long-lived” greenhouse gases.
Deforestation
The amount of forestland on the planet is critical to the health of the planet.
Ozone Depleting Substances
Ozone depleting substances such as CFCs created a hole in the Earth’s ozone layer.
Emissions of
Aerosols
Aerosols are small particles in the air. They cause smog and acid rain.
Biodiversity Loss
Human activity can impact biodiversity in many ways including disrupting habitat.
Water Consumption
The water we consume directly from the tap is a small fraction of our total water consumption.
Imperishable Waste
Humans have created hundreds of thousands of “novel entities'.
Reactive Nitrogen
Reactive nitrogen is a necessary component to grow food.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is also necessary to grow food. It is present in animal and plant matter.
