This article explores the planetary boundaries framework, which defines a "safe operating space for humanity" across nine critical Earth system processes. The authors use an Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE) to project the state of eight planetary boundaries under various scenarios, including current trends and targeted environmental policies, through 2050 and beyond. The research indicates that business-as-usual approaches will lead to further environmental degradation, with most boundaries remaining transgressed even with ambitious interventions. The study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive and ambitious policy measures that extend beyond climate change to address the multi-dimensional nature of environmental challenges, acknowledging the role of societal and institutional feasibility in implementing these transformations.
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