<h4>Introduction to Planetary Boundaries</h4><p>The concept of <strong>Planetary Boundaries</strong> was introduced to define the Earth's environmental limits. These limits are crucial for maintaining the planet's stability and biodiversity, ensuring a safe operating space for humanity.</p><div class='key-point-box'><p>The <strong>Planetary Boundaries framework</strong> identifies nine critical global processes and associated thresholds. Crossing these thresholds significantly increases the risk of large-scale, abrupt, or irreversible environmental changes.</p></div><h4>Origin and Purpose of the Framework</h4><p>This groundbreaking framework was unveiled in <strong>2009</strong> by a team led by environmental scientist <strong>Johan Rockström</strong>, involving <strong>28 international scientists</strong>. Their collective work aimed to quantify the safe limits within which human activities can operate without destabilizing the Earth system.</p><div class='info-box'><p><strong>Key Objective:</strong> To define a 'safe operating space' for humanity by identifying critical biophysical processes that regulate Earth's stability.</p></div><h4>Consequences of Breaching Boundaries</h4><p>Breaching these <strong>planetary boundaries</strong> carries severe risks. It can trigger <strong>irreversible environmental changes</strong>, leading to widespread ecosystem collapse and threatening the Earth's capacity to support human life.</p><p>These irreversible changes can manifest as abrupt shifts in climate patterns, massive biodiversity loss, or fundamental alterations to ocean chemistry, ultimately jeopardizing global habitability.</p><div class='exam-tip-box'><p><strong>UPSC Insight:</strong> Understanding the <strong>Planetary Boundaries framework</strong> is vital for questions on environmental sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity loss in <strong>GS Paper III</strong>. Focus on the 'why' and 'what if' aspects.</p></div>