The emergence of the ‘planetary boundaries’ concept in international environmental law

Grounded in the application of the precautionary principle, the planetary boundaries framework attempts to define a safe operating space where human activities can take place without the risk of transgressing the Earth system's ecological thresholds, thus maintaining the planet's Holocene‐like conditions. Since its emergence in 2009, the scientific concept of planetary boundaries has gradually gained recognition in the political arena. This concept has been introduced in the European Union's legal instruments, and it has been included in documents issued at the request of or by the United Nations Secretary‐General. However, the concept has not yet been integrated into the legal documents of the United Nations’ organs. This article argues for the adoption of a framework convention on planetary boundaries as an effective means for integrating the planetary boundaries approach into international law.