For millennia, Earth has provided the conditions for life and the development of humanity, but now this stability is under threat. According to the latest scientific data, we have already crossed seven out of nine critical tipping points that support the planet’s viability. BBC News reports on the rapid deterioration of the environment, which could lead to irreversible consequences.
The 2025 Institute for Climate Impact Research report marked ocean acidification as a transgressed boundary for the first time. Now, climate, the biosphere, water and land resources, biogeochemical cycles, and pollution from synthetic substances are under threat. Only the ozone layer and aerosol pollution remain within safe limits.
Scientists explain ocean acidification by the absorption of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the acidity of surface waters has increased by almost 30%, which is devastating for marine ecosystems, destroying food chains.
The pressure on all seven transgressed boundaries is growing. CO2 concentration in the atmosphere exceeds safe levels, species are disappearing 10 times faster than normal, and fertilizers are creating “dead zones” in water bodies. These problems are interconnected: climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, and deforestation exacerbates droughts.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the example of ozone layer recovery shows that international cooperation is effective. However, Earth is approaching a point of no return, where irreversible changes become probable. Scientists emphasize that there is still a chance to save the planet, but action is needed immediately.
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