News Article: Earth’s Environmental Limits: Damage Caused by Global Warming and the Call for Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries
According to a recent study on Earth’s Environmental Limits, the effects of climate change have already become evident in various parts of the world. Many tipping points have been transgressed in this era known as the Anthropocene. The study focuses on the damage caused by global warming, which is impacting the lives of populations in increasingly large regions of the Earth’s surface.
The study confirms that the world has surpassed the “safe and fair” limit for the climate, which was set at 1°C above pre-industrial temperature levels. Currently, tens of millions of people are being affected by climate change. In response to the sustained ravages caused by climate change, a report called “Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries” has been prepared. More than 40 international scientists, including researchers from the Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3), have participated in this report.
The Earth Commission, also known as the Land Commission, has published the document in Nature. It warns about the insufficiency of some global objectives and calls for the management of all biophysical processes of the Earth that determine the basic conditions of human existence and ecosystem stability.
The report emphasizes the importance of justice in addressing the challenges posed by the Earth system. Professor Joyeeta Gupta, co-author and co-chair of the Land Commission, states that a fair and just approach is essential for planetary stability. The report calls for managing the biophysical processes of the Earth to ensure stable and resilient conditions. It sets safe limits for climate, biodiversity, fresh water, and various types of pollution.
The Earth system is interconnected, and interference in one part of the world can have significant repercussions in other regions. The study highlights the need for comprehensive and transformative action to address the Earth’s systems. The goal is to achieve stable and resilient conditions similar to those of the interglacial Holocene period.
The study identifies several critical climatic elements that are about to cross their thresholds, leading to irreversible changes. The cryosphere in high mountain areas of Asia is one such critical element. The report emphasizes the urgency of avoiding widespread impacts on human well-being by preventing the crossing of critical points of irreversible change.
The study also addresses the issue of justice in the calculations of Earth system stability. It quantifies the limits to prevent risks to the Earth system while reducing damage to humans. The researchers emphasize the importance of establishing principles of justice to ensure that those responsible act to prevent risks or make amends.
The study provides valuable data for the negotiation of the new biodiversity conservation framework for 2030. It calls for the preservation of nature in locally human-modified spaces to support life on Earth.
While time is running out, the researchers believe that there is still an opportunity to take action. However, the window of action to keep warming below 1.5°C is closing fast, according to the Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change (IPCC).
In conclusion, the study highlights the urgent need to address the damage caused by global warming and establish safe and just Earth system boundaries. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Earth’s systems and the importance of justice in achieving planetary stability. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, scientists, and organizations working towards a sustainable future.Study Warns Earth Has Transgressed Safe Climate Limit, Millions Affected by Climate Change
A recent study on the Earth’s Environmental Limits has revealed that the effects of climate change are already evident in various parts of the world. The study, conducted by more than 40 international scientists, including researchers from the Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3), warns that the world has surpassed the “safe and fair” limit for the climate, which was set at 1°C above pre-industrial temperature levels. It also highlights that tens of millions of people are currently being affected by climate change.
The study, titled “Safe and just Earth system boundaries,” was prepared by the Earth Commission, a land commission assembled by the network of scientists from Future Earth and the Global Commons Alliance. The report, published in Nature, emphasizes the need to manage all the biophysical processes of the Earth that determine the basic conditions of human existence and ecosystem stability.
According to Professor Joyeeta Gupta, co-author and co-chair of the Land Commission, a fair and just approach is essential for planetary stability. The report calls for managing the biophysical processes of the Earth to avoid significant damage to people on all continents.
The Earth Commission has quantified the safe and fair limits of climate, biodiversity, fresh water, and various types of air, soil, and water pollution. However, the study reveals that several limits have already been transgressed globally and locally. This means that unless a transformation occurs in time, it is highly likely that critical points of irreversible change, known as tipping points, will be crossed, resulting in a widespread impact on human well-being.
The study also highlights the interconnectedness of the Earth system, stating that interference in one part of the world can have significant repercussions in other regions. The scientists argue that safe limits guarantee stable and resilient conditions on Earth, using the interglacial holocene as a benchmark for a healthy planet.
The report emphasizes the need to establish stricter limits to prevent risks to the Earth system while reducing damage to humans. It also calls for actions by governments, cities, and companies to limit the change in the Earth system and reduce unfair impacts on vulnerable communities.
While time is running out, the researchers believe that there is still an opportunity to act. However, they warn that the window of action to keep warming below 1.5°C is closing fast, according to the Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change (IPCC).
In terms of adaptation to the changing Earth system, the study suggests options such as climate adaptation, pollution cleanup, and biosphere restoration. It also emphasizes the importance of establishing principles of justice to ensure that those responsible for the damage take action to prevent risks or make amends.
The study serves as a wake-up call for the urgent need to address climate change and its impacts on the planet and human well-being. It highlights the importance of justice in achieving a safe and fair Earth system for all.
ipcc special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate
S identified several critical climatic elements that are about to surpass their thresholds, leading to irreversible changes. One notable example is the cryosphere in high mountain areas of Asia. The report highlights the urgency of preventing widespread impacts on human well-being by avoiding the crossing of critical points of irreversible change.
Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of justice in addressing the challenges posed by the Earth system. It quantifies the limits necessary to prevent risks to the Earth system while also reducing damage to humans. The researchers stress the need to establish principles of justice to ensure that those responsible for environmental damage take action to prevent risks or make amends.
The study’s findings are valuable for the negotiation of the new biodiversity conservation framework for 2030. It calls for the preservation of nature in locally human-modified spaces to support life on Earth.
While time is running out, the researchers believe that there is still an opportunity to take action. However, the window of action to keep global warming below 1.5°C is closing rapidly, according to the Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change (IPCC).
In conclusion, the study underscores the urgent need to address the damaging effects of global warming and establish safe and just boundaries for the Earth system. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Earth’s systems and the critical role of justice in achieving planetary stability. The study provides essential insights for policymakers, scientists, and organizations working towards a sustainable future.
