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Earth's Climate Tipping Points: A Dire Warning
19 Nov
Summary
- Scientists warn global warming exceeding 1.5°C may trigger irreversible climate tipping points.
- Coral reefs face extinction, ice sheets may collapse, and permafrost thaw releasing more emissions.
- Global emissions must be halved by 2035 to avoid the worst, returning temperatures to lower levels.
The ambitious goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, established eight years ago, is now deemed unattainable by scientists. Current policies are insufficient, with projections indicating a potential overshoot of this critical threshold, possibly within the next decade.
Exceeding this warming limit could trigger severe, self-reinforcing climate tipping points. These include the potential extinction of 99% of coral reefs, the accelerated collapse of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets leading to significant sea-level rise, and the thawing of Arctic permafrost releasing vast amounts of trapped greenhouse gases.
Scientists emphasize that while the 1.5°C goal may be temporarily breached, drastic action is still crucial. Halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 could guide temperatures back down. Every tenth of a degree of warming avoided significantly reduces the likelihood of these devastating and long-lasting changes.
