People. This is not a drill.
The team who theorised the "hot house Earth" scenario, whereby manmade warming triggers a series of in-built planetary feedback looks, say the tipping points are now "active"
This poses an "existential threat to humanity" phys.org/news/2019-11-c…
The team who theorised the "hot house Earth" scenario, whereby manmade warming triggers a series of in-built planetary feedback looks, say the tipping points are now "active"
This poses an "existential threat to humanity" phys.org/news/2019-11-c…
1. Ice sheets
The Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets contain enough frozen water to raise sea levels 13m
Their "tipping point" exists somewhere between 1-3C temperature rise. We're already at 1C, on path for 4C nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/1…
The Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets contain enough frozen water to raise sea levels 13m
Their "tipping point" exists somewhere between 1-3C temperature rise. We're already at 1C, on path for 4C nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/1…
2. Arctic sea ice
Levels have declined more than 40 percent in 40 years. Ice reflects more than 80 percent of the Sun's radiative force than ocean water
So we're replacing nature's mirror with a radiator
Levels have declined more than 40 percent in 40 years. Ice reflects more than 80 percent of the Sun's radiative force than ocean water
So we're replacing nature's mirror with a radiator
3. Boreal forests
Forests currently absorb around 30 percent of carbon emissions. But we're adding CO2 at such unprecedented rates they can't keep up
At some PPM, forests turn from carbon sink into carbon source, and when that happens we are fucked nationalgeographic.com/environment/20…
Forests currently absorb around 30 percent of carbon emissions. But we're adding CO2 at such unprecedented rates they can't keep up
At some PPM, forests turn from carbon sink into carbon source, and when that happens we are fucked nationalgeographic.com/environment/20…
4. Permafrost
The CO2 and CH4 contained in permafrost is equivalent to 15 years of global emissions
And it's melting 70 years faster than even the most pessimistic predictions theguardian.com/environment/20…
The CO2 and CH4 contained in permafrost is equivalent to 15 years of global emissions
And it's melting 70 years faster than even the most pessimistic predictions theguardian.com/environment/20…
5. Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
That's the ocean current pattern that keeps European winters temperate, the largest carbon sink in the Northern Hemisphere
It's extremely susceptible to temperature change and has already weakened 15 percent since mid-century
That's the ocean current pattern that keeps European winters temperate, the largest carbon sink in the Northern Hemisphere
It's extremely susceptible to temperature change and has already weakened 15 percent since mid-century
6. Amazon rainforest
A vital carbon sink, biodiversity treasure trove, not to mention home to 30 million people, could stop producing enough rain to sustain itself as soon as 2021
A child born today could learn about the Amazon only in history class theguardian.com/environment/20…
A vital carbon sink, biodiversity treasure trove, not to mention home to 30 million people, could stop producing enough rain to sustain itself as soon as 2021
A child born today could learn about the Amazon only in history class theguardian.com/environment/20…
6. Warm-water corals
People seriously don't get how vital coral is. 99 percent of ocean corals will disappear at +2C
But not just the coral. Coral sustains 25% of ALL OCEAN LIFE
3 BILLION people rely on seafood as their primary protein source
People seriously don't get how vital coral is. 99 percent of ocean corals will disappear at +2C
But not just the coral. Coral sustains 25% of ALL OCEAN LIFE
3 BILLION people rely on seafood as their primary protein source
Industry seems to think Earth has a thermostat you can raise and lower at will, keep polluting now, suck out CO2 later
This is called overshoot, and ignores all these tipping points
You go above 1.5C and you can't put that genie back in the bottle
This is called overshoot, and ignores all these tipping points
You go above 1.5C and you can't put that genie back in the bottle
The only authority you need on this is the IPCC
Here are its 4 pathways to net-zero
On the left you have the safest, idea scenario, where emissions decline immediately with no overshoot
On the right is only feasible if we transform land area equal to India for CCS
Here are its 4 pathways to net-zero
On the left you have the safest, idea scenario, where emissions decline immediately with no overshoot
On the right is only feasible if we transform land area equal to India for CCS
So the only way of guaranteeing we don't cross over these tipping points is the first pathway (P1)
Look what happens to #fossilfuels by 2030, then 2050 👀
Look what happens to #fossilfuels by 2030, then 2050 👀
The energy industry is powerful and has people in close proximity to govts
They are sophisticated narrative capturers. They have well-paid, intelligent people in their corner
But remember, amid all the spin and untested tech touting: The only safe way is ditching #fossilfuels
They are sophisticated narrative capturers. They have well-paid, intelligent people in their corner
But remember, amid all the spin and untested tech touting: The only safe way is ditching #fossilfuels
