The world is in danger of hitting the point of no return for five of Earth91裸聊视频檚 natural systems because of human-caused climate change, a team of 200 scientists said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations91裸聊视频� climate summit.
The report on so-called 91裸聊视频渢ipping points91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� moments when the Earth has warmed so much that certain side effects become irreversible 91裸聊视频� looks at 26 different systems and points to five of them 91裸聊视频� the melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, the dying off of warm-water coral reefs, the thawing of permafrost and impacts to a North Atlantic ocean current 91裸聊视频� as close to triggering.
91裸聊视频淭hese tipping points pose threats of a magnitude that has never been faced before by humanity,91裸聊视频� said Tim Lenton, the report91裸聊视频檚 lead author and Earth systems scientist and the University of Exeter in the U.K.
The warnings come as negotiators discuss how best to slash emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas at the United Nations91裸聊视频� COP28 climate summit. This year , and activists and officials alike have been ramping up their warnings that governments need to do more to curb global warming.
And those in vulnerable regions are already seeing the start of these effects.
In the Himalayas for example, glaciers are melting at such a rate that landslides, floods and other erratic weather has become common, said Izabella Koziell, from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Coral bleaching 91裸聊视频� which happens when the water is too hot 91裸聊视频� is blighting oceans from Australia to Florida. And some ice sheets near Earth91裸聊视频檚 poles are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Tipping points 91裸聊视频渃an trigger devastating domino effects, including the loss of whole ecosystems,91裸聊视频� Lenton said.
C. R. Babu of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems at University of Delhi, agreed that Earth warming past 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial times may mean 91裸聊视频渢he extinction of natural systems.91裸聊视频�
Abhilash S from Cochin University of Science and Technology said it was almost certain that 91裸聊视频渟ome natural systems will be permanently damaged.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淧rotecting them is beyond our control,91裸聊视频� he warned. 91裸聊视频淲e have already lost that chance.91裸聊视频�
But the report91裸聊视频檚 bleak outlook is tempered with a message of hope, as researchers say there are positive tipping points that can be reached too, particularly in the transition from planet-warming fossil fuels to renewable energy, people changing to plant-based diets and social movements.
91裸聊视频淗uman history is full of examples of abrupt social and technological change,91裸聊视频� said University of Exeter91裸聊视频檚 Steve Smith. 91裸聊视频淢any areas of society have the potential to be 91裸聊视频榯ipped91裸聊视频� in this way.91裸聊视频�
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