CLIMATE TIPPING POINTS
Nine Climate Tipping Points graphic by Rosamund Pearce and Tom Prater.
The cumulative impact of these changes fueled by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could cause fundamental parts of the Earth system to change dramatically and irreversibly. These "tipping points" are thresholds where a tiny change could push a system into a completely new state.
Trajectories of the Earth System in the Anthropocene graphic by Will Steffen et al.
There's a risk that self-reinforcing feedbacks could push the Earth System toward a planetary threshold that, if crossed, could prevent stabilization of the climate at the intermediate temperature rises and cause continued warming even as human emissions are reduced. Potential interactions among the tipping elements could start triggering cascades at a global temperature rise of 2.0°C.
Connectivity between Climate Tipping Points graphic by T.M. Lenton et al.
This risk framework identifies tipping elements and their internal feedbacks as visual a tool for communicating early warnings of abrupt and irreversible changes in the climate system that could cross this century due to human activities. There is a growing risk of tipping points that, if passed, could jot the climate system into a new, less habitable "hothouse" climate state.
PLANETARY BOUNDARIES
The Planetary Boundaries Framework (Science Advances, Vol. 9, NO. 37)
Drawing upon Earth System Science, identifies nine processes that are critical for maintaining the stability and resilience of Earth system as a whole. As of September 2023, scientists determined that six of the nine boundaries are transgressed, suggesting that Earth is now well outside of the safe operating space for humanity.