Land Degradation Severely Threatens Planetary Boundaries

A significant new scientific report outlines an urgent need for a fundamental shift in how the world cultivates food and manages land to prevent irreversible damage to Earth’s capacity to support both human life and environmental health.

Produced under the leadership of Dr. Johan Rockström at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in collaboration with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the report is being launched as nearly 200 UNCCD member states begin their COP 16 summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The role of land in Earth’s stability

Land serves as the foundation of Earth’s stability by regulating climate, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining freshwater systems. It provides essential resources, including food, water, and raw materials, as detailed in the Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundaries report.

Drawing on roughly 350 information sources, the report examines land degradation and opportunities for action from a planetary boundaries perspective.

However, deforestation, urbanization, and unsustainable farming practices are causing global land degradation at an unprecedented scale, threatening various Earth system components and human survival itself.

The deterioration of forests and soils undermines Earth’s capacity to cope with climate and biodiversity crises, which in turn accelerate land degradation in a harmful cycle.