A few degrees of temperature rise could render much of the planet uninhabitable.
An international team of scientists conducted a study and found that the average temperature on Earth can rise and make the planet uninhabitable. The results are published in the journal PNAS.
Researchers have found that the Earth is approaching a “tipping point,” called a “greenhouse climate,” which could raise average temperatures by 4-5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial (mid-19th century) levels, and raise sea levels from 10 to 60 degrees. meters.
The author of the work, Professor Will Steffen of the Australian National University (ANU), said that in this case, most of the planet would be uninhabited.
He explained that if human emissions raise the global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius, this could provoke irreversible processes in the earth's system, which could subsequently cause further warming.
“The real problem is that all these elements can act like dominoes,” Steffen said.
According to the scientist, current efforts are “insufficient” to help avoid a tipping point.
Steffen emphasized that global average temperatures are currently just over one degree Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures and are rising by an average of 0.17 degrees every decade.
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“The temperature on Earth is not solely determined by the emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities. Our research suggests that anthropogenic warming of two degrees could trigger other systemic processes, often referred to as “feedback”. They can accelerate warming even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,”Steffen said.
The scientist believes that countries need to work together to "significantly accelerate the transition to a global economy without emissions."
“Collective human action is necessary to control and stabilize the Earth system in an interglacial-like habitat,” says Steffen.
The study did not set an exact time frame for when irreversible events would begin to occur. The scientist suggests that this could happen within 100-200 years.
"The consequences of the transformation of the Earth into a" greenhouse "are likely to be massive, sometimes unexpected and undoubtedly destructive," the researchers concluded.
GRIGORY PUSHKAREV
