Our planet is at the risk of entering an irreversible ‘hothouse’ condition – where the global temperatures will rise by four to five degrees and sea levels may surge by up to 60 meters higher than today – even if targets under the Paris climate deal are met.

Findings & Concerns

• According to the researchers, keeping global warming to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius may be more difficult than previously assessed.
• Human emissions of greenhouse gas are not the sole determinant of temperature on Earth.
• Human-induced global warming of two degrees Celsius may trigger other Earth system processes, often called “feedbacks,” that can drive further warming – even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases.
• Avoiding this scenario requires a redirection of human actions from exploitation to stewardship of the Earth system
• The study considers ten natural feedback processes, some of which are “tipping elements” that lead to abrupt change if a critical threshold is crossed.
• Maximizing the chances of avoiding a “Hothouse Earth” requires not only reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions but also enhancement and creation of new biological carbon stores through the improved forest, agricultural, and soil management, and technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground.