The climate tipping points

Justin Rowlatt discovers how global warming may trigger irreversible changes to our planet.

The melting of polar ice sheets, the collapse of the Amazon rainforest, the seizing up of ocean circulation - these are just some of the calamities we risk bringing about through our unabated carbon emissions.

Each of these tipping points on its own could have dire consequences for the wellbeing of all life on Earth, including us humans. Together, they threaten to accelerate global warming out of our control, pitching us into a much hotter world.

But could we humans also be at a tipping point of our own? One that is galvanising action to decarbonise our economy like never before?

(Photo: Sailboat about to go over a drop off in the ocean; Credit: Getty Images)