The climate is undergoing rapid change, unlike anything seen in millions of years. The BBC’s recent Earth series conveyed the potential catastrophic consequences of global heating. Presenter Chris Packham highlighted the tipping points reached 56 million years ago when temperatures soared by 5C in just a few thousand years. Scientists now refer to fossil records from that period to predict the outcomes of the current accelerated heating.
Scientists this week issued an updated warning about planetary boundaries, a tool for understanding the environment. These boundaries, established by the Stockholm Resilience Centre in 2009, define limits within which Earth’s stable life support systems can be considered manageable. However, once these boundaries are breached, the consequences become extreme and threatening. The recent assessment reveals that six out of the nine boundaries have already been surpassed, with biodiversity, freshwater, and land use being particularly concerning. Scientists emphasize the urgent need to phase out destructive farming practices alongside ending reliance on fossil fuels.
Prof Simon Lewis describes the boundaries framework as a simplified approach, similar to Kate Raworth’s doughnut economics. However, the true measure of their effectiveness lies in their ability to prompt governments to impose limits on fossil fuel production and other damaging activities.
The phasing out of coal, oil, and gas was not included in last year’s Cop27 climate summit. However, Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, insists that it must be prioritized at the upcoming Cop28 in Dubai. There is growing opposition to the plans of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Western oil companies. Rishi Sunak’s support for new oil and gas investments may prevent him from attending the climate ambition summit, but other leaders are urged to seize the opportunity to transform the world’s energy system. With mounting evidence of the impacts of global heating and alarming assessments from experts, it is imperative that governments acknowledge and act within the planet’s boundaries.
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