Earth 'just decades away from global warming tipping point which threatens future of humanity'

The Earth could be facing runaway global warming in just decades, say scientists. Credit: PA

Earth may be decades away from a climatic tipping point that triggers runaway global warming and threatens the future of humanity, scientists have warned.

The threshold will be reached when average global temperatures are only around 2C higher than they were in pre-industrial times, new research suggests. They are already 1C higher, and rising.

Feedback mechanisms acting “like a row of dominoes” will then spin the world into a “Hothouse Earth” state of uncontrollable climate change.

  • What is a Hothouse Earth?

A Hothouse Earth poses “severe risks for health, economies, political stability, and ultimately, the habitability of the planet for humans”, the international scientists wrote in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Long term, its climate will stabilise at a global average of 4C-5C above pre-industrial levels, the study shows.

If that happened, swathes of the planet around the equator will become uninhabitable, with sea levels up to 60 metres (197ft) higher than they are today threatening coastal cities.

  • This summer has seen extreme heat, wildfires and torrential rain around the world. Is this wild weather going to become the norm - and is climate change the cause? Science Editor Tom Clarke explains

The research highlighted 10 feedback processes that were predicted to kick in at around 2C of global warming.

The “tipping elements” could turn natural carbon storage systems or “sinks” into powerful greenhouse gas emitters.

Scientists have warned of a 'domino effect'. Credit: PA

  • What are these "tipping elements"?

The tipping point dangers are identified as thawing permafrost, the release of methane trapped on the ocean floor, weakening land and ocean carbon sinks, increased carbon dioxide production by ocean bacteria, rainforests destroyed, reduced northern hemisphere snow cover, loss of Arctic summer sea ice, reduced Antarctic sea ice and melting polar ice sheets.

Professor Johan Rockstrom, a leading member of the team from the University of Stockholm, said: “These tipping elements can potentially act like a row of dominoes.

"Once one is pushed over, it pushes Earth towards another. It may be very difficult or impossible to stop the whole row of dominoes from tumbling over.

“Places on Earth will become uninhabitable if Hothouse Earth becomes the reality.”

Scientists have warned of catastrophic climate change Credit: Julien Behal/PA

  • How do we avoid this situation?

Avoiding a Hothouse Earth would require “deep cuts” in greenhouse gas emissions as well as concerted efforts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, both by preserving natural carbon sinks and using technology, said the researchers.

Commenting on the findings, climate researcher Dr Phil Williamson, from the University of East Anglia, said: “In the context of the summer of 2018, this is definitely not a case of crying wolf, raising a false alarm. The wolves are now in sight.”

Chris Rapley, Professor of Climate Science at University College London said: “Previous research has shown that an increase in the mean global temperature of 11-12C would make more than half of the land area currently occupied by humans uninhabitable. So, a ‘runaway’ warming to a new and uncontrollable hot state would represent an existential threat to humanity and the majority of existing species.”