For years, the scientific field has had eight indicators that guarantee the ecosystem balance and the health of the species that make up it:Climate; nitrogen cycle; state of surface water; state of groundwater; extent of unoccupied natural areas; functional integrity of man-modified ecosystems; phosphorus cycle and aerosol contamination. They have identified for each one the limit not to exceed. However, the study published by the journal Nature on May 31 states that only the contamination of aerosols respects the limit imposed. Concerning the other seven indicators, the situation is worrying: "We are a dangerous path that causes a global imbalance on the planet," said Johan Rockström, one of the researchers.

For example, in terms of climate, it is limited to a pre-industrial temperature level. But today, the increase is 1.2 degrees and following the forecasts of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Emergencies (GIEC), by 2030 it would be 1.5 degrees depending on the production and consumption we have.

The peculiarity of this study is that two criteria have been considered: "Security" and "justice." Until now, only the first was observed, a range that does not guarantee the resilience and stability of the terrestrial system, but this study has sought to enrich the measurement, introducing the notion of "just border": the limit that produces harmful effects for living beings (reduction of food resources, forced migration, epidemics, etc. ).

Excessively stuck water

As a conservation measure for aquatic ecosystems, less than 20 per cent of water discharges should have been altered. Today, however, 34 per cent are moved. Too much, there too. In the case of groundwater, disposal should generally be less than or equal to the natural occupation of aquifers. But this guarantee is only given in 53% of the world ' s basins.

The boundary with biodiversity is not respected either: between 50% and 60% of global ecosystems should not be moved, but according to the study, only 45-50% are in this situation. As for areas exploited by humans, each square kilometer would require between 20 and 25% of "semi-natural", that is, guaranteeing trees, laps, orchards, soups or other vegetables. Without it, the survival of insects, the humus needed by the ecosystem or pollination would be unbalanced. Two-thirds of the anthropized spaces do not meet this condition.

Black diagnosis

The diagnosis has been "very serious" in the research: "If the planet were a body, all its organs would be damaged. His lungs, but also his kidneys, his liver..." Researchers have spread the message that change should be "immediate". How? From these eight limits and the compass, channeling the "integral transition".