Tipping points in the climate system

What makes this fascinating

• Thresholds of no return — Ice sheets, the Amazon, and ocean currents may flip abruptly once pushed past a hidden line.

• Where are the lines? — Pinpointing the exact thresholds — and how close we already are — is deeply uncertain.

• Cascades — One tipping point can trigger another, potentially in a domino chain we don't fully understand.

Frequently asked questions

What are climate tipping points?

Thresholds beyond which part of the climate system changes abruptly and often irreversibly — such as ice-sheet collapse, permafrost thaw, or the shutdown of major ocean currents.

Can we predict when a tipping point will be crossed?

Not precisely. We know several candidate tipping elements exist and roughly which warming levels are risky, but the exact thresholds and timing are highly uncertain.

Why do tipping points matter?

They can lock in large, self-reinforcing changes that continue even if emissions stop, making them among the most serious and least predictable climate risks.

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