Respecting Planetary Boundaries and Reconnecting to the Biosphere

Abstract

The biosphere—the sphere of life—is the living part of the outermost shell of our rocky planet, the part of the Earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere where life dwells. It is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships. People and societies depend on its functioning and life support while also shaping it globally. Life on Earth interacts with the chemistry of the atmosphere, the circulation of the oceans, the water cycle (including the solid water in polar and permafrost regions), and geological processes to form favorable conditions on Earth.