A recent report published by an international team of climate scientists issues a dire warning about the state of Earth’s vital signs, saying they have deteriorated to levels unseen in human history.
The report’s lead authors, William Ripple and Christopher Wolf, and 10 other scientists emphasize that urgent action is needed to address the root cause of environmental overload, which occurs when human demand for Earth’s resources exceeds the ability to regenerate is beyond.
The report, published in the journal Life sciences, highlights that 20 of the 35 planetary vital signs used to monitor climate change are currently at record extreme levels. The authors cite new data that suggests numerous climate records will be broken in 2023, especially in ocean temperatures and sea ice. They also find unprecedented CO2 emissions during Canada’s wildfire season.
The report is a follow-up to the Global Scientists’ Climate Emergency Warning, published four years ago, which was signed by more than 15,000 scientists from 161 countries. The report’s lead author, William Ripple, says life on our planet is under threat and warns of a possible collapse of natural and socio-economic systems unless urgent action is taken.
Key figures in the report include a doubling of fossil fuel subsidies between 2021 and 2022, to more than 1 trillion.
In addition, the 2023 Canadian wildfires have already released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. The report also finds an alarming increase in average global temperatures above pre-industrial levels, expected to rise by 38 days in 2023. threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The authors emphasize the need to develop policies that prioritize human well-being and address the overconsumption and excess emissions of the wealthy.
Their recommendations include phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, promoting plant-based diets, protecting forests and implementing international treaties to limit fossil fuel use.
The authors emphasize that climate action must be based on principles of equality and social justice, as the poorest people suffer disproportionately from climate impacts.
The report ends with a call to action, stating that scientists and institutions have a moral responsibility to disseminate climate facts and make policy recommendations. They argue that scientists must play a leading role in addressing existential threats and alerting humanity to the need for urgent change.
