Climate change is symptom of broader issue of ecological overshoot: William Ripple

Climate change is symptom of broader issue of ecological overshoot: William Ripple

Context: The distinguished professor of ecology speaks about consequences of record-breaking temperatures and future climate impacts on humanity.

Record Breaking Global mean temperatures:
• There were six record-breaking months in 2023 so far along with two record-breaking seasons and November 2023 was the warmest November ever recorded.
• 2023 also saw the highest number of days with global mean temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius and one-day temperatures also breached 2°C warming point for the first time in November 2023.
• Extreme weather events are no longer once-in-a lifetime for India; there was a disaster nearly every day from January-September, 2023 in the country.

Planetary Vital signs: A snapshot of Earth’s health
• 35 Planetary vital Signs: A comprehensive study published in the journal BioScience reveals alarming trends across 35 'planetary vital signs.'
• Human Activities: Human activities, from deforestation to meat consumption, are pushing 20 of these indicators to new extremes, including global GDP, fossil fuel subsidies, carbon pollution, and glacier thinning.

What are the consequences of record breaking mean temperatures in 2023?
• Future climate impacts will likely include substantially more frequent extreme weather events, and some regions could eventually become uninhabitable.
• The massive wildfires in Canada suggest some forests may have reached a tipping point, where they could then shift into a new regime.
• Earth’s climate is transitioning to a state that could ultimately result in many millions of deaths.
• The frequency of extreme weather events and changing weather phenomena raises concerns about the Earth transitioning to a climate unsuitable for human habitation. Urgent action is needed to limit future warming, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support climate change adaptations.

What is the need of the hour?
• New economic and policy approaches will be needed to reduce consumption by the wealthy and support better social outcomes for people with low incomes.
• Global carbon tax could be used to effectively limit excessive consumption and emissions, while also providing funding for sustainable economic development and climate adaptation efforts, especially in the Global South.
• Transition towards more plant-based diets through reduced meat and dairy subsidies where applicable, increased availability of plant-based options in schools etc.