Planetary boundaries as a foundation for earth system education: a proposal for polish upper secondary schools

Abstract

Contemporary climate, ecological, and social crises are closely interconnected and require a systemic understanding of how the Earth functions. The concept of planetary boundaries, developed by Johan Rockström and colleagues, is one of the most important frameworks for describing the stability of the Earth system and identifying a safe operating space for humanity. The author proposes incorporating this concept into the curriculum of Polish upper secondary schools as an integrating framework for climate and environmental education. A lesson model is presented that fosters systems thinking and explores the interconnections between the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Planetary boundaries can serve as a common educational paradigm, enabling students to interpret contemporary environmental challenges within a single coherent scientific framework.